Big Sky Conference
AssociationNCAAFoundedJuly 1, 1963; 62 years ago (1963-07-01)CommissionerTom Wistrcill (since November 16, 2018)Sports fielded
16
men's: 7
women's: 9
DivisionDivision ISubdivisionFCSNo. of teams10 (11 in 2026) (+2 football affiliates)HeadquartersFarmington, UtahRegionWestern United StatesBroadcastersESPN
Scripps Sports (Montana schools only)Official websitebigskyconf.comLocations
The Big Sky Conference is a collegiate athletic conference, affiliated with the NCAA's Division I with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. As of 2024[update], ten full member institutions are located in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Two affiliate members from California are football–only participants, and a South Carolina school joined for men's golf in July 2025. Sacramento State will lee at the end of the 2025–26 school year, with Southern Utah and Utah Tech joining.[a]
History[edit] Big Sky Conference
220km137miles
EasternWashington
UC DisCal Poly
Utah TechSouthernUtahWeberState
SacramentoStatePortlandStateNorthernColoradoNorthernArizonaMontanaStateMontanaIdahoStateIdaho Location of Big Sky members: Full member Departing members Future members Affiliate member, footballNot pictured: men's golf affiliate Francis Marion
Initially conceived for basketball,[1][2][3] the Big Sky was founded 62 years ago on July 1, 1963, with six members in four states;[4][5] four of the charter members he been in the league from its founding, and a fifth returned in 2014 after an 18-year absence.
The name "Big Sky" came from the popular 1947 western novel by A. B. Guthrie Jr.; it was proposed by Harry Missildine, a sports columnist of the Spokesman-Review just prior to the founding meetings of the conference in Spokane in February 1963,[6][7] and was adopted with the announcement of the new conference five days later.[4][5]
Starting in 1968, the conference competed at the highest level (university division) in all sports except football (college division). The sole exception was Idaho, in the university division for football through 1977 (except 1967, 1968).[8] Football moved to the new Division I-AA in 1978, which was renamed Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in 2006.
In 1974, half of the Big Sky's ten included sports were dropped (baseball, skiing, swimming, golf, and tennis), leing football, basketball, wrestling, track, and cross country skiing.[9][10]
Women's sports were added 37 years ago in 1988, moving from the women's-only Mountain West Athletic Conference (1982–88).
Fiftieth anniversary[edit]The 2012–13 season marked the completion of a half century of athletic competition and a quarter century sponsoring women's collegiate athletics. Before the season the league introduced a new logo to celebrate this.
The 25th season of women's athletics also marked a first for the league, as Portland State won the league's inaugural softball championship. From 1982 to 1988, women's sports were conducted in the Mountain West Athletic Conference.
The Big Sky sponsors championships in sixteen sports, including men's and women's cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field, basketball, and tennis. There are also championships in football, and in women's volleyball, golf, soccer, and softball. Men's golf will be reinstated in 2025–26 after hing been discontinued in 2024.[11] It is one of two Division I all-sports conferences to not sponsor baseball, the other being the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Member schools[edit]Members departing for the Big West Conference on July 1, 2026.
Current full members[edit] Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Endowment(millions) Nickname Joined Colors Eastern Washington University Cheney, Washington 1882 Public 10,915 $32.1 Eagles 1987 University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho 1889 12,286 $465 Vandals 1963; 2014[b] Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho 1901 12,301 $75 Bengals 1963 University of Montana Missoula, Montana 1893 10,104 $241.6 Grizzlies[c] 1963 Montana State University Bozeman, Montana 1893 17,144 $264 Bobcats 1963 Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona 1899 28,194 $198.2 Lumberjacks 1970 University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado 1889 9,881 $100.5 Bears 2006 Portland State University Portland, Oregon 1946 26,012 $98 Vikings 1996 California State University, Sacramento Sacramento, California 1947 Public 31,181 $92.9 Hornets 1996 Weber State University Ogden, Utah 1889 Public 29,914 $219.5 Wildcats 1963 Notes ^ Southern Utah was previously a member from 2012 to 2022. ^ Idaho was a charter member but departed in 1996 to join the Big West Conference; they rejoined the Big Sky for all sports but football in 2014, which rejoined in 2018. ^ The Montana women's basketball team is known as the Lady Griz, but all other women's teams are known as Grizzlies.[12] Future members[edit] Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Endowment(millions) Nickname Joining Colors Currentconference Southern Utah University Cedar City, Utah 1897 Public 15,444 $29.9 Thunderbirds 2026[a] WAC Utah Tech University St. George, Utah 1911 Public 12,556 $16.3 Trailblazers 2026 Notes ^ Southern Utah was previously a full member of the Big Sky from 2012–13 until 2021–22. Affiliate members[edit] Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Colors Big Skysport(s) Primaryconference California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California 1901 Public 21,812 Mustangs 2012 Football Big West Francis Marion University Florence, South Carolina 1970 4,187 Patriots 2025 Men's golf Carolinas[a] University of California, Dis Dis, California 1905 38,369 Aggies 2012 Football Big West(Mountain West in 2026) ^ Currently an NCAA Division II athletic conference. Former full members[edit] Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Colors Subsequentconference Currentconference Boise State University Boise, Idaho 1932 Public 26,155 Broncos 1970 1996 Big West(1996–2001)WAC(2001–11) Mountain West(2011–2026)Pac-12(2026–future) California State University, Northridge Northridge, California 1958 38,511 Matadors 1996 2001 Big West(2001–present) Gonzaga