Florida Institute of Technology and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University are proud to announce the launch of the Kármán Clash, a new annual rivalry series designed to honor athletic excellence, celebrate aerospace heritage, and strengthen the connection between the two institutions.

At the center of the series is the Kármán Cup/Trophy, named after world-renowned aerospace scientist Professor Theodore von Kármán. His groundbreaking work defined the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. Much like von Kármán’s pursuit of reaching new heights, the rivalry embodies the commitment of both universities to push boundaries in athletics, academics, and innovation.

Throughout each academic year, Florida Tech and Embry-Riddle will face off in a series of head-to-head competitions across varsity sports. These matchups will include men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s rowing, men’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and men’s outdoor track. Baseball and softball winners will be determined by season series, while men’s cross-country results will be based on head-to-head placement at the Sunshine State Conference Championships. Men’s rowing will be determined by the results at the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association (FIRA) Regatta.

In each competition, the winning team will receive a mini Kármán Cup/Trophy to commemorate their victory. At the end of the academic year, the school with the most head-to-head wins will be awarded the perpetual Kármán Cup/Trophy, which will be passed between the two institutions annually.

A joint committee comprised of representatives from both schools will manage event logistics, establish rules, finalize specific race events, and oversee the design of the trophies, which will incorporate aerospace and aerodynamic elements. Each year will conclude with an official trophy presentation ceremony, recognizing the overall winner and celebrating the athletes whose performances brought the Kármán Clash to life.

Professor Theodore von Kármán (1881–1963) was a pioneering aerospace engineer and physicist whose contributions to aerodynamics and astronautics shaped modern aerospace science. His identification of the Kármán line, located 100 kilometers above Earth, remains the standard boundary between atmosphere and space.