The Best of Both Worlds: The Case for Multidivisional Athletics

In the evolving landscape of college athletics, a small group of institutions operate in a way that challenges traditional National Collegiate Athletic Association ("NCAA") division norms. Known as multidivisional schools, these institutions compete primarily in one division while elevating select sports to compete at a higher level. This unique model offers student athletes the competitive edge of Division I in select sports, combined with the academic balance and community focus of Division II or III across the rest of the athletic department.

What Are Multidivisional Schools?

Multidivisional schools are colleges and universities that compete primarily in one NCAA division but choose to participate in select sports at a higher level, usually Division I.[1] This allows institutions to maintain a flagship program in a sport of historic or strategic importance while keeping the rest of their athletic programs aligned with a division focused more on academics and broader participation.[2] 

For example, Franklin & Marshall College ("F&M") competes in Division I wrestling while the rest of their sports compete in Division III.[3] F&M’s wrestling program was founded in the 1890s and was competing at the highest collegiate level before the NCAA established the Division III classification in 1973.[4] 

Similarly, Johns Hopkins University is a Division III school that competes in Division I men’s and women’s lacrosse.[5] Hopkins has been a national lacrosse powerhouse since the 1830s and has won multiple NCAA championships.[6] Like F&M, its Division I status in lacrosse was preserved due to its historic success and continued participation at the highest level.

Another prominent multidivisional school is Clarkson University, which is a Division III institution that competes in Division I men’s and women’s ice hockey.[7] Clarkson’s men’s hockey program, founded in the 1920s, was the fastest Division I college hockey team to gain 1,000 victories.[8] Both the men’s and women’s teams have earned national recognition, with multiple NCAA tournament appearances and championships.[9] For all three of these schools, the multidivisional model creates a unique environment that allows them to support their historic elite-level performance in these sports while preserving a broader campus culture centered on academics.[10]

History of Multidivisional Schools and NCAA Approval

In 1973, the NCAA formally reorganized into three divisions to better reflect differences in the scale of athletics programs and institutional missions.[11] At that time, schools in Divisions II and III were allowed to participate in Division I for individual sports other than football or basketball.[12] Following 1973, rules were adopted that defined which institutions could classify a sport in a division other than their membership division and under what conditions.[13] For example, Division III schools with a sport classified in Division I had to follow both Division I and III regulations (or the more stringent rule).[14] By the early 1990s, further constraints were placed on multidivisional schools, such as prohibiting Division II and III schools from classifying certain sports, such as women’s basketball, in Division I, and prohibiting Division I or II institutions from being classified in Division III for sports like football.[15]

In 2004, Proposal 65 to the NCAA bylaws was written seeking to require that all sports at a given institution compete in the same division, essentially eliminating the option for multidivisional schools to opt up select programs.[16] This strict approach raised concerns among schools with historic multidivisional programs.[17] In response to efforts by Clarkson and other multidivisional schools to gain Division III support, the NCAA ultimately adopted Proposal 65-1 as a compromise.[18] 65-1 allowed Division III institutions to maintain one men’s and one women’s sport in Division I, recognizing the unique circumstances of schools with long-established flagship programs.[19] This effectively reaffirmed the grandfathering of multidivisional programs.[20] 

Building on that foundation in 2023, the NCAA further expanded the policy by allowing any Division II or III institution with a Division I program to fully apply Division I rules, including scholarship offerings, to those teams.[21] As of 2025, multidivisional schools are now permitted to opt-in their Division I programs to the House settlement, giving them access to the same revenue-sharing opportunities and benefits as full Division I members.[22]

How Does Compliance Work?

Operating under two different NCAA divisional frameworks requires institutions to navigate complex compliance challenges.[23] Division I programs follow stricter recruiting calendars, scholarship rules, and eligibility standards than their Division III counterparts.[24] To stay compliant, multidivisional athletic departments must enforce the rules of each division separately; this often requires distinct policies, compliance officers, and tracking systems.[25] While administratively complex, this structure supports fairness and ensures athletes receive the appropriate level of oversight and resources. These standards are part of why the NCAA continues to allow the multidivisional classification to exist. When managed well, the multidivisional classification offers a flexible and student-centered model that reflects the strengths and traditions of the institution.[26]

Why Multidivisional Schools Are a Good Option for Student-Athletes

Despite challenges and rule changes throughout history, this small group of multidivisional schools are now an accepted part of the NCAA and provide student-athletes with the best of both worlds. For athletes at schools like F&M, Johns Hopkins, or Clarkson, the multidivisional model offers a rare opportunity: the ability to compete at a national level in select sports without sacrificing the academic rigor, close-knit community, and overall experience of a Division III campus.[27] This multidivisional approach proves that smaller schools don’t have to choose between athletic excellence and academic integrity: they can offer both.

GABBY PAINTER (contributing editor) is a 3L at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. She is Vice Chair of the Sports Law Negotiation Teams, a member of the Basketball Negotiation Team, and a Sports Law Concentration member. She is interested in labor and employment law, and after law school, she hopes to work for a professional sports team, league, or players association.

References:

[1] Matt Brown, Here’s Why (and How) Some D-III Schools Play Some Sports in D-I, Extra Points (Apr. 17, 2023), https://www.extrapointsmb.com/p/heres-why-and-how-some-d-iii-schools-play-some-sports-in-d-i.

[2] Id.

[3] Franklin & Marshall Wrestling Through the Years, Franklin & Marshall College (June 23, 2023), https://godiplomats.com/sports/2023/6/23/franklin-marshall-wrestling-through-the-years.aspx.

[4] Id.

[5] Athletics, Johns Hopkins University, https://www.jhu.edu/life/athletics/.

[6] Id.

[7] Tradition, Clarkson Univ. Athletics (Aug. 20, 2009), https://www.clarksonathletics.com/sports/2009/8/20/sidebar_334.aspx?path=mhock.

[8] Id.

[9] Id.

[10] Brown supra.

[11] Divisional Differences and the History of Multidivision Classification, NCAA (Nov. 20, 2013), https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2013/11/20/divisional-differences-and-the-history-of-multidivision-classification.aspx.

[12] Id.

[13] Id.

[14] Id.

[15] Id.

[16] NCAA Verdict: Yes on 65-1, Inside College Hockey, https://www.insidecollegehockey.com/7Archives/News/reform_0220.htm.

[17] Id.

[18] Id.

[19] Id.

[20] Id.

[21] Courtney Rickard. The Next Big Thing in NCAA Rules – Multidivisional Schools, Honest Game (June 22, 2023), https://honestgame.com/blog/the-next-big-thing-in-ncaa-rules-multidivisional-schools/.

[22] Mike McMahon, NCAA Says That Multidivisional Schools with a D‑I Sport Can Opt‑In to the House Settlement, College Hockey Insider (Feb. 13, 2025), https://www.collegehockeyinsider.com/p/ncaa-says-that-multidivisional-schools

[23] Brown supra.

[24] Id.

[25] Rickard supra.

[26] Id.

[27] Id.