University[a] Spokane, Washington 1887 Private(Jesuit) 7,421 Bulldogs 1963 1979 West Coast(1979–2026)Pac-12(2026–future) University of Nevada Reno, Nevada 1874 Public 21,034 Wolf Pack 1979 1992 Big West(1992–2000)WAC(2000–12) Mountain West(2012–present) University of North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota 1883 13,772 Fighting Hawks 2012 2018 Summit(2018–present) Southern Utah University Cedar City, Utah 1897 14,330 Thunderbirds 2012 2022 WAC(2022–2026)Big Sky(2026–future) Notes ^ Gonzaga was a charter member in 1963, but has not fielded a football team since 1941. Former affiliate members[edit] Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Colors Big Skysport(s) Primaryconference Conferencein formerBig Sky sport Binghamton University, SUNY Vestal, New York[a] 1946 Public 17,768 Bearcats 2014 2023 men's golf America East Northeast (NEC) University of Hartford West Hartford, Connecticut 1877 Nonsectarian 6,792 Hawks 2014 2023 men's golf New England (CNE)[b] Notes ^ The campus mailing address is Binghamton. ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference. Membership timeline[edit]
Full members Assoc. members (football only) Full members (except football) Assoc. members (other sports) Other conference Other conference
NCAA championships[edit] See also: List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championshipsNCAA Division I national championships as of 2021.
School Team Individual Men's Women's Total Men's Women's Total Eastern Washington 1 0 1 0 0 0 Idaho 0 0 0 4 0 4 Idaho State 1 0 1 2 0 2 Montana 2 0 2 3 0 3 Montana State 1 0 1 1 1 2 Northern Arizona 4 0 4† 6 8 14 Northern Colorado 0 0 0 0 0 0 Portland State 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sacramento State 0 0 0 0 0 0 Southern Utah 0 0 0 0 0 0 Weber State 0 0 0 3 1 4 Conference total 9 0 9 19 10 29† Northern Arizona is the only Big Sky program to win D1 team national titles outside of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Sports[edit]As of the 2025–26 school year, the Big Sky sponsors championships in seven men's and nine women's NCAA-sanctioned sports.[13] Each core member institution is required to participate in all of the 13 core sports.
Men's core sports are basketball, cross country, football, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and tennis. Women's core sports are basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, tennis, and volleyball.
Affiliates[edit]
Cal Poly quarterback Sam Huard looks downfield during a Big Sky Conference football game against Northern Colorado on Oct. 21, 2023.
Cal Poly and UC Dis participate as football-only affiliates, otherwise participating in the Big West Conference. The Mustangs and Aggies were welcomed by the BSC in September 2010 in response to both nationwide conference realignment[14] and an expansion of the FCS playoff bracket at the time, according to then-commissioner Doug Fullerton.[15]
Both Binghamton and Hartford of the America East Conference were affiliates in men's golf only from 2014 to 2023. Before the 2014–15 school year, the latter two schools had participated in men's golf alongside five full Big Sky members in the single-sport America Sky Conference.[16] The return of Idaho brought the number of members participating in men's golf to six, which led to the Big Sky adding men's golf and absorbing the America Sky Conference. Both schools left after the 2022–23 athletic season, after Binghamton moved their program to the Northeast Conference and Hartford reclassified to Division III and joined the Commonwealth Coast Conference. By this time the number of full Big Sky members that sponsored men's golf had dropped to 4, below the 6 member minimum necessary for the conference champion to receive an autobid to the NCAA Division I men's golf championship, so with the departure of the two affiliates, the Big Sky ceased sponsoring men's golf again after the 2024 season.[17] However, the reinstatement of Eastern Washington men's golf effective in 2025–26 ge the Big Sky five full members that sponsored the sport,[18] and Big Sky men's golf returned at that time with Francis Marion, a Division II member that plays Division I men's golf, as the needed sixth member.[19]
Baseball[edit]The Big Sky is unusual among Division I all-sports conferences in not sponsoring baseball, a distinction that it shares only with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, and which it held alone prior to the 2022–23 school year. The conference originally sponsored baseball in 1964, with all members participating. When Boise State and Northern Arizona arrived for the 1971 season, competition was split into two divisions of four teams each, with the winners in a best-of-three championship series.[20][21] Montana State[22] and Montana soon dropped the sport and by the 1973 season, only six teams remained but the divisions were kept, and Boise State moved over to the North Division for two years.[23]
In May 1974, the Big Sky announced its intention to discontinue five of its ten sponsored sports. It retained football, basketball, cross-country, track, and wrestling, and dropped conference competition in baseball, golf, tennis, swimming, and skiing.[9][10] Of the eleven Big Sky baseball titles, four each went to Idaho[24] and Gonzaga, and three to Weber State.[25] Gonzaga won the final title in 1974 over Idaho State in three games, after losing the first game in Pocatello.[26] Southern division champion Idaho State chose to end its baseball program weeks following the conference's announcement,[27] and Gonzaga, Idaho, and Boise State joined the new Northern Pacific Conference (NorPac) for baseball in 1975.[28] Boise State and Idaho competed in the NorPac for six seasons, then discontinued baseball after the 1980 season.[29][30]
Idaho (4) 1964, 1966, 1967, 1969 Gonzaga (4) 1965, 1971, 1973, 1974 Weber State (3) 1968, 1970, 1972In 2016, North Dakota announced in April that it was their last baseball season.[31] Since then, only Northern Colorado and Sacramento State he competed in the sport, both as affiliate members in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) until Northern Colorado baseball moved to the Summit League after the 2021 season.
