NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Eight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) institutions earned points in the final 2025-26 NCAA Division III Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, released by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Illinois Wesleyan led the CCIW with a 29th-place national finish, totaling 582.25 points across the fall, winter and spring championship seasons. The Titans were joined in the top 75 by North Central, which placed 44th with 400.75 points, and Carthage, which tied for 73rd with 274.50 points.

Illinois Wesleyan scored 257.75 points during the spring championship season, including 90.00 points from a national runner-up finish in men’s golf. The Titans also earned spring points in women’s golf, which placed 16th for 57.75 points; softball, which placed 17th for 50.00 points; women’s outdoor track & field, which placed 18th for 55.00 points; and men’s outdoor track & field, which placed 68th for 5.00 points.

Carthage produced the CCIW’s highest spring total with 259.00 points. The Firebirds earned 90.00 points from a national runner-up finish in men’s volleyball, while also scoring in women’s lacrosse, which placed 17th for 50.00 points; men’s tennis, which placed 17th for 50.00 points; women’s outdoor track & field, which placed 55th for 16.50 points; and men’s outdoor track & field, which placed 21st for 52.50 points.

North Central added 46.00 points during the spring season, with its women’s outdoor track & field team placing 26th nationally.

The CCIW’s final standings reflected broad-based success across the league, with eight institutions represented in the national rankings. Wheaton tied for 133rd with 147.00 points, followed by Elmhurst in 164th with 100.50 points, Augustana in 175th with 96.00 points, Carroll tied for 176th with 95.00 points and Millikin tied for 255th with 49.00 points.

CCIW Institutions in the Final Division III Standings
29. Illinois Wesleyan - 582.25 points
44. North Central - 400.75 points
T-73. Carthage - 274.50 points
T-133. Wheaton - 147.00 points
164. Elmhurst - 100.50 points
175. Augustana - 96.00 points
T-176. Carroll - 95.00 points
T-255. Millikin - 49.00 points

Washington University in St. Louis won the 2025-26 Division III Learfield Directors’ Cup with 1,266.50 points, becoming the eighth different institution to claim the Division III title.

The Learfield Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in NCAA Championships. In Division III, 18 total teams can be scored in the final standings, including four sports that must be counted: men’s and women’s basketball and men’s and women’s soccer.