Penn State offers one of the biggest athletic programs in the nation supporting 31 varsity programs that nearly 800 athletes are involved in.
Together those athletes completed the 2024-25 athletic year with Penn State finishing No. 16 overall in the Learfield Directors’ Cup Standings.
Penn State’s 31st appearance in the Top 25 of the Directors’ Cup final standings. Penn State is one of nine programs to make the Top 25 appearance in each of the Directors’ Cup final standings (Stanford, UCLA, USC, Florida, Ohio State, Texas, North Carolina, and Michigan being the others).
Texas claimed their fourth Directors’ Cup victory in five seasons finishing with 1,255.25 points edging USC by less than two points.
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 31: Penn State head coach James Franklin interacts with his team after the victory during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal playoff game against the Boise State Broncos on Tuesday December 31, 2024 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire)
Overall Penn State finished fifth amongst Big Ten teams trailing USC (1,253.75 – No. 2 overall), UCLA (1,149 – No. 5 overall), Ohio State (1,032.25 – No. 8 overall) and Michigan (928.5 – No. 13 overall).
The 2024-25 athletic year was highlighted by national championships from wrestling, which won its 12th national championship in the last 14 tournaments, and women’s volleyball, which was highlighted by the story of head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley and the epic comeback against Nebraska in the women’s volleyball semifinals.
Overall, seven other programs (football, men’s volleyball, men/women’s hockey, men’s gymnastics, women’s soccer, and men’s lacrosse) reached the national semifinals in their respective sports.. Since 2012, Penn State programs have produced 48 Big Ten conference championships and 16 national championships.
