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Big Sky Conference#Big Sky championships

{{Short description|American collegiate athletic conference}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2017}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2017}}

{{Infobox sports league

| name = Big Sky Conference

| color = #005DAA; {{box-shadow border|a|#70CDE3|2px}}

| font_color = white

| logo = Big Sky Conference logo.svg

| logo_size = 175

| founded = {{Start date and age|1963|7|1}}

| association = NCAA

| division = Division I

| subdivision = FCS

| teams = 10 (+2 football affiliates)

| sports = 16

| mens = 7

| womens = 9

| region = Western United States

| headquarters = Farmington, Utah

| commissioner = Tom Wistrcill

| since = November 16, 2018

| website = [https://www.bigskyconf.com bigskyconf.com]

| map = Big Sky Map.svg

| map_size = 250

}}

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}}, 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.

History

{{OSM Location map

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| nolabels = 1

| title = Big Sky Conference

| mark-coord = {{coord|47.4913 | -117.58442}} |mark-size=10 |label=Eastern
Washington |label-pos = left | mark = Blue pog.svg | label-color = black

| mark-coord1 = {{coord|46.726 | -117.011}} |mark-size1=10 |label1=Idaho |label-pos1 = right | mark1 = Blue pog.svg | label-color1 = black

| mark-coord2 = {{coord|42.861 | -112.434}} |mark-size2=10 |label2=Idaho
State |label-pos2 = left | mark2 = Blue pog.svg | label-color2 = black

| mark-coord3 = {{coord|46.86 | -113.98528}} |mark-size3=10 |label3=Montana |label-pos3 = right | mark3 = Blue pog.svg | label-color3 = black

| mark-coord4 = {{coord|45.668 | -111.05}} |mark-size4=10 |label4=Montana
State |label-pos4 = right | mark4 = Blue pog.svg | label-color4 = black

| mark-coord5 = {{coord|35.188 | -111.653}} |mark-size5=10 |label5=Northern
Arizona |label-pos5 = top | mark5 = Blue pog.svg | label-color5 = black

| mark-coord6 = {{coord|40.40485 | -104.69674}} |mark-size6=10 |label6=Northern
Colorado |label-pos6 = bottom | mark6 = Blue pog.svg | label-color6 = black

| mark-coord7 = {{coord|45.5111 | -122.6833}} |mark-size7=10 |label7=Portland
State |label-pos7 = bottom | mark7 = Blue pog.svg | label-color7 = black

| mark-coord8 = {{coord|38.56028 | -121.42417}} |mark-size8=10 |label8=Sacramento
State |label-pos8 = right | mark8 = Blue pog.svg | label-color8 = black

| mark-coord10 = {{coord|41.19306 | -111.94389}} |mark-size10=10 |label10=Weber
State |label-pos10 = right | mark10 = Blue pog.svg | label-color10 = black

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| zoom = 5

| caption = Location of Big Sky members:
10px full member
10px affiliate member, football

}}

Initially conceived for {{nowrap|basketball,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=971eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5782%2C63050 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho)|agency=Associated Press |title=Idaho, six others study basketball league|date=June 1, 1962|page=8}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vb9eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VzEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5698,4619163|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho)|agency=Associated Press|title=Six intermountain colleges move toward athletic ties|date=October 30, 1962|page=8}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GThWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0OgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6983%2C3448682 |work=Spokesman-Review|location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Teams meet in basketball |date=November 25, 1962|page=6, sports}}}} the Big Sky was founded {{Years or months ago|1963|7}} on July 1, 1963, with six members in {{nowrap|four states;{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AKtWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6973%2C3408852|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|location=(Spokane, Washington)|last=Missildine |first=Harry|title=Six western schools create Big Sky athletic conference|date=February 26, 1963|page=12}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WXYzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4093%2C6223691|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=(Washington)|title=Big Sky is ready for league action|date=February 26, 1963|page=13}}}} four of the charter members have 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,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-6pWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6608%2C1449128|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|location=(Spokane, Washington)|last=Missildine|first=Harry|title=The conference should band smoothly|date=February 20, 1963|page=12}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WHYzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4141%2C5836772|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=(Washington)|title=Officials view sports loop|date=February 25, 1963|page=13}} and was adopted with the announcement of the new conference five days later.

