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Watch the video >>><\/a> The\u00a0arrival\u00a0of these institutions, previously approved by The Big West Board of Directors,\u00a0expands The Big West’s footprint across California and into Utah while strengthening the conference’s commitment to competitive excellence, institutional\u00a0alignment\u00a0and student-athlete success.\u00a0The Big West will have 12 full members in 2026-27, with California Baptist, Sacramento State and Utah Valley joining Cal Poly, Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Fullerton, CSUN, Long Beach State, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC San\u00a0Diego\u00a0and UC Santa Barbara.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Today\u00a0is a\u00a0milestone\u00a0moment\u00a0for The Big West as we officially welcome California Baptist, Sacramento State and Utah Valley into our conference family,” Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly\u00a0said. “Each university brings\u00a0outstanding leadership, competitive athletics programs, growing institutional profiles\u00a0and a shared commitment to providing a world-class student-athlete experience. Their arrival strengthens\u00a0The Big West, expands our\u00a0reach\u00a0and positions\u00a0the conference for continued success in a changing Division I landscape. We are grateful to the leadership of each institution for believing in, and investing in, a bigger and bolder future together.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The addition of the three institutions reflects\u00a0bold\u00a0strategic planning and a shared vision among conference leaders.\u00a0<\/p>\n “The addition of California Baptist, Sacramento State and Utah Valley reflects our collective vision for the future of The Big West,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong, Chair of The Big West Board of Directors. “Each institution brings unique strengths and opportunities that will benefit our student-athletes, campuses and communities. We are proud to welcome them as full members and look forward to the positive impact they will have across the\u00a0conference.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Ryan Swartwood, Director of Athletics at CSUN and Chair of The Big West Athletic Directors\u00a0governance group, echoed that sentiment.\u00a0<\/p>\n “The addition of California Baptist, Sacramento State and Utah Valley marks an exciting day for The Big West,” Swartwood said. “These institutions share our commitment to competitive excellence, student-athlete success, service\u00a0and institutional growth. Their arrival creates\u00a0an exciting future\u00a0for\u00a0student-athletes\u00a0and fans throughout the\u00a0conference.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Located in Riverside, California, California Baptist sponsors 16\u00a0NCAA Division I sports and enters The Big West following one of the most successful years in school history. The Lancers captured nine conference championships during the 2025-26 academic year and will compete in The Big West in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country,\u00a0women’s golf, women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s track & field, men’s and women’s water polo and women’s volleyball.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Today marks an\u00a0historic day for California Baptist University,” said Dr. Micah Parker, Director of Athletics at California Baptist. “We are grateful for the opportunity to compete in one of the nation’s premier conferences and look forward to\u00a0expanding current\u00a0rivalries while representing CBU and the Inland Empire on a larger stage.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Sacramento State brings a longstanding relationship with The Big West. The Hornets have competed as affiliate members in men’s soccer since 2012, beach volleyball since 2015 and men’s golf\u00a0in 2024-25.\u00a0Sacramento State also competed as a Big West affiliate in baseball from 1996-2002.\u00a0<\/p>\n As a full member, Sacramento State will compete for Big West championships in 16 sports: baseball, men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball, beach volleyball, men\u2019s and women\u2019s cross country, men\u2019s and women\u2019s golf, men\u2019s and women\u2019s soccer, softball, men\u2019s and women\u2019s tennis, men\u2019s and women\u2019s track & field and women\u2019s volleyball.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an exciting day for Sacramento State and Hornet Athletics,\u201d said Sacramento State Director of Athletics Mark Orr.\u00a0 \u201cThe Big West offers an outstanding platform for our student-athletes, coaches, and university community.\u00a0 We are eager to begin competition, while we also look forward to enhancing existing rivalries and\u00a0establishing\u00a0new ones.\u00a0 Sacramento State aligns perfectly with a league known for excellence and innovation.\u00a0 The future is bright for Sacramento State and The Big West.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Utah Valley expands the conference’s reach and marks the return of Big West competition to the state of Utah for the first time since Utah State concluded its membership in 2005.\u00a0<\/p>\n Based in Orem, Utah, the Wolverines will compete in 13 Big West-sponsored sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s outdoor track & field and women’s volleyball. With an enrollment of more than 48,670 students, Utah Valley becomes the largest university in The Big West.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Becoming an official member of The Big West is a significant milestone for Utah Valley University,” said Dr. Jared Sumsion, Director of Athletics at Utah Valley. “This conference aligns with our vision for growth, excellence and national relevance. We are excited to create new traditions and\u00a0rivalries and\u00a0provide our student-athletes with outstanding opportunities both on and off the field.”\u00a0<\/p>\n The first opportunity for\u00a0California Baptist, Sacramento State and Utah Valley\u00a0to claim a Big West title comes\u00a0on October\u00a031\u00a0at The Big West men\u2019s and women\u2019s\u00a0cross country\u00a0championships on the campus of UC Riverside. Fans can celebrate the Lancers, Hornets and Wolverines with Be Bold gear available for purchase at The Big West store now\u00a0>>><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\nThe\u00a0Big West officially welcomed California Baptist, Sacramento State and Utah Valley as full members today, ushering in a new\u00a0chapter\u00a0for one of the premier NCAA Division I conferences in the western United States.\u00a0<\/p>\n