Otterbein Cardinals

Athletics
The Otterbein Cardinals compete in NCAA Division III, as a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference. Otterbein's traditional opponents include: Baldwin Wallace University, Capital University, Heidelberg University, John Carroll University, Marietta College, University of Mount Union, Muskingum University, Ohio Northern University, and Wilmington College. They sponsor eight men's and eight women's varsity sports, including:
 * Baseball (men)
 * Basketball (men/women)
 * Cheerleading (coed)
 * Cross country (men/women)
 * Football (men)
 * Golf (men/women)
 * Lacrosse (men/women)
 * Soccer (men/women)
 * Softball (women)
 * Tennis (men/women)
 * Track and field (men/women)
 * Volleyball (women)

The basketball team has been led for 33 seasons by head coach Dick Reynolds, who is also the school's athletic director. His overall record stands at 583-316, and his teams have made 13 trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament, reaching the Final Four in 1981 and 1991 and winning the national championship in 2002.

The men's soccer team finished as runner-ups in the 2002 Division III Soccer Championship. Most recently, the women's soccer team finished the 2010 season in the national semifinal when they lost 4-2 in a penalty shootout to eventual national champion Hardin -Simmons (TX). The team finished their first undefeated season at 20-0-4 and ranked first nationally (of over 400 DIII teams) in Shutout Percentage, Goals Against Average and Save Percentage.

The men's lacrosse team was founded in 2009 and played its first game in March 2010.

The school's primary athletic rival is Capital University of Bexley, Ohio.