CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN

Central Michigan University operates 17 varsity sports across NCAA Division I-FBS competition from its Mount Pleasant campus, located in Michigan's lower peninsula with an enrollment of 14,423 students. Founded in 1892, the institution fields competitive programs in both traditional sports like football and basketball alongside Olympic sports including swimming & diving, lacrosse, and cross country. The Chippewas compete within the Mid-American Conference, a 12-team league that has produced multiple bowl-eligible football programs and tournament-tested basketball teams.

Football remains the flagship sport at Central Michigan, competing in the FBS subdivision where the Chippewas have produced NFL draft picks and conference championship contenders in recent decades. Men's and women's basketball programs operate year-round with full scholarship resources, while Olympic sports teams compete regionally and nationally across distance running, aquatics, and court sports. Women's lacrosse joined the varsity roster as a more recent addition to the athletic department's offerings, expanding recreational opportunities for student-athletes on campus.

The athletic department balances competitive excellence with academic support services for student-athletes, maintaining operations across facilities in Mount Pleasant while drawing from a student population that sustains attendance and community engagement throughout the athletic calendar.