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).{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vK1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2ugDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6772%2C2599312|work=Spokesman-Review|location=(Spokane, Washington)|title=Big Sky steps up|date=May 24, 1968|page=12}} 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), leaving football, basketball, wrestling, track, and cross country skiing.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i71eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ETEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3841%2C3623260|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho)|title=Idaho off probation, loop titles dwindle|date=May 5, 1974|page=13}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mb1eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ETEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6196%2C7355762 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho)|title=Baseball axed in Big Sky|date=May 29, 1974|page=15}}

Women's sports were added {{Time ago|1988}} in 1988, moving from the women's-only Mountain West Athletic Conference (1982–88).

=Fiftieth anniversary=

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.{{cite web|url=httsp://bigskyconf.com/story.aspx?filename=gen_0530133147&file_date=5/30/2013&path=general|title=Big Sky Set to Celebrate Anniversaries|website=Big Sky Conference|access-date=March 2, 2017}} It is one of two Division I all-sports conferences to not sponsor baseball, the other being the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Member schools

=Current full members=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! Institution

! Location

! Founded

! Affiliation

! Enrollment

! Endowment
(millions)

! Nickname

! Joined

! class=unsortable|Colors

Eastern Washington University

| Cheney, Washington

| 1882

| rowspan="10" | Public

| 10,915

| $32.1

| Eagles

| 1987

| {{college color boxes|Eastern Washington Eagles}}

{{sort|Idaho|University of Idaho}}

| Moscow, Idaho

| 1889

| 11,849

| $465

| Vandals

| 1963,
  2014{{efn|group=full|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.}}

| {{college color boxes|Idaho Vandals}}

Idaho State University

| Pocatello, Idaho

| 1901

| 12,301

| $75

| Bengals

| 1963

| {{college color boxes|Idaho State Bengals}}

{{sort|Montana|University of Montana}}

| Missoula, Montana

| 1893

| 10,104

| $241.6

| Grizzlies{{efn|group=full|The Montana women's basketball team is known as the Lady Griz, but all other women's teams are known as Grizzlies.{{cite web | url=https://scholarworks.umt.edu/ladygrizbasketball_programs_asc/ | title=Lady Griz Basketball Programs, 1979-1988 | University of Montana Publications | University of Montana }}}}

| 1963

| {{college color boxes|Montana Grizzlies}}

Montana State University

| Bozeman, Montana

| 1893

| 17,144

| $264

| Bobcats

| 1963

| {{college color boxes|Montana State Bobcats}}

Northern Arizona University

| Flagstaff, Arizona

| 1899

| 28,194

| $198.2

| Lumberjacks

| 1970

| {{college color boxes|Northern Arizona Lumberjacks}}

{{sort|Northern Colorado|University of Northern Colorado}}

| Greeley, Colorado

| 1889

| 9,881

| $100.5

| Bears

| 2006

| {{college color boxes|Northern Colorado Bears}}

Portland State University

| Portland, Oregon

| 1946

| 26,012

| $98

| Vikings

| 1996

| {{college color boxes|Portland State Vikings}}

{{sort|Sacramento State|California State University, Sacramento}}

| Sacramento, California

| 1947

| 31,181

| $92.9

| Hornets

| 1996

| {{college color boxes|Sacramento State Hornets}}

Weber State University

| Ogden, Utah

| 1889

| 29,914

| $219.5

| Wildcats

| 1963

| {{college color boxes|Weber State Wildcats}}

;Notes:

{{notelist|group=full}}

=Affiliate members=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! Institution

! Location

! Founded

! Affiliation

! Enrollment

! Nickname

! Joined

! class=unsortable | Colors

! Big Sky
sport(s)

! Primary
conference

{{sort|Cal Poly|California Polytechnic State University}}

| San Luis Obispo, California

| 1901

| rowspan="2" | Public

| 21,812

| Mustangs

| rowspan="2" | 2012

| {{college color boxes|Cal Poly Mustangs}}

| rowspan="2" | Football

| Big West (BWC)

{{sort|UC Davis|University of California, Davis}}

| Davis, California

| 1905

| 38,369

| Aggies

| {{college color boxes|UC Davis Aggies}}

| Big West (BWC)
{{small|(Mountain West (MWC)
in 2026)}}

=Former full members=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! Institution

