10 NCAA Titles by Pac-12 Schools leads the way

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- The Pac-12 Conference has proven to be the leader again in NCAA Championships with league teams capturing 10 NCAA titles during the 2013-14 campaign. Living up to its well-deserved billing of "Conference of Champions®,” it marked the seventh time the Conference has totaled double digits in NCAA titles, a feat no other conference has ever achieved. The 10 national championships came in the form of six men’s and four women’s team titles, also the most for any league in both categories. It is the 13th time in the last 14 years the Conference has led or tied all leagues in NCAA Championships won, also the most men’s titles for the Pac-12 since winning seven in 1997-98.

The Pac-12 led all conferences with the SEC coming in second with six NCAA titles (including a shared crown in women’s gymnastics). The Big Ten tallied five national titles this season, the ACC claimed four and the Big 12 two (including a shared title in women’s gymnastics).

In addition to the 10 titles, Pac-12 teams recorded six runner-up finishes and at least one team placed in the top four in 22 championships. In eight championships, there were at least two teams among the final four, including in women’s water polo where all four were Pac-12 teams.

Only three teams in the country won three NCAA titles this academic season, with Connecticut, OREGON and Penn State claiming that distinction. The Ducks took home the hardware in men’s outdoor track & field, the program’s first since 1984, and swept the men’s and women’s indoor national championships. It is the first time ever UO has won three NCAA titles in one academic year.

An additional four teams in the country had two NCAA titles, including USC and UCLA, along with Duke and Florida. The Trojans continue to dominate the sports of men’s water polo and men’s tennis, winning a sixth-straight title in the pool and a fifth in six years on the hard court. The Bruins won the Conference’s third-ever women’s soccer title and the program’s first, while also taking home the women’s tennis crown.

COLORADO kicked off the year for the Conference winning its fourth NCAA men’s cross country title. CALIFORNIA was first in men’s swimming, the program’s third national championship in four years, and STANFORD won its third women’s water polo crown in four years, extending the school’s streak of at least one NCAA team championship to 38-consecutive years, an on-going record.

This year’s championships add to an impressive tradition for the Pac-12. With 469 total titles, Conference teams have, by far, claimed the most national championships in the country all-time, over 200 more than the next closest league (Big Ten - 266). Only three institutions across all divisions have won at least 100 NCAA titles all-time and all three are Pac-12 members. UCLA leads the way at 110, followed by Stanford with 104. With USC’s men’s tennis win,  the Trojans became the third school to reach the century mark.

The moniker “Conference of Champions” has been earned by the number of titles, but also the depth of success. Pac-12 teams have won championships in 28 of the 36 Division I sports the NCAA sponsors and has reached double digit titles in 19 of those sports. Overall, the Pac-12 has claimed more NCAA titles in 49 of the last 54 years and finished second five times. It has also claimed at least six titles every year but one since 1981-82.

OREGON (3): Men’s Outdoor Track & Field; Women’s Indoor Track & Field; Men’s Indoor Track & Field
UCLA (2): Women’s Soccer; Women’s Tennis
USC (2): Men’s Water Polo; Men’s Tennis
CALIFORNIA (1): Men’s Swimming & Diving
COLORADO (1): Men’s Cross Country
STANFORD (1): Women’s Water Polo

2013-14 NCAA Titles By Conference