Murray State Athletics Records Highest Finish in MVC All-Sports Trophy Standings

Murray State Athletics was rewarded for one of its most holistically competitive years in program history after it was announced that the Racers finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference's All-Sports Trophy final standings. The second-place finish is the department's best since joining the MVC.

The Racers secured the second spot with a final score average of 8.814 after winning three total championships in league play throughout the 2025-26 athletics campaign.

"This year has represented one of the most successful and athletically-competitive chapters in the history of our university," Murray State University President Dr. Ron Patterson said. "Our student-athletes, coaches and staff have embraced a culture centered on excellence. We are incredibly proud of the momentum surrounding our university as we continue leading the pack and building an even brighter future for Murray State."

Murray State earned regular-season and tournament titles in women's basketball and also won the women's golf championship. MSU also recorded top-three finishes in women's soccer, softball, women's tennis, baseball, and men's golf, while men's basketball, women's cross country and women's track and field picked up top-four finishes.

"This has been the most athletically-competitive year in the history of our department because our student-athletes, coaches and staff have embraced a championship mentality in everything that we do," Director of Athletics Nico Yantko said. "A major pillar of our strategic priorities is competing for and winning championships, and we achieved that this year with nine of our programs recording top-four finishes and women's basketball and women's golf winning league titles. We are incredibly proud of the relentless drive that continues to push our department forward while we focus on leading the pack, and we know that the best is yet to come."

Since joining in the league in 2022-23, the Racers' best finished in the All-Sports Trophy standings prior to this season was seventh place.

Over the last two years, Murray State has raised a school-record $43 million dollars in support of new facilities, initiatives and championship resources. That total was made possible by 15, seven-figure gifts, which also amounts to the most in department history.

The $43 million is committed towards the department's bold, comprehensive $100 million fundraising campaign, Leading The Pack, which was created to further position itself for the future by investing in student-athlete success and wellness, revenue share and competitive resources and world-class facilities.

Learn more about how you can support the campaign by clicking HERE.

TOP FIVE LEAGUE STANDINGS
Points -- Team (Championships*)
8.857 -- Illinois State (3)
8.814 -- MURRAY STATE (3)
7.719 -- Indiana State (3)
7.252 -- UNI (4)
7.101 -- Drake (2)
*combined regular-season and tournament championships

The All-Sports Trophy is based on a school's average finish in each of the sponsored championships by the Missouri Valley Conference. Teams are awarded 12 points for first, 11 for second, 10 for third, etc., and the total accumulated points are divided by the number of sports in which a particular school competes. For sports not sponsored by every MVC school, the points decrease by number of competing schools (i.e., in a sport where 10 teams compete, 12/10 = 1.20, so point totals decrease by 1.20; 1st = 12, 2nd = 10.8, 3rd = 9.6, etc.)

Finishes in baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball are based on regular-season competition. However, institutions receive three bonus points for each league post-season championship earned in those aforementioned sports. All other sports are determined by finish at the championship tournament or championship meet.

Follow the Racers on X (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics) and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State Athletics.

Murray State University Athletics

Murray State Athletics Records Highest Finish in MVC All-Sports Trophy Standings

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