California State University-Long Beach Athletics

Cal State Long Beach competes in NCAA Division I, which means serious athletics with full scholarships and games that draw real crowds. The Beach fields 15 varsity sports and hands out $3,688,605 in athletic scholarships each year. With 383 total athletes out of 34,131 students, only about 1% of the student body plays varsity sports, but the teams still create campus energy. They compete in the Big West Conference against schools like UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara. The school has a heated rivalry with Cal State Fullerton that goes back decades. Long Beach has particularly strong traditions in volleyball and basketball, with the men's basketball team making multiple NCAA tournament appearances. The Pyramid arena serves as home court and creates an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams.