Indiana State University Athletics

Indiana State competes in NCAA Division I, meaning big-time college athletics with full scholarships and serious competition. The Sycamores field 11 varsity sports with 420 total athletes, representing about 6% of the student body. They compete in the Missouri Valley Conference, a respected mid-major league known for competitive basketball. The university's athletic program distributes over $5.4 million in scholarships annually. Basketball holds special significance here as the alma mater of NBA legend Larry Bird, who led the Sycamores to the 1979 NCAA championship game against Magic Johnson's Michigan State team. That historic run put Indiana State basketball on the national map. The men's basketball team plays at Hulman Center, where Bird's legacy still draws passionate local support despite the program's recent struggles to recapture that golden era magic.