Wrestling[edit]Through the 1987 season, the conference sponsored wrestling. Boise State and Idaho State dominated in most years, winning ten and eight conference titles, respectively. BSU won seven consecutive from 1974 to 1980. Montana State and Weber State also had some good years; Montana won their only conference title in the last year Big Sky sponsored the sport.
Montana State (3) 1964, 1965, 1966 Idaho State (8) 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1984 Boise State (10) 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1986 Weber State (2) 1981, 1983 Montana (1) 1987Boise State continued its wrestling program as an affiliate member of the Pac-10 (now Pac-12) Conference.
Teams in Big Sky Conference competition Sport Men's Women's Basketball 11 11 Cross country 11 11 Football 13 – Golf 6 11 Soccer – 10 Softball – 7 Tennis 10 10 Track and field (Indoor) 11 11 Track and field (Outdoor) 11 11 Volleyball – 11 Men's sponsored sports by school[edit] School Basketball Crosscountry Football Golf Tennis Track and field(indoor) Track and field(outdoor) Total Sports Eastern Washington Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes 6 Idaho Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7 Idaho State Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 6 Montana Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 6 Montana State Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 6 Northern Arizona Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 6 Northern Colorado Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes 6 Portland State Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 6 Sacramento State Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7 Weber State Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7 Totals 10 10 10+2[a] 5+1[b] 8 10 10 57+3 Future Members Southern Utah Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes 6 Utah Tech Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes[c] Yes[c] 6 ^ Affiliates Cal Poly and UC Dis. ^ Affiliate Francis Marion. ^ a b Utah Tech does not currently sponsor men's track & field, but will add both indoor and outdoor teams when it joins the Big Sky in 2026–27.Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Big Sky Conference which are played by Big Sky schools:
School Baseball Skiing Soccer Wrestling Montana State No RMISA No No Northern Colorado Summit No No Big 12 Sacramento State WAC No Big West No Utah Tech WAC[a] No WAC[a] No ^ a b Utah Tech has not announced a future affiliation for its baseball or men's soccer programs. Women's sponsored sports by school[edit] School Basketball Crosscountry Golf Soccer Softball Tennis Track and field(indoor) Track and field(outdoor) Volleyball Total Sports Eastern Washington Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 8 Idaho Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 8 Idaho State Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9 Montana Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9 Montana State Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes 7 Northern Arizona Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes 8 Northern Colorado Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 8 Portland State Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9 Sacramento State Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9 Weber State Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9 Totals 10 10 10 9 6 9 10 10 10 92 Future Members Southern Utah Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 8 Utah Tech Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 9Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Big Sky Conference which are played by Big Sky schools:
School Beach volleyball Gymnastics Rowing Skiing Swimming Idaho No No No No MPSF Montana State No No No RMISA No Northern Arizona No No No No MPSF Northern Colorado No No No No MPSF Sacramento State Big West MPSF WCC No No Southern Utah No Pac-12[a] No No No Utah Tech No No No No MPSF ^ SUU women's gymnastics currently competes in the MPSF, but will join the Pac-12 at the same time the overall athletic program rejoins the Big Sky. Facilities[edit] School Football stadium Capacity Basketball arena Capacity Cal Poly Mustang Memorial Field 11,075 Football-only member Eastern Washington Roos Field 8,600 Reese Court 6,000 Idaho Kibbie Dome 16,000 Idaho Central Credit Union Arena 4,200 Idaho State ICCU Dome 12,000 Reed Gym 3,040 Montana Washington–Grizzly Stadium 25,203 Dahlberg Arena 7,321 Montana State Bobcat Stadium 20,767 Brick Breeden Fieldhouse 7,250 Northern Arizona Walkup Skydome 10,000 Walkup Skydome 7,000 Northern Colorado Nottingham Field 8,533[32] Bank of Colorado Arena 2,992 Portland State Hillsboro Stadium 7,600 Viking Pilion 3,094 Sacramento State Hornet Stadium 21,195 Hornets Nest 1,012[33] Southern Utah Eccles Coliseum 8,500 America First Event Center 5,300 UC Dis UC Dis Health Stadium 10,367 Football-only member Utah Tech