! Location

! Founded

! Affiliation

! Enrollment

! Nickname

! Joined

! Left

! class=unsortable | Colors

! Subsequent
conference

! Current
conference

Boise State University

| Boise, Idaho

| 1932

| rowspan="2" | Public

| 26,155

| Broncos

| 1970

| 1996

| {{college color boxes|Boise State Broncos}}

| Big West (BWC)
(1996–2001)
Western (WAC)
(2001–11)

| Mountain West (MW)
(2011–2026)
Pac-12
(2026–future)

California State University, Northridge

| Northridge, California

| 1958

| 38,511

| Matadors

| 1996

| 2001

| {{college color boxes|Cal State Northridge Matadors}}

| colspan="2" | Big West (BWC)
(2001–present)

Gonzaga University{{efn|group=former|Gonzaga was a charter member in 1963, but has not fielded a football team since 1941.}}

| Spokane, Washington

| 1887

| Private
{{small|(Jesuit)}}

| 7,421

| Bulldogs

| 1963

| 1979

| {{college color boxes|Gonzaga Bulldogs}}

| colspan="2" | West Coast (WCC)
(1979–2026)
Pac-12
(2026–future)

{{sort|Nevada|University of Nevada}}

| Reno, Nevada

| 1874

| rowspan="3" | Public

| 21,034

| Wolf Pack

| 1979

| 1992

| {{college color boxes|Nevada Wolf Pack}}

| Big West (BWC)
(1992–2000)
Western (WAC)
(2000–12)

| Mountain West (MW)
(2012–present)

{{sort|North Dakota|University of North Dakota}}

| Grand Forks, North Dakota

| 1883

| 13,772

| Fighting Hawks

| 2012

| 2018

| {{college color boxes|North Dakota Fighting Hawks}}

| colspan="2" | Summit
(2018–present)

Southern Utah University

| Cedar City, Utah

| 1897

| 14,330

| Thunderbirds

| 2012

| 2022

| {{college color boxes|Southern Utah Thunderbirds}}

| colspan="2" | Western (WAC)
(2022–present)

;Notes:

{{notelist|group=former}}

=Former affiliate members=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! Institution

! Location

! Founded

! Affiliation

! Enrollment

! Nickname

! Joined

! Left

! class=unsortable | Colors

! Big Sky
sport(s)

! Primary
conference

! Conference
in former
Big Sky sport

Binghamton University, SUNY

| Vestal, New York

| 1946

| Public

| 17,768

| Bearcats

| 2014

| 2023

| {{college color boxes|Binghamton Bearcats}}

| men's golf

| America East

| Northeast (NEC)

University of Hartford

| West Hartford, Connecticut

| 1877

| Nonsectarian

| 6,792

| Hawks

| 2014

| 2023

| {{college color boxes|Hartford Hawks}}

| men's golf

| colspan=2 | New England (CNE){{efn|group=faff|name=D3|Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.}}

;Notes:

{{notelist|group=faff}}

=Membership timeline=

DateFormat = yyyy

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20

Period = from:1963 till:2030

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

PlotArea = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph, use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#

Colors = id:barcolor value:rgb(0.99,0.7,0.7)

id:line value:black

id:bg value:white

id:Full value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports

id:FullxF value:rgb(0.551,0.824,0.777) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in all sports except for football

id:AssocF value:rgb(0.98,0.5,0.445) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member for football only

id:AssocOS value:rgb(0.5,0.691,0.824) # Use this color to denote a team that is a member in some sports, but not all (consider identifying in legend or a footnote)

id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference

id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another conference where OtherC1 has already been used, to distinguish the two

PlotData=

width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

bar:1 color:FullxF from:1963 till:1979 text:Gonzaga (1963–1979)

bar:1 color:OtherC1 from:1979 till:2026 text:WCC

bar:1 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:Pac-12

bar:2 color:Full from:1963 till:1996 text:Idaho (1963–1996)

bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2005 text:Big West

bar:2 color:OtherC2 from: 2005 till:2014 text:WAC

bar:2 color:FullxF from:2014 till:2018 text:(2014–present)

bar:2 color:Full from:2018 till:end text:

bar:3 color:Full from:1963 till:end text:Idaho State (1963–present)

bar:4 color:Full from:1963 till:end text:Montana (1963–present)

bar:5 color:Full from:1963 till:end text:Montana State (1963–present)

bar:6 color:Full from:1963 till:end text:Weber State (1963–present)

bar:7 color:OtherC1 from:1963 till:1967 text:ICAC (NJCAA)

bar:7 shift:(20) color:OtherC2 from:1967 till:1970 text:Ind.

