Advancements in material sciences and sensor technology have transformed sports engineering, enabling the real‑time monitoring of physiological, biomechanical, and environmental parameters in university athletics. We reviewed recent developments and implications of real‑time sensor monitoring systems in university sports training, emphasizing their effectiveness, challenges, and contributions to sensor technology development. The data collected from 2019–2024 publications across PubMed, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Xplore, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus focused on athletes aged 18–25. The results showed that real‑time monitoring systems improved training efficiency by 18–35%, reduced overtraining incidence by 28%, and enhanced skill acquisition rate, by up to 35% compared with traditional methods. Integrated multisensor platforms combining inertial measurement units, GPS, and environmental sensors are 40–60% more effective in enhancing performance and preventing injuries than single‑sensor systems. Case studies from universities such as Notre Dame, Stanford, and Vermont in the United States of America demonstrated the successful implementation of the real‑time monitoring system. The results provide a basis for next‑generation sensor and material development, including MXene‑based elastomer substrates and triboelectric nanogenerators, supporting the development of adaptive, high‑durability, and energy‑autonomous sensor architectures for high‑stress collegiate training environments.