Redhawks earn OVC Commissioner’s Cup for fourth time in six years

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Southeast Missouri won the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner’s Cup for the second consecutive year, the league office announced Tuesday.

The Redhawks claimed the award for the fourth time in the past six years and repeated as champions for the first time in school history. The Commissioner’s Cup recognizes overall athletic excellence in conference-sponsored championships.

SEMO finished with 102 points, edging Eastern Illinois by 5.5 points. Little Rock and Tennessee Tech tied for third with 96.5 points. Southern Indiana finished with 81 points, followed by Lindenwood (80), UT Martin (78), SIU Edwardsville (77.5), Morehead State (70), Western Illinois (61.5) and Tennessee State (40).

The Redhawks were led by conference titles in men’s and women’s indoor track and field and women’s outdoor track and field. SEMO also posted runner-up finishes in women’s cross country and baseball. It marked the first time in program history the Redhawks swept the OVC men’s and women’s indoor track and field championships.

The 2025-26 season marked the 17th year of the Commissioner’s Cup, previously known as the All-Sports Trophy.

Under the current scoring format, schools count results from 13 sports, including men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball, along with the highest-finishing men’s and women’s track and field sports. Schools sponsoring football are also required to count football among their 13 sports.

Points are awarded based on conference finishes, with additional bonus points given to winners of OVC tournaments and the football champion.