Greater Zion Stadium 10,000[34] Burns Arena 4,779[35] Weber State Stewart Stadium 17,500 Dee Events Center 11,500 Basketball[edit] Current NBA players[edit] Damian Lillard, Weber State [36] Conference rivalries[edit] Idaho and Idaho State Idaho and Montana Idaho State and Weber State Montana and Montana State Weber State and Southern Utah Eastern Washington and Montana Northern Arizona and Southern Utah Non-conference rivalries[edit] Weber State and Utah State/Utah/BYU/Utah Valley Eastern Washington and Gonzaga Idaho and Washington State Cougars, Battle of the Palouse Idaho and Boise State Idaho State and Wyoming Montana and Wyoming Montana State and Wyoming Sacramento State and UC Dis Portland State and Portland Northern Colorado and Colorado State Northern Colorado and Denver 2021–22 home game attendance erages[edit] School[37] Total Games(Includes Away Games)
Total HomeGame Attendance
Average HomeGame Attendance
Weber State 32 67,678 4,511 Montana 32 53,917 3,171 Montana State 34 42,634 3,045 Southern Utah 32 24,712 1,647 Idaho 31 19,804 1,320 Eastern Washington 34 14,392 1,199 Idaho State 30 15,153 1,165 Northern Colorado 35 14,775 1,136 Portland State 31 13,256 946 Northern Arizona 31 8,465 604 Sacramento State 29 7,846 603 Rivalries[edit] Protected football rivalries[edit]Because there are 12 teams in the conference, but each team only plays eight conference football games per year, the conference has set two "protected rivalry" games for each team. These rivalry match-ups are played every season, while football games against other conference teams are played twice every three years. Many of the protected rivalries are traditional, due to the teams either being in the same state or within close geographical proximity. With the departure of Southern Utah from the conference, new protected rivalries were announced for 2022–2024.[38][39][40] These rivalries were extended through 2027,[41] and he not yet been updated following the announcement of conference membership changes that will occur in 2026.
School Rival 1 Rival 2 UC Dis Cal Poly Sacramento State Cal Poly UC Dis Sacramento State Eastern Washington Idaho Montana State Idaho Idaho State Eastern Washington Idaho State Idaho Weber State Montana Montana State Portland State Montana State Montana Eastern Washington Northern Arizona Weber State Northern Colorado Northern Colorado Northern Arizona Portland State Portland State Montana Northern Colorado Sacramento State UC Dis Cal Poly Weber State Idaho State Northern Arizona Conference[edit] Schools FirstMeeting Game Winner(Last Meeting) All-time Record Cal Poly UC Dis 1939 Battle for the Golden Horseshoe UC Dis UC Dis leads 22–20–2 Eastern Washington Montana 1938 EWU-UM Governor's Cup Eastern Washington Montana leads 27–17–1 Eastern Washington Portland State 1968 Dam Cup Portland State Portland State leads 21–20–1 Idaho Idaho State 1916 Battle of the Domes Idaho Idaho leads 30–13 Idaho Montana 1903 Little Brown Stein Montana Idaho leads 55–28–2 Montana Montana State 1897 Brawl of the Wild Montana Montana leads 72–40–5 UC Dis Sacramento State 1954 Causeway Classic Sacramento State UC Dis leads 46–21 Non-conference[edit] Schools FirstMeeting Trophy Winner(Last Meeting) All-time Record Note Idaho Boise State 1971 Governor's Cup Boise State Boise State leads 22–17-1 Last competed for in 2010 Idaho Washington State 1894 Battle of the Palouse Washington State Washington State leads 73-16-3 Last played in 2022 Southern Utah Northern Arizona 1983 Grand Canyon Rivalry Northern Arizona Northern Arizona leads 13–9 Last played in 2021 Southern Utah Weber State 1984 Beehive Bowl Weber State Weber State leads 19–8 Last played in 2021 Commissioners[edit] Jack Friel (1963–71)[42] John Roning (1971–77)[43][44] Steve Belko (1977–81)[45] Ron Stephenson (1981–95)[46] Doug Fullerton (1995–2016)[47][48] Andrea Williams (2016–2018)[49] Ron Loghry (interim, 2018) Tom Wistrcill (2018–present) Headquarters[edit] Pullman, Washington (1963–1971)[44][50] Boise, Idaho (1971–1995)[44] Ogden, Utah (1995–2019)[47] Farmington, Utah (2019–present)[51] Big Sky championships[edit] Men's basketball[edit] See also: Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament Season Regular-seasonchampion(s) Tournamentchampion NCAAseed Region Wins Advancement 1964 Montana State no tournament 1965 Weber State 1966 Weber State, Gonzaga 1967 Gonzaga, Montana State 1968 Weber State West 0 1969 Weber State West 1 Round of 16 1970 Weber State West 0 1971 Weber State West 0 1972 Weber State West 1 Round of 16 1973 Weber State West 0 1974 Idaho State (playoff over Montana) West 0 1975 Montana West 1 Round of 16 1976 Weber State, Boise State, Idaho State Boise State West 0 1977 Idaho State Idaho State West 2 Round of 8 1978 Montana Weber State West 0 1979 Weber State Weber State 7 Midwest 1 Round of 32 1980 Weber State Weber State 7 West 0 1981 Idaho Idaho 7 West 0 1982 Idaho Idaho 3 West 1 Round of 16 1983 Nevada, Weber State Weber State 