South Carolina State University Athletics

South Carolina State competes in NCAA Division I, meaning serious athletics with full scholarships and the potential for national recognition. The Bulldogs field 10 varsity sports with 284 total athletes, representing about 10% of the 2,757-student body. The university awards $3.96 million in athletic scholarships annually. As a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, South Carolina State faces other historically black universities in regional competition. The school maintains a heated rivalry with nearby Claflin University. South Carolina State has built a respectable football program that draws community support in Orangeburg. The athletic programs serve as a source of pride and tradition for this HBCU, where sports help unite the campus community. The Bulldogs compete with the intensity expected at the Division I level while maintaining the close-knit feel of a smaller university.