bar:7 color:Full from:1970 till:1996 text:Boise State (1970–1996)

bar:7 color:OtherC1 from:1996 till:2001 text:Big West

bar:7 color:OtherC2 from:2001 till:2011 text:WAC

bar:7 color:OtherC1 from:2011 till:2026 text:Mountain West

bar:7 color:OtherC2 from:2026 till:end text:Pac-12

bar:8 color:OtherC1 from:1963 till:1970 text:Independent

bar:8 color:Full from:1970 till:end text:Northern Arizona (1970–present)

bar:9 color:OtherC1 from:1963 till:1969 text:FWC

bar:9 color:OtherC2 from:1969 till:1979 text:WCC

bar:9 color:Full from:1979 till:1992 text:Nevada (1979–1992)

bar:9 color:OtherC1 from:1992 till:2000 text:Big West

bar:9 color:OtherC2 from:2000 till:2012 text:WAC

bar:9 color:OtherC1 from:2012 till:end text:Mountain West

bar:10 color:OtherC1 from:1963 till:1979 text:Evergreen (NAIA)

bar:10 color:OtherC2 from:1979 till:1984 text:D-II Ind.

bar:10 shift:(-15) color:OtherC1 from:1984 till:1987 text:DI-AA Ind.

bar:10 color:Full from:1987 till:end text:Eastern Washington (1987–present)

bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:1963 till:1990 text:CCAA

bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:1990 till:1994 text:D-I Ind.

bar:11 color:OtherC1 from:1994 till:1996 text:AWC

bar:11 color:Full from:1996 till:2001 text:Cal State Northridge (1996–2001)

bar:11 shift:(95) color:OtherC1 from:2001 till:end text:Big West

bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:1963 till:1982 text:FWC

bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:1982 till:1985 text:NCAC

bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:1985 till:1994 text:Independent

bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:1994 till:1996 text:AWC

bar:12 color:Full from:1996 till:end text:Sacramento State (1996–present)

bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:1963 till:1964 text:OCC

bar:13 shift:(20) color:OtherC2 from:1964 till:1992 text:Independent

bar:13 color:OtherC1 from:1992 till:1996 text:PacWest

bar:13 color:Full from:1996 till:end text:Portland State (1996–present)

bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:1963 till:1967 text:RMFAC

bar:14 color:OtherC2 from:1967 till:1972 text:RMAC

bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:1972 till:1978 text:D-II Ind.

bar:14 color:OtherC2 from:1978 till:2003 text:NCC

bar:14 color:OtherC1 from:2003 till:2006 text:D-I Ind.

bar:14 color:Full from:2006 till:end text:Northern Colorado (2006–present)

bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:1963 till:2008 text:NCC

bar:15 color:OtherC2 from:2008 till:2012 text:GWC

bar:15 color:Full from:2012 till:2018 text:North Dakota (2012–2018)

bar:15 shift:(50) color:OtherC1 from:2018 till:end text:Summit

bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:1963 till:1967 text:NAIA Ind.

bar:16 color:OtherC2 from:1967 till:1986 text:RMAC

bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:1986 till:1988 text:D-II Ind.

bar:16 shift:(15) color:OtherC2 from:1988 till:1994 text:DI-AA Ind.

bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:1994 till:1996 text:AWC

bar:16 color:OtherC2 from:1996 till:1997 text:Ind.

bar:16 shift:(15) color:OtherC1 from:1997 till:2007 text:Mid-Con

bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:2007 till:2012 text:Summit

bar:16 color:Full from:2012 till:2022 text:Southern Utah (2012–2022)

bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:2022 till:end text:WAC

bar:17 color:AssocF from:2012 till:end text:Cal Poly (2012–present)

bar:18 color:AssocF from:2012 till:end text:UC Davis (2012–present)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:1965

