‘This has been a goal.’ UC Merced athletics approved to make transition to Division II

UC Merced was officially accepted to Division II competition by the National Collegiate Athletics Association on Thursday.

UC Merced will begin it’s three-year transition from an NAIA school to Division II. The Bobcats will begin NCAA Division II competition in the 2025-26 academic year and will be fully eligible for postseason in 2026-27.

The university announced in November the Bobcats will compete in the California Collegiate Athletic Association when they make the jump to Division II.

Nine of the Bobcats’ 12 intercollegiate varsity programs will compete in the CCCA conference. Men’s and women’s water polo will join the Western Water Polo Association. Men’s volleyball is applying for membership in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

“We are excited to be joining the NCAA Division II and the CCAA,” said Executive Director of Recreation and Athletics David Dunham. “This has been a goal for our program since its inception. We have achieved this milestone thanks to the hard work and dedication of our coaches, staff and our student-athletes along with unwavering support from Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz and the rest of the campus leadership.”

UC Merced has been competing in the California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) since 2011-12.

The Bobcats have won 13 Cal Pac Championships and eight Cal Pac Tournament Championships since 2011.

UC Merced will remain in the Cal Pac for this year while making the transition to Division II and remain eligible for all conference and NAIA national championship events until the end of the 2025 spring season. The Bobcats have been adding Division II teams to their schedules in many sports.

UC Merced’s men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s track & field will all compete in the CCAA.

UC Merced will become the 13th member of the CCAA, joining current members Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State East Bay, Cal State LA, Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State San Marcos, Chico State, San Francisco State, Sonoma State and Stanislaus State.

“This exciting news is indicative of the growth of UC Merced’s athletics program and the university itself, and we are thrilled to be joining NCAA Division II,” said Muñoz. “In doing so, UC Merced aligns itself with institutions that prioritize a balance between rigorous academics and high-level athletics, providing student-athletes with the opportunity to excel in both.”

During the 2025-26 season, UC Merced will compete in the CCAA, but the Bobcats will not be eligible for CCAA or NCAA championships. UC Merced will gain NCAA Division II active membership status in the fall of 2026.

One benefit of joining the CCAA will be establishing rivalries with nearby universities like Stanislaus State and Fresno Pacific University. UC Merced had only one NAIA member school within 150 miles of campus.

“We are thrilled that UC Merced has been accepted as an NCAA Division II provisional member,” said CCAA commissioner Allen Hardison. “I was extremely confident this would be the case as they are very well-prepared to make this transition. However, it is still exciting to see their hard work officially resulting in NCAA provisional member status.”

UC Merced joins Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay as former California Pacific Conference members to make the transition to NCAA Division II and the CCAA.