Digital transformation has injected new vitality into the reform of university physical education, with smart sports teaching models emerging as a key direction for promoting high-quality development in collegiate sports education. Current university sports teaching faces challenges such as rigid instructional frameworks, insufficient personalized guidance, and inadequate data-driven management, making it difficult to meet the talent cultivation demands of the digital era. Grounded in the context of digital transformation, this study analyzes existing issues in university sports education and explores pathways for constructing smart sports teaching models through four dimensions: innovation in teaching philosophies, integration of teaching resources, design of instructional models, and improvement of evaluation systems. Specific application strategies are elaborated to leverage digital technology advantages, enhance the effectiveness of university sports education, and cultivate students’ lifelong sports awareness and comprehensive athletic literacy.