Cardinals Place 13th in Learfield Cup Standings

In the latest rankings released by the Learfield Directors’ Cup, the University of Louisville athletics department finished the 2023 fall semester in 13th place. Louisville accumulated a total of 244 points across its fall sports and is one of nine ACC schools to be ranked in the top 25, the most from any conference in the country. The Pac-12 Conference follows closely behind with five teams ranked in the top 25.

Louisville earned points in volleyball, field hockey, football, and men’s soccer, with all four teams making it to their respective postseasons. The volleyball team secured a strong fifth place with 83 points, while the field hockey team matched the ranking with 65 points. The football team finished 18th with 56 points, and the men’s soccer team ended the season in 17th place with 50 points.

The Louisville volleyball team had an impressive season, ending with a record of 27-5. Although they fell short in the Elite Eight against Pitt, they made it to the Sweet Sixteen for the ninth time in program history.

Field hockey also enjoyed a successful fall season, finishing with a 15-7 record and securing their 12th NCAA Tournament appearance. Unfortunately, the Cardinals were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Northwestern in the NCAA Championships.

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Jeff Brohm, the football team had a memorable season. They won ten games for the first time since 2013 and reached their first ACC title game, although they fell short against Florida State. The Cardinals also made their debut in the Holiday Bowl, marking another significant achievement for the program.

The men’s soccer team closed out the season with a record of 12-6-3. They faced a tough defeat against West Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and were eliminated by eventual national champions Clemson in the semifinals of the ACC Championship.

The Learfield Directors’ Cup, a collaborative effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today, awards points to institutions based on their finishes in NCAA Championships. Louisville’s 13th place ranking highlights their impressive performance in the fall sports season.