9 West 0 1984 Weber State Nevada 11 West 0 1985 Nevada Nevada 14 West 0 1986 Northern Arizona, Montana Montana State 16 West 0 1987 Montana State Idaho State 16 West 0 1988 Boise State Boise State 14 West 0 1989 Boise State Idaho 13 West 0 1990 Idaho Idaho 13 West 0 1991 Montana Montana 16 West 0 1992 Montana Montana 14 West 0 1993 Idaho Boise State 14 West 0 1994 Weber State, Idaho State Boise State 14 West 0 1995 Weber State, Montana Weber State 14 Southeast 1 Round of 32 1996 Montana State Montana State 13 West 0 1997 Northern Arizona Montana 16 West 0 1998 Northern Arizona Northern Arizona 15 West 0 1999 Weber State Weber State 14 West 1 Round of 32 2000 Montana, Eastern Washington Northern Arizona 15 West 0 2001 Cal State Northridge Cal State Northridge 13 Midwest 0 2002 Montana State Montana 15 Midwest 0 2003 Weber State Weber State 12 Midwest 0 2004 Eastern Washington Eastern Washington 15 East 0 2005 Portland State Montana 16 West 0 2006 Northern Arizona Montana 12 Midwest 1 Round of 32 2007 Weber State, Northern Arizona Weber State 15 West 0 2008 Portland State Portland State 16 Midwest 0 2009 Weber State Portland State 13 East 0 2010 Weber State Montana 14 East 0 2011 Northern Colorado Northern Colorado 15 West 0 2012 Montana Montana 13 East 0 2013 Montana Montana 13 East 0 2014 Weber State Weber State 16 West 0 2015 Montana, Eastern Washington Eastern Washington 13 South 0 2016 Weber State Weber State 15 East 0 2017 North Dakota North Dakota 15 West 0 2018 Montana Montana 14 West 0 2019 Montana Montana 15 West 0 2020 Eastern Washington canceled canceled 2021 Southern Utah Eastern Washington 14 West 0 2022 Montana State Montana State 14 West 0 2023 Eastern Washington Montana State 14 East 0 2024 Eastern Washington Montana State 16 First Four 0 2025 Northern Colorado, Montana Montana 14 East 0 Prior to 1976, each NCAA regional had a third place game (won 1969; lost 1972, 1975) The only Big Sky team to reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament was Idaho State in 1977 The only Big Sky team to earn a bye in the NCAA tournament was Idaho in 1982 Through 2025, the Big Sky has yet to he an at-large team in the NCAA tournament Championships (by school)[edit] School Member years Conferencetitles Tournamenttitles Last won Weber State 1963–present 22 10 2016 Montana 1963–present 13 12 2025 Montana State 1963–present 6 5 2024 Eastern Washington 1987–present 6 3 2024 Northern Arizona 1970–present 5 2 2007 Idaho 1963–96, 2014–present 4 4 1993 Idaho State 1963–present 4 2 1994 Boise State 1970–96 3 4 1989 Nevada 1979–92 2 2 1985 Portland State 1996–present 2 2 2009 Gonzaga 1963–79 2 0 1967 Northern Colorado 2006–present 2 1 2025 Cal State Northridge 1996–2001 1 1 2001 North Dakota 2012–18 1 1 2017 Southern Utah 2012–22 1 0 2021 Sacramento State 1996–present 0 0 — NCAA tournament[edit]Since 1968, the Big Sky champion has received a berth in the NCAA tournament; the conference tournament winner has been the representative since its introduction in 1976.
The best finish by a Big Sky team came in 1977, when the Idaho State Bengals of Jim Killingsworth advanced to the Elite Eight, with a one-point upset of UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen in Provo, Utah. Two days later, the Bengals led UNLV by a point at halftime, but lost by seventeen and finished at 25–5.
Seeding was introduced in 1979 when it expanded to forty teams, and the highest seed granted a Big Sky team was in 1982 in a 48-team bracket: ranked eighth in the final polls with a 26–2 record, the Idaho Vandals under Don Monson were seeded third in the West regional. After a first round bye, they beat Lute Olson's Iowa Hawkeyes in nearby Pullman in overtime, but lost to second-seeded (and fourth-ranked) Oregon State in the regional semifinals (Sweet Sixteen), also played in Provo. (Idaho had defeated OSU by 22 points in December in the Far West Classic at Portland.)
Other Big Sky teams that advanced to regional semifinals (Sweet Sixteen) include the Weber State Wildcats in 1969 and 1972, when the total field was 25 teams, and the Montana Grizzlies under Jud Heathcote in the 32-team field in 1975. The Griz fell to heily-fored UCLA by just three points, who went on to win another title in John Wooden's final year as head coach. (A year later, Heathcote was hired at Michigan State with Monson as an assistant for the first two years; in his third season, the Spartans won the national title in 1979.)
Since 1982, only three teams from the Big Sky he advanced within the NCAA tournament, and none past the round of 32. Weber State won in 1995 and 1999, coached by Ron Abegglen, and Montana in 2006, led by alumnus Larry Krystkowiak. Prior to Idaho in 1982, the Big Sky had been seeded seventh (Weber State, 1979 & 1980; and Idaho, 1981); the highest seed for the conference since 1982 is ninth (Weber State, 1983), and the highest since expanding to 64 teams in 1985 is twelfth (Weber State in 2003; Montana in 2006).
