Cowboys Earn Highest Ever Finish In Learfield Cup

Oklahoma State placed 22nd in the final 2013-14 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings to mark its best finish in the national all-sports ranking system that dates back to 1993-94.

Making that finish more impressive is the fact that OSU sponsors only 15 of the 20 varsity sports eligible for consideration in the standings. No school that finished in the top 25 had fewer sports eligible. OSU's 16th varsity sport, equestrian (a strong performer in 2013-14), is not counted as part of the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings.

"We have done well in many areas at Oklahoma State because of the quality of our people," Athletic Director Mike Holder said. "Our student-athletes, coaches, fans and supporters all play a role in the successes that we enjoy and we are thankful to have the kind of people around our program that we do."

Oklahoma State won five Big 12 Conference championships during the 2013-14 academic year - men's cross country, men's indoor track and field, wrestling, equestrian and baseball – and qualified for the postseason in 15 of its 16 varsity sports. 10 different OSU teams appeared in the top 10 of the national rankings of their respective sports this season.

A total of 22 OSU student-athletes earned All-America recognition and six were honored as Big 12 Player of the Year during the 2013-14 academic year. Additionally, OSU crowned 16 individual Big 12 champions and had four of its coaches tabbed as Big 12 Coach of the Year.

Oklahoma State was the only school in the country to have a player selected with one of the top 10 picks of both the NFL Draft (Justin Gilbert – eighth) and the NBA Draft (Marcus Smart – sixth) and was one of only four schools nationally to appear in a football bowl game, the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship and the super regional round of the NCAA Baseball Championship.

Prior to this year's 22nd-place finish, OSU's best showing was 24th in 1997-98.