Paced by a strong spring sports season, Liberty Athletics continues to see its national brand lifted across all sports, as the Flames have finished at No. 87 in the final 2025-26 Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cup standings.
This mark ranks in the range where the Flames have finished in recent seasons. The Flames finished at No. 98 in 2022-23. Liberty’s best ever finish came following the 2020-21 season at No. 72. Following the 2021-22 season, the Flames finished at No. 74. Prior to these finishes, 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 Cardinal were followed by Stanford, UCLA, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, USC, Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State to round out the top 10. Princeton was the highest ranked non-Power Four program for a second consecutive year, checking in at No. 20.
Here are the Group of Five conference members who finished in the top 100:
#58 New Mexico
#77 Air Force
#85 Utah State
#87 Liberty
#93 Texas State
#95 Jacksonville State
#96 Arkansas State
#97 Tulane
Liberty received points in this year’s Directors’ Cup rankings thanks to national championship finishes or bowl game appearances by women’s indoor track & field, men’s outdoor track & field, women’s soccer, field hockey, golf, baseball, and women’s tennis. In the spring, the Flames scored 141 of the team’s 245 total points received this past athletic season.
Conference USA rankings:
87. Liberty
95. Jax State
153. Louisiana Tech
182. Western Kentucky
186. Kennesaw State
188. Delaware
188. Missouri State
207. Middle Tennessee
244. Sam Houston
254. FIU
265. UTEP
Virginia FBS program rankings:
5. Virginia
55. Virginia Tech
87. Liberty
127. James Madison
140. Old Dominion
Previous years’ rankings:
2025-26: 87
2024-25: 97
2023-24: 118
2022-23: 98
2021-22: 74
2020-21: 72
All-Time Top 100 rankings:
2020-21: 72
2021-22: 74
2001-02: 82
2025-26: 87
2018-19: 93
2011-12: 95
2024-25: 97
2022-23: 98