Through 2025, the Big Sky has yet to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The first NIT appearance for the conference was Idaho in 1983; two Big Sky teams advanced to the NIT's round of 16: Weber State (1984) and Boise State (1987).
Women's basketball[edit] See also: Big Sky Conference women's basketball tournament Season Tournament champion Tournament runner-up 1983 Montana Weber State 1984 Montana Eastern Washington 1985 Idaho Montana 1986 Montana Eastern Washington 1987 Eastern Washington Montana 1988 Montana Eastern Washington 1989 Montana Idaho 1990 Montana Idaho 1991 Montana Montana State 1992 Montana Boise State 1993 Montana State Montana 1994 Montana Boise State 1995 Montana Montana State 1996 Montana Weber State 1997 Montana Montana State 1998 Montana Northern Arizona 1999 Cal State Northridge Portland State 2000 Montana Cal State Northridge 2001 Idaho State Montana 2002 Weber State Montana State 2003 Weber State Montana State 2004 Montana Idaho State 2005 Montana Weber State 2006 Northern Arizona Weber State 2007 Idaho State Northern Arizona 2008 Montana Montana State 2009 Montana Portland State 2010 Portland State Montana State 2011 Montana Portland State 2012 Idaho State Northern Colorado 2013 Montana Northern Colorado 2014 North Dakota Montana 2015 Montana Northern Colorado 2016 Idaho Idaho State 2017 Montana State Idaho State 2018 Northern Colorado Idaho 2019 Portland State Eastern Washington 2020 Canceled (final): Montana State / Idaho 2021 Idaho State Idaho 2022 Montana State Northern Arizona 2023 Sacramento State Northern Arizona 2024 Eastern Washington Northern Arizona 2025 Montana State Montana Mountain West Athletic Conference (MWAC) through 1988 season Football titles[edit]Bold = National Champions
Season Champions Record (Conf.) 1963 Idaho State 3–1 1964 Montana State 3–0 1965 Weber State, Idaho 3–1 1966 Montana State 4–0 1967 Montana State 3–1 1968 Weber State, Montana State, Idaho 3–1 1969 Montana 4–0 1970 Montana 5–0 1971 Idaho 4–1 1972 Montana State 5–1 1973 Boise State 6–0 1974 Boise State 6–0 1975 Boise State 5–0–1 1976 Montana State 6–0 1977 Boise State 6–0 1978 Northern Arizona 6–0 1979 Montana State 6–1 1980 Boise State 6–1 1981 Idaho State 6–1 1982 Idaho, Montana, Montana State 5–2 1983 Nevada 6–1 1984 Montana State 6–1 1985 Idaho 6–1 1986 Nevada 7–0 1987 Idaho 7–1 1988 Idaho 7–1 1989 Idaho 8–0 1990 Nevada 7–1 1991 Nevada 8–0 1992 Idaho, Eastern Washington 6–1 1993 Montana 7–0 1994 Boise State 6–1 1995 Montana 6–1 1996 Montana 8–0 1997 Eastern Washington 7–1 1998 Montana 6–2 1999 Montana 7–1 2000 Montana 8–0 2001 Montana 7–0 2002 Montana State, Montana, Idaho State 5–2 2003 Montana State, Montana, Northern Arizona 5–2 2004 Montana, Eastern Washington 6–1 2005 Eastern Washington, Montana State, Montana 5–2 2006 Montana 8–0 2007 Montana 8–0 2008 Montana, Weber State 7–1 2009 Montana 8–0 2010 Eastern Washington, Montana State 7–1 2011 Montana State 7–1 2012 Eastern Washington, Montana State, Cal Poly 7–1 2013 Eastern Washington 8–0 2014 Eastern Washington 7–1 2015 Southern Utah 7–1 2016 Eastern Washington, North Dakota 8–0 2017 Southern Utah, Weber State 7–1 2018 Weber State, Eastern Washington, UC Dis 7–1 2019 Weber State, Sacramento State 7–1 2020 Weber State 5–1 2021 Sacramento State 8–0 2022 Sacramento State, Montana State 8–0 2023 Montana 7–1 2024 Montana State 8–0 Football championships (by school)[edit] School member years total titles Last won Montana 1963–present 19 2023 Montana State 1963–present 17 2024 Eastern Washington 1987–present 10 2018 Idaho 1965–952018–present 8 1992 Boise State 1970–95 6 1994 Nevada 1979–92 4 1991 Weber State 1963–present 5 2019 Idaho State 1963–present 3 2002 Sacramento State 1996–present 3 2022 Northern Arizona 1970–present 2 2003 Southern Utah 2012–present 2 2017 Cal Poly 2012–present 1 2012 North Dakota 2012–2017 1 2016 UC Dis 2012–present 1 2018 Cal State Northridge 1996–2001 0 Portland State 1996–present 0 Northern Colorado 2006–present 0 All-time school records by wins for current teams[edit]This list goes through the 2020 season.
