Stanford University Athletics

Stanford competes in NCAA Division I, where athletic scholarships and serious competition define the culture. The Cardinal fields 34 varsity sports with 803 total athletes, meaning roughly 10% of the student body competes at the varsity level. Stanford awards $37.6 million in athletic scholarships annually across all sports. The university recently joined the Atlantic Coast Conference, a move that surprised many given the cross-country travel required. Stanford has built a powerhouse athletic program that consistently ranks among the top universities for overall sports excellence. The Cardinal has produced Olympic champions and professional stars across multiple sports. Their longtime rivalry with UC Berkeley in the Big Game remains one of college football's oldest traditions, dating back to 1892.