March is one of my favorite times of the year.

For sports fans, it means one thing — March Madness.

Across the country, millions of people tune in to watch the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. The buzzer beaters, the Cinderella stories, and the cutting down of the nets remind us why college athletics are so special.

But while the spotlight often shines brightest on Division I, something incredible is happening across every level of college athletics during this same time of year.

Champions are being crowned everywhere.

From Division I to Division II, Division III, NAIA, and the NJCAA, thousands of student-athletes are competing for national championships and achieving their dreams of playing college sports.

And that’s an important message for student-athletes and families navigating the recruiting process.

Opportunity exists at every level.

Division II: High Level Competition with Balance

Division II continues to grow as one of the most competitive and balanced levels of college athletics.

Today, Division II includes:

• 140,000 student-athletes

• 292 active colleges and universities

• 23 conferences

• 25 NCAA national championships

Division II emphasizes both high-level competition and the overall student-athlete experience, creating opportunities for athletes to compete while still maintaining balance between athletics, academics, and campus life.

For many student-athletes, this level offers the perfect fit.

Division III: The Largest NCAA Division

Division III is actually the largest division within the NCAA, and it continues to provide incredible opportunities for student-athletes who want to compete while prioritizing academics and campus involvement.

Division III currently includes:

• 200,000 student-athletes

• 430 colleges and universities

• 42 conferences

• 28 national championship sports

Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but they provide outstanding academic environments and extremely competitive athletic programs.

Many student-athletes find that Division III offers the best overall college experience.

NAIA: Opportunity Across the Country

The NAIA continues to provide outstanding opportunities for student-athletes who want to compete at the collegiate level.

The NAIA includes:

• 250 colleges and universities

• 20 conferences

• 29 national championship sports

• 98 football member schools

NAIA programs are known for offering strong athletic competition along with flexible opportunities for scholarships and development.

For many student-athletes, the NAIA provides another excellent pathway to continue playing the sport they love.

NJCAA: A Launch Pad for Student-Athletes

Junior college athletics also play a major role in the college sports landscape.

The NJCAA includes:

• 525 member colleges

• 24 regions across the United States

• 3 divisions of competition (I, II, III)

Junior colleges provide an incredible opportunity for student-athletes to develop academically and athletically while keeping the door open for future transfer opportunities to four-year institutions.

Many successful college and professional athletes began their journeys at the junior college level.

Champions Are Everywhere

This time of year reminds us of something important.

Yes, the NCAA Division I tournament captures national attention.

But while millions watch March Madness, championships are being decided across multiple levels of college athletics.

Division II
Division III
NAIA
NJCAA

Thousands of student-athletes are competing, celebrating, and achieving the dream of playing college sports.

The goal isn’t just to play Division I.

The goal is to find the right opportunity — the right school, the right program, and the right environment where a student-athlete can grow both on and off the field.

Because in college athletics, champions truly exist at every level.

Final Thought

At Athletic Cohesion, one of the messages we emphasize with student-athletes and families is simple:

Be open to opportunities.

There are hundreds of schools, thousands of teams, and countless paths to competing at the collegiate level.

March Madness reminds us of the excitement of college sports.

But the bigger story is this:

Opportunity is national — and champions are everywhere.