
With 27 varsity teams, Bucknell University has one of the largest varsity athletics programs in the country. The Bucknell Bison, as the athletic teams are known, compete in NCAA Division I sports, and the football team competes in Division I FCS. Bucknell is a founding member of the Patriot League, where it has won the league's all-sports trophy, the Presidents' Cup, more times than any other school. The men's basketball team has also seen success, going to the NCAA men's basketball tournament in 2005 and becoming the first Patriot League team to win an NCAA tournament game.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of varsity teams | 27 |
| Athletic program diversity | One of the most diverse in the nation |
| Athletic program size | One of the largest in the country |
| NCAA Division | Division I |
| Football | Division I FCS |
| Mascot | Bucky Bison |
| Fight song | ray Bucknell |
| Number of student-athletes | More than 700 |
| Graduation rate | Top 10 nationally with a four-class average of 89% |
| NCAA Graduation Success Rate | No. 1 |
| Number of Patriot League Presidents' Cup wins | Most of any school |
| Number of Academic All-Americans | Top school in the nation |
| Swimming | Men's team won Division II national championship in 1964 |
| Rowing | Women's team won Patriot League Championship in 2006 |
| Lacrosse | Ranked 14th in all-time Division I wins |
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Bucknell University has 27 teams competing in Division I
Bucknell University has 27 teams competing in NCAA Division I, making it one of the largest varsity athletics programs in the country. The Bucknell Bison, as the teams are collectively known, compete in the Patriot League, where Bucknell has won the league's all-sports trophy, the Presidents' Cup, more times than any other school.
The Bison's men's basketball team has enjoyed notable successes, including a victory over Kansas in the 2005 NCAA men's basketball tournament, making them the first Patriot League team to win an NCAA tournament game. In 2006, the team nearly entered the Associated Press's top-25 rankings after defeating Syracuse, DePaul, and Saint Joseph's. They were ranked 24th in the nation in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today college basketball polls that year.
Bucknell's men's lacrosse team is also often nationally ranked, and the team reached the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 2001. In 2005 and 2006, they upset highly ranked Navy and Maryland teams, respectively. The men's soccer team won the Patriot League championship in 2005, and the women's rowing team won the same championship in 2006 and 2007, with the lightweight eight being crowned national champions at the IRA for the first time in school history in 2007.
In 2003, Bucknell became the only school in Patriot League history to capture both the Men's and Women's Patriot League Swimming Championship in the same season. The men's swimming and diving team also captured the Division II national championship in 1964. Bucknell's football team competes in Division I FCS.
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The Bucknell Bison are the university's mascot
The Bucknell Bison is the name of the athletic teams that represent Bucknell University. The Bucknell Bison has been the mascot of the university since 1923. The Bucknell Bison is also the name of the university's wrestling program, which was reinstated in the 2006-2007 season thanks to a private donation of $5.6 million from wrestling alumnus William Graham.
The choice of the bison as a mascot was made in 1923, though it was suggested around 1910 by William Bartol, a former athlete and head of the math department. Bartol pushed for the university's sports teams to have one consistent name, and he suggested the bison because of the area's historical connection to the animal. The bison is believed to have populated the region in the late 1700s.
The mascot, Bucky the Bison, is a beloved figure at Bucknell University. In 2022, Bucky signed a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with Service 1st Federal Credit Union, believed to be the first of its kind in college sports. The deal allows students to be compensated for their work as the mascot and makes Bucky an even bigger presence in the community.
Bucky the Bison has a rich history at Bucknell, including a kidnapping by University of Pennsylvania students in the 1980s and the development of the rare ability to walk on two legs. Bucky's companion, Becky the Bison, joined him in 1990 and retired in the early 2000s.
Bucknell University has one of the largest varsity athletics programs in the country, with 27 teams competing in NCAA Division I sports. The university's football team competes in Division I FCS. The Bucknell Bison athletic program is a member of the Patriot League, and the university has won the league's all-sports trophy, the Presidents' Cup, more times than any other school.
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Bucknell competes in the Patriot League
Bucknell University has one of the largest varsity athletics programs in the country, with 27 teams competing in NCAA Division I sports. The Bucknell Bison, as the athletic teams are known, are a member of the Patriot League for most NCAA Division I sports and Division I FCS in football.
Bucknell is a founding member of the Patriot League and has won the league's all-sports trophy, the Presidents' Cup, more times than any other school. In 2003, Bucknell became the only school in Patriot League history to capture both the Men's and Women's Patriot League Swimming Championship in the same season. The men's swimming and diving team also captured the Division II national championship in 1964.
The Bucknell Bison men's basketball team has also found success in the Patriot League. In 2005, they became the first Patriot League team to win an NCAA tournament game, upsetting Kansas 64-63. In 2006, the team nearly entered the Associated Press's top-25 rankings after victories over Syracuse, DePaul, and Saint Joseph's. That year, they did not lose a single league game and were ranked 24th in the nation in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today college basketball polls.
Bucknell's other athletic teams have also excelled in the Patriot League. In 2006, the men's soccer team won the Patriot League championship and advanced to the NCAA Soccer tournament, while the women's rowing team won back-to-back Patriot League championships in 2006 and 2007, with the lightweight eight being crowned national champions at the IRA in 2007.
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The Bucknell men's basketball team has had notable wins
The Bucknell Bison men's basketball team has competed in NCAA Division I since 1896. The team has had several notable wins over the years.
In 2006, the Bison had a successful run with high-profile victories over Syracuse (ranked 19th), DePaul, and Saint Joseph's. This impressive sequence of wins almost earned them a spot in the Associated Press's top-25 rankings. The team was eventually ranked 24th in the nation in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today college basketball polls for the week of February 13, 2006. This was a significant achievement, as it marked the first time a Patriot League men's basketball team had received a national ranking.
In the 2006 NCAA tournament, the Bucknell Bison defeated Arkansas in the first round with a score of 59-55. This win added to their impressive record in the Patriot League, where they remained undefeated in 2006.
The Bucknell Bison men's basketball team has appeared in eight NCAA tournaments, most recently in 2018. Additionally, the team has had three players drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Bucknell University boasts one of the largest varsity athletics programs in the nation, with 27 teams competing in Division I. The university's athletic teams are known as the Bucknell Bison, and they have a long history of success in various sports.
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Bucknell has a reputable men's lacrosse programme
Bucknell University has 27 varsity teams competing in NCAA Division I, making its athletics programme one of the largest and most diverse in the country.
In 1975, Bucknell joined the East Coast Conference, which they won in 1978 and 1985. They switched conferences again in 1991, joining the Patriot League, which they have won nine times. In 2001, they reached the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship and played in their first NCAA tournament game. They broke into the top 10 National Rankings for only the second time in school history in 2008.
The Bucknell Bison men's lacrosse team has a rich history of success, consistently performing well and representing the university with pride in the Patriot League of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Bucknell University competes in NCAA Division I sports, with 27 varsity teams in total.
The Bucknell basketball team is called the Bison.
Bucknell University has one of the largest varsity athletics programs in the country, with teams competing in football, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, rowing, baseball, and many more.


















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