This list includes former member North Dakota and excludes current member Idaho. Records do not match NCAA record book.[52]
# Team Records Pct. Big SkyChampionships NationalChampionships 1 North Dakota 622-383-30 .615 1 1 2 Montana 564-478-26 .540 18 2 3 Eastern Washington 503-404-23 .553 10 1 4 UC Dis 495-384-35 .561 1 0 5 Cal Poly 485-383-19 .557 1 1 6 Montana State 470-467-33 .502 16 3 7 Idaho State 449-488-21 .480 3 1 8 Northern Arizona 445-438-23 .504 2 0 9 Northern Colorado 425-450-26 .486 0 2 10 Portland State 331-354-10 .483 0 0 11 Weber State 266-294-3 .475 6 0 12 Sacramento State 263-351-8 .429 2 0 13 Southern Utah 261-319-13 .451 2 1 Overall Big Sky Conference champions[edit] Boise State Broncos (1970–1996) Cal State Northridge Matadors (1996–2001) Eastern Washington Eagles (1987– ) Gonzaga Bulldogs (1963–1979) Idaho State Bengals (1963– ) Montana State Bobcats (1963– ) Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (1970– ) Portland State Vikings (1996– ) Sacramento State Hornets (1996– ) Idaho Vandals (1963–1996) Nevada Wolf Pack (1979–1992) Northern Colorado Bears (2006– ) Montana Grizzlies (1963– ) Weber State Wildcats (1963– ) Football 6 – 7 – 3 17 2 – 1 8 4 – 19 7 Men's Basketball 2 1 1 2 2 5 4 2 – 4 1 1 8 31 Women's Basketball (RS/Tourn) 1/0 1/1 1/1 – 3/3 3/1 1/1 1/1 – 1/1 – 1/0 21/20 2/2 Men's Cross Country 2 – – – 5 2 18 – – 2 3 – 8 7 Women's Cross Country – – – – – 4 15 – – 1 – – 2 4 Men's Indoor Track and Field 2 – – – 5 – 12 – 2 1 1 – – 5 Women's Indoor Track and Field 6 3 – – 1 1 7 – 2 1 – – 1 4 Men's Outdoor Track and Field 1 – – – 12 1 15 – – 4 2 – 1 9 Women's Outdoor Track and Field 6 3 – – 1 1 7 – 3 1 – – 1 5 Men's Tennis 5 – 1 – 2 4 2 – 10 10 2 – – 11 Women's Tennis 2 1 – – 2 – 3 – 9 – 1 – – 10 Women's Soccer – – 1 – 2 – – 1 1 – – – 4 4 Volleyball 1 1 5 – 3 – 1 5 11 3 – 2 3 – Women's Golf 1 – – – 1 1 5 4 1 – – – 1 1 Men's Golf 1 1 – – – – – 1 2 – 2 – 6 17 Baseball (1963–74) – – – 4 – – – – – 4 – – – 3 Men's Swimming (1963–74) – – – – – – – – – 2 – – 8 – Wrestling (1963–87) 10 – – – 7 3 – – – – – – 1 2 Men's Skiing (1963–74) 1 – – – – 4 – – – 2 – – 3 – Total References[edit] ^ "Idaho, six others study basketball league". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. June 1, 1962. p. 8. ^ "Six intermountain colleges move toward athletic ties". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 30, 1962. p. 8. ^ "Teams meet in basketball". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 25, 1962. p. 6, sports. ^ a b Missildine, Harry (February 26, 1963). "Six western schools create Big Sky athletic conference". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 12. ^ a b "Big Sky is ready for league action". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). February 26, 1963. p. 13. ^ Missildine, Harry (February 20, 1963). "The conference should band smoothly". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 12. ^ "Officials view sports loop". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). February 25, 1963. p. 13. ^ "Big Sky steps up". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). May 24, 1968. p. 12. ^ a b "Idaho off probation, loop titles dwindle". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). May 5, 1974. p. 13. ^ a b "Baseball axed in Big Sky". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). May 29, 1974. p. 15. ^ "Big Sky Set to Celebrate Anniversaries". Big Sky Conference. Retrieved March 2, 2017. ^ "Lady Griz Basketball Programs, 1979-1988 | University of Montana Publications | University of Montana". ^ "Big Sky Conference". Big Sky Conference. Retrieved March 2, 2017. ^ Voisinoisin, Ailene (September 8, 2010). "Big Sky, horizons open for UCD". The Sacramento Bee. pp. C1. ^ Aird, Donovan (September 8, 2010). "Big Sky felt it needed to make a statement in conference realignment". The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA). pp. S1. ^ Burton, Roy (June 4, 2014). "WSU joins friends/foes as Big Sky brings back men's golf". Standard-Examiner. Ogden, Utah. Retrieved June 13, 2014. ^ Delaney, Anne (May 7, 2024). "Northern Colorado men's golf moving to The Summit League beginning July 1". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved May 8, 2024. ^ "Men's golf to return as EWU Athletics varsity program" (Press release). Eastern Washington Eagles. October 15, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024. ^ "Big Sky Men's Golf Returns for 2025-26 Season" (Press release). Big Sky Conference. May 15, 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2025. ^ "Big Sky baseball: split loop planned". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). May 19, 1970. p. 13. ^ "Vandals list baseball play". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). January 28, 1971. p. 22. ^ "Big Sky baseball altered; MSU out, NAU in playoffs". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. May 19, 1971. p. 13. ^ "Key games: Big Sky Conference". