With a Spotlight on Mid-Major Programs

College cheer and dance have undergone a remarkable transformation over the past several decades, evolving from game-day spirit squads into elite competitive programs that demand exceptional athleticism, precision, and discipline. Today, cheerleaders and dancers at universities across the country—large and small—train and compete at levels equal to many NCAA-recognized sports. Nowhere is this evolution more impressive, and more underappreciated, than within the mid-major ranks.

From the Sidelines to the Main Stage

In their earliest days, collegiate cheerleaders and dancers were primarily tasked with leading crowds, supporting athletes, and enhancing the game-day atmosphere. The routines were simpler, the stunts less complex, and competition was not yet a defining part of the culture.

But as youth cheer and dance exploded—especially the rise of competitive all-star programs—athletes entered college with stronger backgrounds in tumbling, stunting, leaps, turns, and choreography. Universities soon started building dedicated competition teams to match this growing talent pool. By the 1990s and 2000s, national competitions had become mainstream, elevating cheer and dance to recognized athletic pursuits requiring strength, conditioning, and technical mastery.

The Modern Competitive Era

Today, collegiate cheer and dance programs operate with the structure and intensity of varsity sports. Teams are judged on difficulty, execution, synchronization, innovation, and overall performance quality. Training can run year-round, often involving strength programs, long practice hours, and travel for competitions hosted by UCA, UDA, NCA, and NDA.

Specialized divisions—such as acro & tumbling, stunt, and game-day—have helped standardize the competitive landscape. Acro & tumbling’s rise toward NCAA emerging sport status, in particular, has brought even more legitimacy and scholarship opportunities to athletes with cheer-based skill sets.

College dance has reached new heights as well, with top-tier programs setting the standard in jazz, pom, and hip-hop. Their national championship performances often go viral, showcasing breathtaking skill and artistic excellence.

The Mid-Major Powerhouses: Underdogs No Longer

While power-conference schools often dominate the conversation, mid-major cheer and dance programs have become some of the sport’s most compelling success stories. These teams frequently compete with fewer resources, smaller recruiting budgets, and less national visibility—but their competitive results continue to turn heads.

Many mid-majors excel by building tight-knit cultures, retaining talented regional athletes, and developing choreography and stunt systems that maximize team strengths. Their performances often rival, and sometimes outperform, those from larger institutions.

Programs at schools such as Dayton, Western Kentucky, Akron, Bowling Green, Kent State, Grand Canyon, Northern Arizona, and Eastern Michigan have all carved out impressive reputations in recent years. Whether in pom, jazz, hip-hop, or traditional cheer formats, these teams routinely place highly at UDA and NCA nationals.

This rise is no coincidence. Youth programs in many mid-major regions—especially the Midwest, South, and Mountain West—have become national talent pipelines. Athletes increasingly choose mid-majors because of strong coaching staffs, academic fit, or the opportunity to compete immediately on the national stage.

A Growing Source of School Pride

For many mid-major institutions, cheer and dance teams serve as some of their most visible and marketable athletic groups. These athletes perform at nearly every home event, travel with teams, engage heavily in community outreach, and represent the university during national competitions watched by hundreds of thousands of people.

When a mid-major places at nationals—or secures a championship—it often generates more buzz than many varsity sports on campus. Administrators are beginning to recognize this value, prompting increased investment in facilities, travel resources, and full-time coaching roles.

Where the Future Is Headed

As collegiate cheer and dance continue to mature, mid-major programs are positioned to become even more influential. Their blend of grit, innovation, and tight-knit culture allows them to compete with powerhouses despite smaller budgets. With acro & tumbling gaining NCAA traction and competitive dance expanding its visibility, mid-major schools will likely see even more recruiting opportunities and national recognition.

The evolution of cheer and dance is far from complete—but one thing is certain: the sport’s heart and spirit thrive just as strongly in mid-major arenas as in the nation’s largest stadiums.

These teams are not simply complementary to athletics—they are defining athletic excellence in their own right.