The assumption that Liberty had its best ever athletic season this past school year has now been verified as the Flames ranked No. 72 in the final 2020-21 Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cup standings. This marks the best-ever finish for the school in the annual listing that ranks the top collegiate athletic departments across the country.
Prior to this year’s finish, Liberty’s previous best Directors’ Cup ranking was No. 82 following the 2001-02 athletics season and No. 96 following the 2011-12 athletics campaign.
Texas led the rankings and the Longhorns were followed by Stanford, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, USC, Alabama, Arkansas, Ohio State, and Georgia who rounded out the top 10. Virginia checked in at No. 11. Other notable finishes includes Notre Dame at No. 14 and BYU at No. 17. The Cougars were the highest ranked non-Power Five program.
Liberty finished No. 12 among non-Power Five programs, checking in behind BYU, Denver, North Carolina A&T, UCF, Pepperdine, Georgetown, Air Force, North Dakota State, James Madison, South Florida, and Sam Houston State.
Liberty received points in this year’s Directors’ Cup rankings thanks to national championship finishes or bowl game appearances by baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s golf, softball, women’s cross country, and women’s soccer.
The Flames claimed conference titles in men’s basketball, golf, men’s indoor track & field, men’s outdoor track & field, men’s tennis, softball, women’s cross country, women’s outdoor track & field, women’s soccer, and swimming & diving.
North Florida was the second highest ranked ASUN member, checking in at No. 119. Jacksonville ranked No. 141, Florida Gulf Coast No. 159, Kennesaw State No. 168, and Lipscomb No. 236.
