Florida International University Athletics

Florida International University competes in NCAA Division I, meaning serious athletics with full scholarships and high-level competition. The Panthers play in Conference USA and offer 14 varsity sports with $7,626,342 in athletic scholarships available. With 427 total athletes out of 38,761 students, only about 1.1% of the student body plays varsity sports. FIU's biggest rival is Florida Atlantic University, creating heated matchups in southern Florida. The football program has grown since starting in 2002, playing at the 20,000-seat FIU Stadium. Basketball games at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center draw decent crowds, though the school's relatively young athletic history (founded in 1965) means traditions are still developing. For a large public university, FIU focuses more on academics and serving its diverse student population than building a major sports culture.