RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Monday, the Great American Conference announced Harding University as the winner of the 2024-25 Commissioner’s Cup and the President’s Trophy. The Bisons and Lady Bisons captured both All-Sports championships for the fourth-straight season.
The GAC determines the winner of the Commissioner’s Cup to the GAC school that totals the most cumulative points in the 14 countable sports of men’s and women’s cross country, football, volleyball, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s tennis, men’s women’s track & field, men’s and women’s golf, softball and baseball while the President’s Trophy goes to the program that earns the highest percentage of points based on the sports they sponsor.
Harding won the Commissioner’s Cup for the sixth time and garnered its fourth President’s Trophy. The Bisons set GAC records for total points, 119; points margin, 35; and percentage of points won, 84.4. Though the Bisons only earned titles in football and men’s track & field, 13 of the 14 Harding programs finished inside the top four. Men’s cross country, women’s soccer, volleyball, women’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s tennis and women’s track & field and placed second or tied for second.
For the second time in school history, Southern Arkansas finished second in the Commissioner’s Cup standings to match a program best. The Muleriders won the regular-season and tournament titles in women’s tennis and softball. They added a runner-up result in baseball. In the fall, they added a third-place result in football.
Ouachita Baptist turned in a best finish in an all-sports race as the Tigers finished second in the President’s Trophy standings. The Tigers captured titles in women’s cross country, women’s soccer and football. Ouachita Baptist also placed second in men’s basketball and third in women’s track & field.
Oklahoma Baptist placed third in both standings. The Bison won their fourth-straight women’s track & field title. They added second-best showings in softball and men’s track & field.
Arkansas Tech claimed fifth in the Commissioner’s Cup while Henderson State took fifth for the President’s Trophy. The Wonder Boys won their fourth title in baseball and shared second in baseball. The Golden Suns added a runner-up showing in cross country and a third-place result in women’s golf. For the fourth-straight year, the Reddies won both the men’s and women’s golf titles.
Southeastern Oklahoma State and Southwestern Oklahoma State followed in the standings. The Savage Storm shared second in women’s tennis. The Bulldogs won the program’s first regular-season title in volleyball.
Southern Nazarene, East Central, Northwestern Oklahoma State and Arkansas-Monticello rounded out the standings. The Crimson Storm won both basketball regular-season titles. The Tigers won their 10th men’s cross country championship title.