STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford completed a sweep of the Capital One Cup during the 2020-21 campaign, matching its dual victory achievement from 2017-18 and remaining the only school to capture both titles in the same season.
Fueled by an NCAA championship in women's basketball, Stanford secured its fourth consecutive women's Capital One Cup trophy and seventh overall (2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2014-15, 2011-12, 2010-11). The Cardinal totaled 118 points, topping runner-up USC (108) and third-place Texas (99).
Thanks to an NCAA title repeat in men's gymnastics, Stanford collected its third men's Capital One Cup victory in school history, having also won it all in 2017-18 and 2015-16. The Cardinal finished with 91 points, edging runner-up Alabama (82) and third-place Michigan (74).
The 2020-21 campaign represents the 10th season for the Capital One Cup, awarded annually to each of the best men's and women's Division I college athletics programs in the country. Points toward the Capital One Cup are earned and tracked throughout the year based on final standings of NCAA Championships and final official coaches' polls.
"The Capital One Cup sweep is truly an impressive achievement and I am thrilled for our programs," said Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics Bernard Muir. "I have been so inspired by our student-athletes and coaches, who persevered through such a challenging and unique academic year, making both Capital One Cup victories that much more special."
Stanford nearly repeated its 2017-18 success and made it a clean sweep of all three national awards, but finished second in a tight race behind Texas in the final Learfield IMG College Directors' Cup standings. The Cardinal had previously captured the Directors' Cup for 25 consecutive seasons from 1995-2019, following a runner-up finish in 1994 to North Carolina, which claimed the crown in the award's inaugural season of 1993-94.
With NCAA crowns in women's basketball and men's gymnastics, Stanford extended one of the most recognizable streaks in college athletics, having won at least one NCAA team championship in each of the last 45 seasons dating back to the 1976-77 campaign. Stanford also secured a national title in synchronized swimming, bringing its overall total to three in 2020-21.
The Cardinal's success in 2020-21 was even more impressive considering the abbreviated seasons experienced by many of its programs due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and accompanying county restrictions.
As the 2019-20 trophy was not awarded due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Capital One is doubling the amount donated to student-athlete scholarship funds from $400K to $800K and increasing the number of award recipients to recognize the top five men's and women's Division I college athletics programs. Along with the trophy, Stanford will be awarded $200,000 in student-athlete scholarships on behalf of Capital One and honored at The ESPYS on Saturday, July 10.