Central Methodist competes in 21 intercollegiate varsity sports: CMU Eagles men's basketball team first appeared in the NAIA tournament in 1943.

Roger B. Wilson, who later became Governor of Missouri, was a member of Central Methodist's rugby teams in the early 1970s.

In 1973 Central Methodist won a regional rugby tournament by defeating the University of Missouri 32-4 in the championship game.

The men's soccer program, led by coach Alex Nichols and assisted by David Macsicza, Marc Russell, and Rafael Ortiz Ferreira, won the 2018 NAIA National Championship.

The previous unofficial fight song had been Hail, Victory written by Central College alum and former drum major Robert Earl Stepp.