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). April 23, 1973. p. 17. ^ "Vandals Arizona-bound". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). May 29, 1969. p. 13. ^ "Baseball champions". Big Sky Conference. Retrieved August 9, 2012. ^ "Gonzaga blasts ISU for conference title". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). May 22, 1974. p. 15. ^ "Idaho (State) drops baseball". Ellensburg Daily Record. (Washington). June 5, 1974. p. 9. ^ "Idaho, Gonzaga join new baseball circuit". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. June 24, 1974. p. 16. ^ "Boise State drops baseball program". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. May 6, 1980. p. C1. ^ Goodwin, Dale (May 13, 1980). "Baseball's 'out' at Idaho". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 19. ^ "UND to reduce number of sports after 2015-16 season". University of North Dakota. Archived from the original on June 30, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016. ^ "Gameday at Northern Colorado". University of Northern Colorado. Retrieved April 4, 2015. Stadium Capacity: 8,533 ^ "The Nest-Basketball, Volleyball, Gymnastics". Sacramento State Athletics. Retrieved March 3, 2016. ^ "University Quick Facts" (PDF). 2018 Dixie State Men's Soccer Media Guide. Dixie State Trailblazers. p. 1. Retrieved January 23, 2019. ^ "Burns Arena". Dixie State Trailblazers. Retrieved January 23, 2019. ^ "Damian Lillard | Portland Trail Blazers | NBA.com". NBA.com. Retrieved March 18, 2022. ^ "2021-2022 NCAA MBB Overall (PDF) – Big Sky Conference". Big Sky Conference. Retrieved March 18, 2022. ^ "Big Sky Announces Future Football League Schedules for 2022-24". Big Sky Conference. July 24, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2022. ^ "Big Sky shakes up protected football rivalries". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. August 5, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2022. ^ Gogola, Frank (July 31, 2021). "Montana, Montana State get new protected rivals in Big Sky Conference play for 2022-24 seasons". 406 MT Sports. Retrieved December 22, 2022. ^ "Big Sky Announces Future Football League Schedules for 2025-27". Big Sky Conference. January 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2024. ^ "Friel named Big Sky loop commissioner". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. June 8, 1963. p. 2. ^ "Frosh can play Sky frosh grid sport: but not Idaho". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. November 25, 1970. p. 12. ^ a b c Payne, Bob (May 19, 1971). "New Big Sky commissioner Roning sees fine future". Spokesman-Review. p. 10. ^ Newnham, Blaine (January 6, 1977). "A chance in the Sky". Eugene Register-Guard. p. 1C. ^ "New Big Sky boss balks at expansion". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. May 21, 1981. p. 26. ^ a b "Changing Big Sky prepares for final fling". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Associated Press. September 1, 1995. p. 1B. ^ Staff, Missoulian (February 10, 2016). "Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton to retire in June". Missoulian.com. Retrieved March 2, 2017. ^ "Big Sky announces new commissioner". Big Sky Conference. Retrieved April 29, 2016. ^ "Coaching Legend Would He Loved Today's Basketball Team | CAHNRS Alumni & Development | Washington State University". ^ "Big Sky Conference Moves League Office to Farmington". Big Sky Conference. ^ "2020 NCAA Football Records (FCS Records)" (PDF). External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Big Sky Conference.
Official website 
vteBig Sky ConferenceFull members
Eastern Washington Eagles
Idaho Vandals
Idaho State Bengals
Montana Grizzlies
Montana State Bobcats
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
Northern Colorado Bears
Portland State Vikings
Sacramento State Hornets4
Weber State Wildcats
Future full members
Southern Utah Thunderbirds3
Utah Tech Trailblazers3
Associate members
Cal Poly Mustangs1
UC Dis Aggies1
Francis Marion Patriots2
Tournaments
Basketball (men's)
Basketball (women's)
Soccer (women's)
1football
2men's golf
3joining in 2026–27
4leing in 2026–27
vteNCAA Division I all-sports conferencesFBS
American
Atlantic Coast
Big 12
Big Ten
CUSA
Mid-American
Mountain West
Pac-12
Southeastern
Sun Belt
FCS - Full
Big Sky
Ivy
MEAC
Northeast
Patriot
SoCon
Southland
SWAC
FCS - Alliance
CAA FB (CAA / America East)
Missouri Valley FB (Missouri Valley / Summit)
OVC–Big South (Ohio Valley / Big South)
United (ASUN / WAC)
Non-Football
Atlantic 10
Big East
Big West
Horizon
MAAC
West Coast
vteNCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision conferencesCurrent conferences
Big Sky
CAA (AmEast/CAA)
Ivy
MEAC
MVFC (MVC/Summit)
NEC
OVC–Big South (OVC/Big South)
Patriot
Pioneer
SoCon
Southland
SWAC
UAC (ASUN / WAC)
Previous conferences
American West (defunct 1996)
Great West (non-football 2012; defunct 2013)
Gulf Star (defunct 1987)
MAAC (non-football 2008)
Yankee (became A10 1997)
Independents