In a significant achievement, Arizona Athletics has claimed the 2025-26 Allstate Commissioner’s Cup, as announced by the Big 12 Conference on Tuesday. This accolade marks a first for the Wildcats, heralding their excellence both in sports and academics within the prestigious Big 12 landscape.
The Allstate Commissioner’s Cup, part of the Allstate Big 12 Championship Series, is designed to honor athletic departments that excel in creating environments conducive to the development of student-athletes on and off the field. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark handed over the coveted cup to Desireé Reed-Francois, R. Ken Coit Director of Athletics, during the Big 12 Football Media Days in Frisco, Texas.
Reed-Francois expressed her pride, stating, “We are extremely proud of our entire athletics department, from student-athletes to coaches to staff. Winning the Allstate Commissioner’s Cup not only reflects competitive success in one of the nation’s top conferences but also our commitment to academic excellence and community engagement. Success for Every Student is our North Star, and we will continue to provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to compete at the highest level, excel in the classroom and become impactful leaders long after graduation.”
The Commissioner’s Cup, introduced last year, underscores efforts in nurturing student-athletes in various facets. Allstate’s ongoing 20-year initiative supports this by contributing toward college athletics and aiding student-athletes in achieving success academically and socially. As part of their victory, Arizona will receive a scholarship donation from Allstate.
Teams earn points for the cup based on their performance in Big 12 championships, regular-season achievements, and off-field accomplishments inclusive of academic performance, graduation rates, career readiness, and community involvement.
Arizona, leading the league with 1,377.625 points, achieved notable victories, including Big 12 regular-season and tournament wins in men’s basketball and a regular-season title in men’s tennis. The Wildcats saw their men’s basketball and men’s golf teams reach the NCAA Final Four, while men’s tennis secured its first NCAA Elite Eight spot. The football team recorded nine wins, culminating in a Holiday Bowl appearance. Women’s track and field reached its highest NCAA outdoor finish in over a decade, and volleyball returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. Overall, 18 Arizona programs secured postseason opportunities, highlighted by the women’s triathlon team clinching its second consecutive Women’s Collegiate National Championship.
Academically, Arizona student-athletes achieved a 2025 NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 92%, reflecting a 2% improvement from the prior year. They set new records for semester grade point averages, with a 3.412 GPA in the fall and surpassing it with a 3.413 GPA in the spring.
Through Arizona’s Commitment to an Athlete’s Total Success (C.A.T.S.) Program, Wildcat athletes dedicated 3,335 hours to community service during the 2025-26 academic year, with the football team contributing the most hours.
A version of this story originally appeared on the Arizona Athletics website.
Read More Here
Comments are closed.