UC Irvine

The UC Irvine Anteaters represent a unique blend of world-class academic prestige, quirky school spirit, and a tradition of championship success in Irvine, California. Known for one of the most distinctive mascots in collegiate sports, the university's "Zot! Zot! Zot!" chant unites a passionate community behind a program that consistently excels. The Anteaters' greatest dominance is in men's volleyball, where the program has established itself as a national blue blood, capturing four NCAA National Championships since 2007. On the basketball court, UCI broke through on the national stage in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, upsetting Kansas State to secure the program's first March Madness victory. The university's broad-based excellence is further showcased by a baseball program with two College World Series appearances, a water polo team with three past national titles, and a pioneering, championship-winning esports program. The UC Irvine Anteaters are a testament to a different kind of athletic powerhouse, proving that elite academics and a fun-loving spirit can fuel one of the nation's most successful and diverse athletic departments.