UCSB Athletics finished in first place in the Big West and ranked 49th among NCAA Division 1 schools in the abbreviated Learfield IMG College Director’s Cup.
Each year, Learfield IMG College ranks institutions from Division I to the junior college level based on athletic performance. Schools are awarded points for advancing to the either the NCAA, NAIA, or two-year college championships. This year, only fall sports were used in the scoring because the COVID-19 pandemic led to the winter sports postseason being canceled and the spring season being shortened and stopped.
The success of the UCSB men’s soccer and women’s volleyball vaulted the Gauchos to the top among Big West schools. The soccer team advanced to the NCAA College Cup quarterfinals and the volleyball team reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
In the national rankings, UCSB finished tied with SEC member South Carolina in 49th place with a total of 123 points. The Gauchos were the highest-ranked non-football playing school in the rankings.
Stanford finished as the top team in Division I as it won three national championships in the fall season: women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s water polo.