TextData =

fontsize:M

textcolor:black

pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center)

text:^"Big Sky Conference membership history"

  1. > If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following six options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space. {{Font color||{{RGB|190|186|218}}|Full members}} {{Font color||{{RGB|141|211|199}}|Full members (non-football)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|251|128|114}}|Assoc. members (football only)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|128|177|211}}|Assoc. member (list sports)}} {{Font color||{{RGB|255|255|179}}|Other conference}} {{Font color||{{RGB|253|180|98}}|Other conference}} <#

{{Font color||{{RGB|190|186|218}}|Full members }}

{{Font color||{{RGB|251|128|114}}|Assoc. members (football only) }}

{{Font color||{{RGB|141|211|199}}|Full members (except football) }}

{{Font color||{{RGB|128|177|211}}|Assoc. members (other sports) }}

{{Font color||{{RGB|255|255|179}}|Other conference }}

{{Font color||{{RGB|253|180|98}}|Other conference }}

NCAA championships

{{see also|List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships}}

NCAA Division I national championships as of 2021.

class="wikitable"

! rowspan="2" |School

! colspan="3" |Team

! colspan="3" |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

As of the 2022–23 school year, the Big Sky sponsors championships in seven men's and nine women's NCAA-sanctioned sports.{{cite web|url=http://bigskyconf.com/index.aspx|title=Big Sky Conference|website=Big Sky Conference|access-date=March 2, 2017}} 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 =

File:CalPolyStadiumBigSkyFootballIn2023.jpg

Cal Poly and UC Davis 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{{Cite news |last=Voisinavoisin |first=Ailene |date=September 8, 2010 |title=Big Sky, horizons open for UCD |pages=C1 |work=The Sacramento Bee}} and an expansion of the FCS playoff bracket at the time, according to then-commissioner Doug Fullerton.{{Cite news |last=Aird |first=Donovan |date=September 8, 2010 |title=Big Sky felt it needed to make a statement in conference realignment |pages=S1 |work=The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, CA)}}

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.{{cite news|url=http://www.standard.net/Sports/2014/06/04/Weber-State-joins-familiar-friends-foes-as-Big-Sky-brings-back-men-s-golf.html |title=WSU joins friends/foes as Big Sky brings back men's golf |first=Roy |last=Burton |newspaper=Standard-Examiner |location=Ogden, Utah |date=June 4, 2014 |access-date=June 13, 2014}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.greeleytribune.com/2024/05/07/northern-colorado-mens-golf-moving-to-the-summit-league-beginning-july-1/ |title=Northern Colorado men's golf moving to The Summit League beginning July 1 |first=Anne |last=Delaney |newspaper=Greeley Tribune |date=May 7, 2024 |access-date=May 8, 2024}}

=Baseball=

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.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CZNYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PvgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1598,710904&|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=(Washington)|title=Big Sky baseball: split loop planned|date=May 19, 1970|page=13}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m5JYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ifgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4340,3107367&|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=(Washington)|title=Vandals list baseball play|date=January 28, 1971|page=22}} Montana State{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ELxeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7DAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4226%2C3937108|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho)|title=Big Sky baseball altered; MSU out, NAU in playoffs|agency=Associated Press|date=May 19, 1971|page=13}} 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 {{nowrap|two years.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tN9YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ivgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6157,2549181&|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=(Washington)|title=Key games: Big Sky Conference|date=April 23, 1973|page=17}}}}

