NCAA-I Collegiate Sports Teams of Indiana

Athletic Alumni: Betting on Indiana College Sports Teams

While we do not condone betting on any sports team simply because it’s your favorite, we do understand the attraction to supporting the athletic departments of your local university or alumni. Besides, the way regulated sportsbooks are designed today, it’s possible to bet on any team without choosing between a “favorite” or “underdog”. This makes it easier to bet on the sports teams you love most – even the college sports teams, thanks to recent betting legislation in Indiana.

Below, you’ll find a complete list of all the collegiate sports teams of Indiana that you can legally wager on, from Ball State to Valparaiso. But first, please take a moment to educate yourself on the legal limitations of betting on college sports in Indiana.

→ What the Indiana Criminal Code says about College Sports Betting

Indiana state law permits college sports betting, but only to an extent. First of all, only “NCAA Division I” sports are open for wagering. All other college level sports (NCAA Division II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, etc.) are not. Secondly, the types of eligible bets are limited to straight bets (moneylines), point spreads, totals, and certain types of props/futures. State law strictly prohibits in-play player props on individual college athletes.

For example, you can bet that Indiana State will lead Evansville at the half, or that Purdue will make it to the Sweet Sixteen. You cannot, however, bet that a specific half-back will rush for over/under 50 yards in the second half of a game, or that a specific college basketball player will score the first goal of the second half. These are live player props, and are expressly illegal.

In a Directive to Sports Wagering Operators issued by the IGC on January 22, 2020, the Commission explained:

1. Wagering on collegiate events shall be limited to NCAA Division I sports. For college football, NCAA Division I includes both Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision.
2. In-play, collegiate player proposition wagers are prohibited. In-play wagering is defined as wagers placed after a sporting event has started. See IC 4-38-2-10.

In short, you can’t bet on college player props during a game, and you can’t bet on anything below the highest ranking NCAA Division I-A (FBS) and Division I-AA (FCS) sporting events.

Ball State University (BSU) Cardinals

Located in Muncie, Indiana, BSU is the home of the Ball State Cardinals. They are part of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Ball State Cardinals football team is part of the NCAA I-A Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The university hosts a total of six athletic squads. Location Muncie, Indiana Established 1918 Motto “We Fly!” Team Nickname Cardinals Colors Cardinal Red and White Mascot: Charlie Cardinal Affiliations: NCAA Division I – MAC Sports: Football, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball, and Women’s Soccer. Sports Stadiums Football – Scheumann Stadium Basketball – Worthen Arena Baseball – Ball Diamond Website ballstatesports.com

Butler University (BU) Bulldogs

Situated in Indianapolis, Indiana, BU is the proud home of the Butler Bulldogs. They are a member of the Big East Conference (BEC). The Butler Bulldogs football team is part of the NCAA I-AA Football Championship Subdivision (FBS). The university hosts seven athletic squads. Location Indianapolis, Indiana Established 1855 Motto “Bulldogs Ever Do or Die!” Team Nickname Bulldogs Colors White and Blue Mascot(s) Butler Blue III Affiliations NCAA Division I – Big East Sports Football, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Men’s Soccer, and Women’s Soccer. Sports Stadiums Football – Bud & Jackie Sellick Bowl Basketball – Hinkle Fieldhouse Baseball – Bulldog Park Website www.butlersports.com

Indiana University (IU) Hoosiers

The largest university in the state, IU is located in Bloomington, Indiana. Its athletic squads are the Hoosiers – the colloquial nickname of all people from the great state of Indiana. The IU Hoosiers are part of the Big Ten Conference (BTC). The Hoosiers football team is part of the NCAA I-A Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The university hosts seven athletic squads. Location Bloomingtin, Indiana Established 1820 Motto “Lux et Veritas” (Light and Truth) Team Nickname Hoosiers Colors Cream and Crimson Mascot(s) None Affiliations NCAA Division I – Big Ten Sports Football, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball, and Women’s Soccer. Sports Stadiums Football – Memorial Stadium Basketball – Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Baseball – Bart Kaufman Field Softball – Andy Mohr Field Soccer – Bill Armstrong Stadium Website iuhoosiers.com

Indiana State University (ISU) Sycamores

Established in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1865, ISU is home to the Sycamores. They compete in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), the third-oldest conference in the country. The Sycamores football team is part of the NCAA I-AA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The university hosts six athletic squads. Location Terre Haute, Indiana Established 1865 Motto “Empowering Students” Team Nickname Sycamores Colors Royal Blue and White Mascot(s) Sycamore Sam Affiliations NCAA Division I – Missouri Valley Sports Football, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball, and Women’s Soccer. Sports Stadiums Football – Memorial Stadium Basketball – Hulman Center Baseball – Bob Warn Field Softball – Price Field Soccer – Memorial Stadium Website www.gosycamores.com

