Athletics Overview
Saginaw Valley State competes in NCAA Division II, where sports matter but don't dominate campus life like at major universities. The Cardinals field 15 varsity teams with 532 total athletes, meaning about 9% of the 6,004 students participate in varsity athletics. The athletic program distributes over $3.2 million in scholarships across all sports. SVSU plays in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference against regional rivals like Grand Valley State and Ferris State. The Cardinals have built solid programs in basketball and football, though they're better known for producing professional athletes like NBA star Draymond Green and NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski than for championship banners. Division II offers genuine competition with scholarships while maintaining academic focus.
Athletics Details
Source: EADA / U.S. Department of Education
- Athletic Association
- NCAA Division II
- Conference
- Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
- Team Nickname
- Cardinals
- Varsity Sports
- 15
- Student-Athletes
- 532
- Athletic Scholarships
- $3,282,077
Sports
Men's (7)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Swimming and Diving (combined)
- Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Women's (8)
- Basketball
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving (combined)
- Tennis
- Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
- Volleyball