Game On: How Universities Write the Winning Formula for Athletics Programming

Ever wonder how all the games, teams, and time slots fit together for a university athletic calendar? Starting this Fall, Trinity will officially compete as full members in the Southern Athletic Association. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the math that makes it all happen, from balancing travel schedules to optimizing matchups, we’ll dive into the world of sports scheduling and how we crunch the numbers to create the perfect season. It’s an exciting mix of math, strategy, and sports—no calculator required!

Prof. Cabral Balreira is the Chair of the Mathematics Department at Trinity University, where he has been a faculty member since 2006. Committed to experiential learning, he has mentored students through summer research projects, internships, and applied data-driven initiatives for over 15 years.

Dr. Cabral, as his students call him, established Trinity’s sports analytics program, which connects theoretical foundations with practical applications. He currently leads the university’s analytics initiative for Trinity Athletics, collaborating with the Men’s Soccer and Softball teams to provide data-driven insights. His work also extends beyond Trinity, offering analytical support for sports scheduling challenges within the Southern Athletic Association (SAA).

For over 30 years, Trinity University’s Food for Thought lecture series has featured faculty, staff and alumni of Trinity University, providing a platform for them to share their expertise, stories and discoveries with the San Antonio Community.

This year, Trinity is proud to partner with Wells Fargo to elevate this signature series.

Trinity University affirms freedom of expression. Views expressed by speakers and participants before, during, and after speaking engagements do not represent or reflect the views of the university.