Indiana / Purdue University of Indianapolis (IUPUI) Jaguars

Officially the “Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis”, IUPUI is a core campus of Indiana University that also offers degrees from Purdue University; the result of a 1969 merger between the campuses of Indiana University Indianapolis (est. 1916) and the Purdue Indianapolis Extension Center (est. 1946). IUPUI is the home of the Jaguars athletic teams, competing in the 12-school Horizon League conference. The university does not have a football team, but does host five other athletic squads. Location Indianapolis, Indiana Established 1969 Motto “Fulfilling the Promise” Team Nickname Jaguars Colors Crimson and Old Gold Mascot(s) Jawz, Jinx, and Jazzy Affiliations NCAA Division I – Horizon Sports Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Softball, Men’s Soccer, and Women’s Soccer. Sports Stadiums Basketball (Men’s) – Indiana Farmer’s Coliseum Basketball (Women’s) – The Jungle Soccer – IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium Website www.iupuijags.com

Purdue University (PU) Boilermakers

Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, is the flagship school of the Purdue University system of campuses, and home to the famous Boilermakers athletics department. Purdue Boilermakers are part of the Big Ten Conference (BTC), with a football team competing in the NCAA Division I-A Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The university hosts six athletic squads. Location West Lafayette, Indiana Established 1869 Motto “Education, Research, Service” Team Nickname Boilermakers Colors Old Gold and Black Mascot(s) Boilermaker Special and Purdue Pete Affiliations NCAA Division I – Big Ten Sports Football, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball, and Women’s Soccer. Sports Stadiums Football – Ross-Ade Stadium Basketball – Mackey Arena Baseball – Alexander Field Softball – Bittinger Stadium Soccer – Folk Field Website www.purduesports.com

Purdue University Fort Wayne (PUFW) Mastodons

Purdue University Fort Wayne is the newest campus in the Purdue University system, established in 2018 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is home to the PUFW Mastodons, who compete in the Horizon League conference. PUFW does not have a football team, but does host six other sports teams. Location Fort Wayne, Indiana Established 2018 Motto “Education, Research, Service” Team Nickname Mastodons Colors Old Gold and Black Mascot(s) Don the Mastodon Affiliations NCAA Division I – Horizon Sports Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer. Sports Stadiums Basketball – Hillard Gates Sports Center Baseball – Mastodon Field Soccer – Hefner Soccer Complex Website gomastodons.com

Valparaiso University (VU) Crusaders

Built in 1859, Valparaiso University (a.k.a. “Valpo”) is a private, Lutheran university located in Valparaiso, Indiana. It is home to the Valparaiso Crusaders, a series of athletic teams competing in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The VU Crusaders football team is part of the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The university hosts seven athletic squads. Location Valparaiso, Indiana Established 1859 Motto “In luce tua videmus lucem” (In Thy light we see light) Team Nickname Crusaders Colors Brown and Gold Mascot(s) The Crusader Affiliations NCAA Division I – Missouri Valley Sports Football, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer. Sports Stadiums Football – Brown Field Basketball – Athletics-Recreation Center Baseball – Emory G. Bauer Field Soccer – Brown Field Website www.valpoathletics.com

University of Evansville (UE) Purple Aces

This private university, established in 1854, is located in Evansville, Indiana. It is the home of the Evansville Purple Aces, who compete in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The Evansville Purple Aces do not host a football squad, but do take pride in six other athletic sports teams. Location Evansville, Indiana Established 1854 Motto “Civic Mission… Sacred Trust” Team Nickname Purple Aces Colors Purple, White and Orange Mascot(s) Ace Purple Affiliations NCAA Division I – Missouri Valley Sports Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer. Sports Stadiums Basketball – Ford Center Baseball – Charles H. Braun Stadium Soccer – Arad McCutchan Stadium Website www.gopurpleaces.com

University of Notre Dame – Fighting Irish

Among the most famous of all athletic departments in the collegiate U.S., everyone has heard of Notre Dame, but the majority of people couldn’t tell you where it is. We Hoosiers (most of us, anyway) know that it’s right here in northern Indiana. It’s the home of the legendary Fighting Irish, who compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The UND football team is part of the NCAA Division I-A Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The university hosts eight athletic teams – more than any other in the state – including Indiana’s only collegiate ice hockey team. Location Notre Dame, Indiana Established 1842 Motto “Vita Dulcedo Spes” (Life, Sweetness, Hope) Team Nickname Fighting Irish Colors Blue and Gold Mascot(s) Leprechaun Affiliations NCAA Division I – ACC Sports Football, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Ice Hockey, Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer. Sports Stadiums Football – Notre Dame Stadium Basketball – Edmund P. Joyce Center Baseball – Frank Eck Stadium Softball – Melissa Cook Stadium Soccer – Alumni Stadium Website www.und.com