CLEVELAND -- Grand Valley State and Ferris State lead the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contingent in the Division II Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings following the completion of the fall sports season. The Lakers rank sixth, while the Bulldogs currently sit 38th.
GVSU completed the fall campaign with 236.50 total points, scoring in three fall sports highlighted by a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division II Men's Cross Country Championships. The GVSU women's soccer program finished fifth with the women's cross country squad placing sixth at the national meet.
Ferris State compiled 120 points throughout the fall as the football program took fifth place after falling in the national quarterfinal. The FSU volleyball team made a nice run to the regional semifinal before falling in 5 sets to top-seeded Lewis.
Four more GLIAC programs earned points throughout the fall: #85 Northern Michigan - 63 points, #92 Ashland - 53 points, #127 Michigan Tech - 25 points, #127 Saginaw Valley State - 25 points
The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 14 sports -- seven women’s and seven men’s.
2017 Division II Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Fall Standings: Overall | By Conference
| Rank | School | Points |
| 6 | Grand Valley State | 236.50 |
| 38 | Ferris State | 120.00 |
| 85 | Northern Michigan | 63.00 |
| 92 | Ashland | 53.00 |
| 127 | Michigan Tech | 25.00 |
| 127 | Saginaw Valley State | 25.00 |
Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA’s website at www.directorscup.org. In addition, please visit www.thedirectorscup.com, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/lsdirectorscup or follow us on Twitter @lsdirectorscup.
About Learfield Sports: Since 1972, Learfield has developed trusted, long-term relationships with some of the most revered institutions and associations in the world of collegiate athletics. Learfield Sports currently manages the exclusive multimedia rights to nearly 100 collegiate properties in the country and has prominence in all of the major conferences. Additionally, Learfield Sports offers its university partners with licensing and trademark consulting, web solutions, concessions and hospitality services, and professional ticket sales. The 2015-16 athletic season marks the company’s eighth consecutive year to title the prestigious Learfield Sports Directors' Cup. For more about its history and complete collegiate portfolio, visit www.learfieldsports.com.