Cardinal Athletics

Stanford reclaimed its familiar position as the nation’s most successful intercollegiate athletic department in 2022-23, capturing its first LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup since the 2018-19 campaign and 26th overall in the possible 29 seasons of the award.

Men’s gymnastics, women’s water polo and women’s rowing accounted for the Cardinal’s three NCAA titles. Stanford also brought home two national titles in sailing, bringing its overall team national championship total to five.

Extending one of the most recognizable streaks in college athletics, the Cardinal has won at least one NCAA team championship in each of the last 47 seasons, dating back to the 1976-77 campaign. Stanford enters the 2023-24 campaign with 134 overall, gaining separation from its closest competitors in UCLA (121) and USC (112). The Cardinal has won 163 national team championships overall.

The Cardinal also produced runner-up finishes in the 2022-23 Capital One Cup race, totaling 119 points behind Texas (122) in the women’s standings and compiling 83 points behind Florida (91) on the men’s side. Stanford is a three-time winner in the men’s category and seven-time champion of the women’s program. 

Varsity Sports at Stanford

In the 2023-24 academic year, Stanford has 36 varsity sports—20 for women, 16 for men (sailing is a co-ed sport). In addition to its varsity sports, Stanford Athletics supports campus-wide physical education academic classes, fitness and wellness, aquatics, intramurals, adventure programming and 43 club sports.

Home of Champions

• Total National championships: 163
• National NCAA team championships: 134
• NCAA Team Championships since 2000: 58
• Stanford scholar athletes who have been Rhodes Scholars: 13
• Olympic medals won by 177 Stanford-affiliated athletes: 296
• Individual national champions: 635
• Individual NCAA champions: 554
• Consecutive years with at least one NCAA championships: 47

As of December 2023