University of Houston Athletics

The Cougars compete in NCAA Division I, which means big-time college sports with full athletic scholarships and serious competition. With 442 athletes out of 37,175 students, only about 1.2% of students play varsity sports, but the entire campus rallies around major games. Houston recently joined the Big 12 Conference, a major step up that puts them against powerhouse schools like Texas and Oklahoma. The athletic program awards over $9 million in scholarships across 13 sports. Football draws the biggest crowds, especially when playing cross-town rival Rice University in the Bayou Bucket game. Basketball also has a strong following, and the school's location in sports-crazy Houston means students get excited about their teams. The athletic success helps build school spirit on this large urban campus.