At a glance
The Alfred Cup, sponsored by the Power and Construction Group, Inc. and ServU Credit Union, will be an annual competition between Alfred University and Alfred State athletic teams.
Today, the Alfred State athletic department and the Alfred University athletic department introduced ‘The Alfred Cup’ ahead of the 2025-26 competition season.
Video: Alfred Cup Press Conference
Video Recap of Alfred Cup Press Conference
Photos: Alfred Cup Photo Gallery
The Alfred Cup, sponsored by the Power and Construction Group, Inc. and SERVU Credit Union, will be an annual competition between Alfred University and Alfred State athletic teams. The Alfred Cup will highlight the unique setting of two NCAA Division III members located in the same upstate New York town.
In a Washington Post ranking of the Ultimate College Town, Alfred was ranked number one and reporter Andrew Van Dam called Alfred “the collegiest”, a term he coined. In the data analysis by Van Dam, the Alfred community, with a population of 4,026, was shown to be made up of 85% college students. As Van Dam described, “If you go left at the town’s only stoplight, you’re on one campus. Turn right, you’re on the other. Now that’s a college town.”
The competition, set to begin this fall, uses a point-based system that awards two points for a win, one point for a tie, and zero points for a loss in head-to-head matchups or predetermined meets amongst varsity intercollegiate varsity programs.
Associate Vice President for Student Experience, Athletics & Recreation, Deb Steward from Alfred University and Director of Athletics, Jason Doviak, from Alfred State collaborated to create this unique competition.
“As part of The Alfred Cup, besides outstanding competition, supporting our Alfred community will be an important aspect of this initiative,” Steward said. “From our football teams’ commitment to the National Marrow Donor Program to our other teams supporting families during the holidays and food drives, we are committed to The Alfred Cup making a positive impact on our community. We are also thrilled to partner with the Power and Construction Group to design and build the traveling trophy. The Power and Construction Group installed the infamous lone traffic light in Alfred which is located at the intersection of our two campuses. We are grateful for their shared excitement in The Alfred Cup.”
With its roots in Western New York, the Power and Construction Group is a well-established utility services company that was founded in 1970.
"The Alfred Cup represents more than just competition—it’s an opportunity to celebrate the uniqueness of our community where two NCAA Division III Institutions sit across the street from one another,” Doviak said. “This competition will bring out the best in our student-athletes and create lasting moments for our campuses, community, and fans. We’re excited to launch this annual tradition and look forward to the energy, excitement, and camaraderie it will bring to our village."
The sports eligible for The Alfred Cup competition are men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's soccer, women’s volleyball, football, men's and women's basketball, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, baseball, men's and women's lacrosse, softball, and men’s and women’s track & field.
For the football head-to-head matchups, Alfred University and Alfred State will additionally compete for the ‘Traffic Light Trophy’, which will be up for grabs each fall moving forward. Beginning in the fall of 2025, Alfred State will compete as an Empire 8 affiliate member in the sport of football.
The points will be tracked throughout the fall, winter, and springs seasons and after competition concludes, a winner will be determined based upon the total amount of points earned. A trophy, designed to mirror the stoplight that separates both institutions on Main Street, will be presented to the winning institution annually in May.