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. Of the eleven Big Sky baseball titles, four each went to Idaho{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZblWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=a-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7163%2C4614740|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|location=(Spokane, Washington)|title=Vandals Arizona-bound|date=May 29, 1969|page=13}} and Gonzaga, and three to Weber State.{{cite web|url=http://www.bigskyconf.com/sports/2008/6/9/Pastbaseballchamps.aspx|website=Big Sky Conference|title=Baseball champions|access-date=August 9, 2012}} Gonzaga won the final title in 1974 over Idaho State in three games, after losing the first game in Pocatello.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kr1eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ETEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4197%2C5597693|newspaper= Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho)|title=Gonzaga blasts ISU for conference title|date=May 22, 1974|page=15}} Southern division champion Idaho State chose to end its baseball program weeks following the conference's announcement,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4n9UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FY8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2281%2C3747292|newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record|location=(Washington)|title=Idaho (State) drops baseball|date=June 5, 1974|page=9}} and Gonzaga, Idaho, and Boise State joined the new Northern Pacific Conference (NorPac) for baseball {{nowrap|in 1975.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W6hYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sPgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1720,2447355 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=(Washington)|agency=Associated Press|title=Idaho, Gonzaga join new baseball circuit|date=June 24, 1974|page=16}}}} Boise State and Idaho competed in the NorPac for six seasons, then discontinued baseball after the {{nowrap|1980 season.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yJNfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2023%2C1956440 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Boise State drops baseball program |date=May 6, 1980 |page=C1}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CFZOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Re4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5702,6845869& |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|title=Baseball's 'out' at Idaho |last=Goodwin |first=Dale |date=May 13, 1980 |page=19}}}}

:*Idaho (4) 1964, 1966, 1967, 1969

:*Gonzaga (4) 1965, 1971, 1973, 1974

:* Weber State (3) 1968, 1970, 1972

In 2016, North Dakota announced in April that it was their last baseball season.{{cite web|title=UND to reduce number of sports after 2015-16 season|url=http://www.undsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=210885388|url-status=live|access-date=April 12, 2016|publisher=University of North Dakota|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630133534/http://www.undsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=13500&ATCLID=210885388 |archive-date=June 30, 2016 }} Since then, only Northern Colorado and Sacramento State have 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=

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) 1987

Boise State continued its wrestling program as an affiliate member of the Pac-10 (now Pac-12) Conference.

class="wikitable" style=

|+ Teams in Big Sky Conference competition

!Sport

Men'sWomen's
Basketball{{center|11}}{{center|11}}
Cross country{{center|11}}{{center|11}}
Football{{center|13}}{{center|–}}
Golf{{center|7}}{{center|11}}
|Soccer{{center|–}}{{center|10}}
Softball{{center|–}}{{center|7}}
Tennis{{center|10}}{{center|10}}
Track and field (Indoor){{center|11}}{{center|11}}
Track and field (Outdoor){{center|11}}{{center|11}}
Volleyball{{center|–}}{{center|11}}

=Men's sponsored sports by school=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%"
SchoolBasketballCross
country		FootballTennisTrack and field
(indoor)		Track and field
(outdoor)		Total
Sports
Eastern Washington{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{efn|group=n|Eastern Washington will cease sponsoring men's tennis after the 2024–25 season.}}{{yes}}{{yes}}6
Idaho{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}6
Idaho State{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}6
Montana{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}6
Montana State{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}6
Northern Arizona{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}6
Northern Colorado{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{no}}{{yes}}{{yes}}5
Portland State{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}6
Sacramento State{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}6
Weber State{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}6
Totals || 10 || 10 || 10+2{{efn|group=n|Affiliates Cal Poly and UC Davis.}} || 9 || 10 || 10 || 61+2

{{notelist|group=n}}

Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Big Sky Conference which are played by Big Sky schools:

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
SchoolBaseballGolfSkiingSoccerWrestling
align=left | Eastern WashingtonNoNo{{efn|group=mn|Eastern Washington will reinstate men's golf in 2025–26 after an absence of over 20 years. It has not announced an affiliation in that sport.{{cite press release |url=https://goeags.com/news/2024/10/15/general-mens-golf-to-return-as-ewu-athletics-varsity-program.aspx |title=Men's golf to return as EWU Athletics varsity program |publisher=Eastern Washington Eagles |date=October 15, 2024 |access-date=November 26, 2024}}}}NoNoNo
align=left| IdahoNoBig WestNoNoNo
align=left| Montana StateNoNoIndependentNoNo
align=left| Northern ColoradoSummitSummitNoNoBig 12
align=left| Sacramento StateWACBig WestNoBig WestNo
align=left| Weber StateNoSummitNoNoNo

{{notelist|group=mn}}

=Women's sponsored sports by school=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:80%"
SchoolBasketballCross
country		GolfSoccerSoftballTennisTrack and field
(indoor)		Track and field
(outdoor)		VolleyballTotal
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

Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Big Sky Conference which are played by Big Sky schools:

