Where Nebraska Athletics finished in the Director’s Cup standings

The Nebraska athletic department achieved its highest Director’s Cup finish in nearly 15 years Wednesday.

NU finished in 22nd place, a position that would have earned former athletic director Trev Alberts a bonus of $180,000 had he not taken the job at Texas A&M. New A.D. Troy Dannen is eligible for a Director’s Cup bonus starting next year.

The Cup assigns points to schools that make the postseason of a given sport. National champions get 100 points with points reducing from there; a national runner-up, like Nebraska volleyball, scores 90 points. Schools can count points in up to 19 sports, four of which must be men’s and women’s hoops, volleyball and baseball. Schools with more sports, especially niche Olympic sports, tend to do better.

While the Huskers didn’t win any national titles in the 2023-24 calendar, volleyball finished with 90, while both men’s and women’s basketball teams scored points for making the NCAA tournament. For the seventh straight year, Nebraska football did not score any points.

Texas finished first overall, followed by Stanford, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, Texas A&M, North Carolina, Michigan, Alabama and UCLA.

Among current Big Ten schools, Nebraska finished third, behind Michigan and Ohio State (15th). UCLA and USC (14th) officially join the league Aug. 2. Iowa finished 64th.

Photos: Nebraska football’s Red-White Spring Game, April 27

Nebraska’s Luke Longval looks to the sideline as he calls a play in the fourth quarter during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star