Former NCAA stars on "Dancing with the Stars" — from Jerry Rice and Jennie Finch to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The "Dancing with the Stars" season 34 cast has been announced, featuring actors, musicians, influencers and two college stars: current UCLA gymnast Jordan Chiles and former UCLA basketball great Baron Davis. 

With their additions, the show continues to highlight just how versatile an athlete is. Over the years, "Dancing with the Stars" has featured nearly 50 NCAA standouts across 10 different sports — five of whom have gone on to win the Mirrorball Trophy. 

From March Madness legends to Hall of Famers, here’s a look at some of the standout NCAA athletes to have competed on the show. 

Jerry Rice — Season 2

Before he was the NFL's all-time leading receiver, he was a star wide receiver at Mississippi Valley State from 1981 to 1984. In the wide-open “Satellite Express” offense, he set 18 NCAA records, including the all-Division I record for single-season touchdown receptions. Rice finished his career with 301 receptions for 4,693 yards and 50 touchdowns across 40 games, cementing his place as one of college football’s most dominant receivers. He even finished No. 9 in Heisman voting his senior season.

Rice later appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" in season 2 with his partner Anna Trebunskaya. Though not a natural dancer, his work ethic made him a fan favorite. He advanced all the way to the finals, finishing as runner-up to 98 Degrees singer Drew Lachey.

Jennie Finch Daigle — Season 26

Still one of the most recognizable names in softball, Jennie Finch was Arizona’s ace pitcher from 1999-02. She led the Wildcats to the 2001 Women’s College World Series title and set an NCAA record with 60 consecutive wins, a record that still stands today. Finch finished her college career 119-16 with 1,028 strikeouts, two Honda Awards as national player of the year and three All-America honors. 

Finch competed in season 26 — the athletes-only edition — with Keo Motsepe. They reached the semifinals together before being eliminated in a dance-off, placing fourth.

Arike Ogunbowale — Season 26

Arike Ogunbowale became a March Madness legend at Notre Dame with back-to-back buzzer beaters in the Final Four — one against UConn in the semifinals and another in the championship against Mississippi State to clinch the 2018 title. She graduated as Notre Dame’s all-time leading scorer and was named 2018 Final Four Most Outstanding Player. 

That same spring, Ogunbowale made history again by becoming the first active NCAA athlete to appear on "Dancing with the Stars." Riding the momentum of her March Madness fame, she joined the athletes-only season, paired with Gleb Savchenko. She placed seventh in the competition.

Stephen Nedoroscik — Season 32

At Penn State, Stephen Nedoroscik became one of the most dominant pommel horse competitors in NCAA history. He is a two-time NCAA pommel horse champion and became the first American gymnast to win a world championship in the event in 2021. He later added two Olympic bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Games — one with Team USA and one individually on pommel horse.

Nedoroscik competed on season 33 of the show with partner Rylee Arnold. Though he entered the ballroom with little dance experience, his discipline and steady improvement carried him through the competition. The duo won over fans week after week and advanced all the way to the finale, placing fourth.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — Season 26

Few players in NCAA history dominated quite like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at UCLA. From 1966 through 1969, he powered the Bruins to an incredible 88-2 record over three championship seasons. That run included a perfect season in 1967, followed by near-perfect 29-1 finishes in 1968 and 1969. 

Nearly five decades later, Kareem joined season 26. Standing 7-foot-2, he made history has the first 7-footer to appear on the show. Paired with pro Lindsay Arnold, Abdul-Jabbar embraced the challenge in the athletes-only edition of the competition, placing eighth.

Iman Shumpert — Season 30

Before trading basketball shoes for dance shoes, Iman Shumpert played for Georgia Tech from 2008 to 2011. In his senior year he became just the seventh player in ACC history to lead his team in scoring, rebounding and assists in a single season. He also set the Yellow Jackets record for steals per game and appeared in the 2010 NCAA tournament before declaring for the NBA draft, where he was selected 17th overall by the New York Knicks. 

In 2021, Shumpert shocked the ballroom. He joined the season 30 cast — as did 2020 Olympic all-around champion Suni Lee — and was paired with pro Daniella Karagach — despite a striking hight difference of nearly a foot between the 6-foot-5 guard and his partner. Considered underdogs from the start, the duo’s creative choreography won over the judges and audience. Their run not only earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Choreography, but also ended with Shumpert becoming the first NBA player to win the Mirrorball Trophy.

Did you know?

Five former NCAA student-athletes have gone on to win ABC’s "Dancing with the Stars"

• Emmitt Smith (Florida football) — Season 3 champion
• Hines Ward (Georgia football) — Season 12 champion
• Donald Driver (Alcorn State football) — Season 14 champion
• Rashad Jennings (Pitt and Liberty football) — Season 24 champion
• Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech basketball) — Season 30 champion

Whether they finished as champions or fan favorites, NCAA athletes have become a part of the show’s history.

Here’s a full list of athletes that have competed on the show: