Drake University Athletics

Drake competes in NCAA Division I, meaning serious athletic competition with scholarships and regional TV coverage. The Bulldogs field 14 varsity sports with 399 total athletes, representing about 15% of the 2,669-student campus. Drake awards $5.4 million in athletic scholarships annually. The university competes in the Missouri Valley Conference, a respected mid-major league known for basketball excellence. Drake basketball has a proud tradition, regularly appearing in March Madness and producing NBA talent. The Knapp Center creates an intimate but intense atmosphere for basketball games. Drake's track and field program also excels nationally, hosting the strong Drake Relays each spring since 1910. This event draws strong athletes and transforms Des Moines into a track and field capital. The relays give Drake unusual national prominence for a school of its size.