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
SchoolBeach volleyballGymnasticsRowingSkiingSwimming
align=left| IdahoNoNoNoNoWAC{{efn|group=wn|name=MPSF|Joining the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in 2025.}}
align=left| Montana StateNoNoNoIndependentNo
align=left| Northern ArizonaNoNoNoNoWAC{{efn|group=wn|name=MPSF}}
align=left| Northern ColoradoNoNoNoNoWAC{{efn|group=wn|name=MPSF}}
align=left| Sacramento StateBig WestMPSFWCCNoNo

{{notelist|group=wn}}

Facilities

class="wikitable sortable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|border=2|team=Big Sky Conference | School | Football stadium | Capacity | Basketball arena | Capacity }}
style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Cal Poly Mustangs |color=#FFFFFF}}"| Cal Poly Mustangs football

|Mustang Memorial Field

|{{nts|11075}}

|colspan=2 align=center |Football-only member

style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Eastern Washington Eagles |color=#FFFFFF}}"| Eastern Washington Eagles

|Roos Field

|{{nts|8600}}

|Reese Court

|{{nts|6000}}

style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Idaho Vandals |color=#FFFFFF}}"| Idaho Vandals

|Kibbie Dome

|{{nts|16000}}

| Idaho Central Credit Union Arena

| {{nts|4200}}

style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Idaho State Bengals |color=#FFFFFF}}"| Idaho State Bengals

|Holt Arena

|{{nts|12000}}

|Reed Gym

|{{nts|3040}}

style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Montana Grizzlies |color=#FFFFFF}}"| Montana Grizzlies

|Washington–Grizzly Stadium

|{{nts|25203}}

|Dahlberg Arena

|{{nts|7321}}

style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Montana State Bobcats |color=#FFFFFF}}"| Montana State Bobcats

|Bobcat Stadium

|{{nts|20767}}

|Brick Breeden Fieldhouse

|{{nts|7250}}

style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Northern Arizona Lumberjacks |color=#FFFFFF}}"| Northern Arizona Lumberjacks

|Walkup Skydome

|{{nts|10000}}

|Walkup Skydome

|{{nts|7000}}

style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Northern Colorado Bears |color=#FFFFFF}}"| Northern Colorado Bears

|Nottingham Field

|{{nts|8533}}{{cite web|title=Gameday at Northern Colorado|url=http://uncbears.com/sports/2014/10/9/GAMEDAY%20EXP.aspx|publisher=University of Northern Colorado|access-date=April 4, 2015|quote=Stadium Capacity: 8,533}}

|Bank of Colorado Arena

|{{nts|2992}}

style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Portland State Vikings |color=#FFFFFF}}"| Portland State Vikings

|Hillsboro Stadium

|{{nts|7600}}

|Viking Pavilion

|{{nts|3094}}

style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Sacramento State Hornets |color=#FFFFFF}}"| Sacramento State Hornets

|Hornet Stadium

|{{nts|21195}}

|Hornets Nest

|{{nts|1012}}{{cite web|title=The Nest-Basketball, Volleyball, Gymnastics|url=http://www.hornetsports.com/information/facilities/The_Nest|publisher=Sacramento State Athletics|access-date=March 3, 2016}}

style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|UC Davis Aggies |color=#FFFFFF}}"| UC Davis Aggies football

|UC Davis Health Stadium

|{{nts|10367}}

|colspan=2 align=center |Football-only member

style="text-align:center; {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Weber State Wildcats |color=#FFFFFF}}"| Weber State Wildcats

|Stewart Stadium

|{{nts|17500}}

|Dee Events Center

|{{nts|11500}}

{{notelist|group=f}}

Basketball

{{unreferenced section|date=September 2016}}

=Current NBA players=

  • Damian Lillard, Weber State {{Cite web |title=Damian Lillard {{!}} Portland Trail Blazers {{!}} NBA.com |url=https://www.nba.com/player/203081/damian-lillard |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=NBA.com}}

=Conference rivalries=

=Non-conference rivalries=

= 2021–22 Home Game Attendance Averages =

class="wikitable" | class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!School{{Cite web |title=2021-2022 NCAA MBB Overall (PDF) – Big Sky Conference |url=https://bigskyconf.com/stats.aspx?path=mbball&year=2021#misc |access-date=18 March 2022 |website=Big Sky Conference}}

