The California Golden Bears athletic department competes at the highest level of collegiate athletics within the National Collegiate Athletic Association, commonly known as NCAA Division I. Following widespread realignment across collegiate conferences, Cal's primary athletic programs transitioned to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference for many major sports, while certain specialized or standalone programs participate in regional or sport-specific conferences like the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. This affiliation provides Golden Bears student-athletes with elite competition schedules, national broadcast exposure, and a platform to vie for national championships.