Which athletic department has the best overall sports program? A new ranking system that aims to determine that in big-time college athletics has come under question because of its tiered scoring formula, which provides more points for programs that win NCAA titles in certain sports, SportsBusiness Journal reports.
The Capital One Cup, which the NCAA created last year with the backing of the credit-card giant, gives athletic departments more points for winning titles in football and basketball than in sports with less visibility. For example, a national championship in cross country, tennis, or golf is worth 20 points. Basketball and football titles earn institutions 60 points. The system is based on fan interest, attendance, and other factors.
Several top athletic officials have complained to the NCAA about the scoring method, including Gene Smith, athletic director at Ohio State, and Kevin White, AD at Duke. The method, White says, “suggests to some 400,000 student athletes that their experiences are less valuable and/or less important than others.”
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics has its own formula for choosing an all-sports champion, called the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, which distributes points evenly across all men’s and women’s sports.
Officials at Capital One, which is one of the NCAA’s biggest corporate sponsors, say they are open to feedback about their approach, while the NCAA plans to set up a meeting between the company and its student-athletic advisory panel.
