VERMILLION, S.D. — For the first time since moving to Division I, the South Dakota Coyotes finished inside the top-100 of the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings for the 2025-26 season with a score of 199.75 points for a 98^th place finish among all Division I.
 
The top-100 placement in the Directors' Cup shows the Coyotes competing at a high level across 360+ Division I schools across the country.
 
"We are extremely proud of the comprehensive success of our athletic programs over the 2025-26 season. Amidst the most chaotic times in the history of Division I athletics, our teams have been able to compete at the highest levels," said Athletic Director Jon Schemmel. "Congratulations to our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and all of Coyote Nation for continuing to elevate the position we are in today."
 
The Coyotes were the highest finishing current Summit League team in 2025-26, while also the highest-finishing Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) team. The Yotes took home 70.5 points in the fall, 59.25 points in the winter, and 70.0 points in the spring season.
 
For the Coyotes, it's the best finish in the Directors' Cup standings in the Division I era.
 
About the LEARFIELD Director's Cup
The LEARFIELD Directors' Cup, hosted by NACDA and USA Today, is a program that honors institutions success in both men's and women's sports throughout the academic year (fall, winter, spring seasons) since the 1993-94 season.
 
Each institution is awarded points in a pre-determined number of sports for both men and women. At the Division I level, the Cup counts 19 sports, and points are given out to institutions for advancing to the NCAA championships of their respective sport.