Franklin College Athletics

Franklin College competes in NCAA Division III, where athletics focus on personal development rather than professional preparation and no athletic scholarships are awarded. With 437 athletes out of 872 total students, exactly half the campus participates in varsity sports across 17 different teams. The Grizzlies compete in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference alongside other small Midwest colleges. Franklin has traditionally been competitive in football and basketball within their conference. The high participation rate reflects Division III's emphasis on balancing academics with athletics, allowing students to pursue sports without the intense time commitments of higher divisions. Most games draw modest but enthusiastic crowds of students, faculty, and local community members who appreciate the college's long athletic tradition dating back to the 1800s.