!Total Games

(Includes Away Games)

!Total Home

Game Attendance

!Average Home

Game 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

=Protected football rivalries=

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;{{cite web|title=Big Sky Announces Future Football League Schedules for 2022-24|url=https://bigskyconf.com/news/2021/7/24/big-sky-announces-future-football-league-schedules-for-2022-24.aspx|website=Big Sky Conference|date=July 24, 2021|access-date=September 14, 2022}}{{cite news|title=Big Sky shakes up protected football rivalries|url=https://dnews.com/sports/big-sky-shakes-up-protected-football-rivalries/article_3a2db3f1-44c6-5c0b-b93f-ed50cb8e855b.html|work=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|author=|date=August 5, 2021|access-date=December 26, 2022}}{{cite news|title=Montana, Montana State get new protected rivals in Big Sky Conference play for 2022-24 seasons|url=https://406mtsports.com/college/big-sky-conference/montana-state-university/montana-montana-state-get-new-protected-rivals-in-big-sky-conference-play-for-2022-24/article_ae86c5df-5033-5806-b1a5-9c24b6fb5c97.html|work=406 MT Sports|first=Frank|last=Gogola|date=July 31, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2022}} these rivalries have since been extended through 2027.{{cite web|title=Big Sky Announces Future Football League Schedules for 2025-27|url=https://bigskyconf.com/news/2022/1/26/big-sky-announces-future-football-league-schedules-for-2025-27.aspx|website=Big Sky Conference|date=January 27, 2022|access-date=November 27, 2024}}

class="wikitable sortable"

!School

!Rival 1

!Rival 2

UC Davis

|Cal Poly

|Sacramento State

Cal Poly

|UC Davis

|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 Davis

|Cal Poly

Weber State

|Idaho State

|Northern Arizona

=Conference=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

| colspan=2 | Schools

First
Meeting		GameWinner
(Last Meeting)		All-time Record
Cal PolyUC Davisalign=center | 1939Battle for the Golden HorseshoeUC DavisUC Davis leads 22–20–2
Eastern WashingtonMontanaalign=center | 1938EWU-UM Governor's CupEastern WashingtonMontana leads 27–17–1
Eastern WashingtonPortland Statealign=center | 1968Dam CupPortland StatePortland State leads 21–20–1
IdahoIdaho Statealign=center | 1916Battle of the DomesIdahoIdaho leads 30–13
IdahoMontanaalign=center | 1903Little Brown SteinMontanaIdaho leads 55–28–2
MontanaMontana Statealign=center | 1897Brawl of the WildMontanaMontana leads 72–40–5
UC DavisSacramento Statealign=center | 1954Causeway ClassicSacramento StateUC Davis leads 46–21

=Non-conference=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

| colspan=2 | Schools

First
Meeting		TrophyWinner
(Last Meeting)		All-time RecordNote
IdahoBoise Statealign=center | 1971Governor's CupBoise StateBoise State leads 22–17-1Last competed for in 2010
IdahoWashington Statealign=center | 1894Battle of the PalouseWashington StateWashington State leads 73-16-3Last played in 2022
Southern UtahNorthern Arizonaalign=center | 1983Grand Canyon RivalryNorthern ArizonaNorthern Arizona leads 13–9Last played in 2021
Southern Utah|Weber Statealign=center | 1984Beehive BowlWeber StateWeber State leads 19–8Last played in 2021

Commissioners

{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zqlfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4277,1098267|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|agency=Associated Press|title=Friel named Big Sky loop commissioner|date=June 8, 1963|page=2}}

  • John Roning (1971–77){{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WpFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RvgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6578,2782527|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|agency=Associated Press|title=Frosh can play Sky frosh grid sport: but not Idaho|date=November 25, 1970|page=12}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19710519&id=8vRLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7193,1641937|work= Spokesman-Review|last=Payne|first=Bob|title=New Big Sky commissioner Roning sees fine future|date=May 19, 1971|page=10}}
  • Steve Belko (1977–81){{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fK1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KuADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5859,1321254|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|last=Newnham|first=Blaine|title=A chance in the Sky|date=January 6, 1977|page=1C}}
  • Ron Stephenson (1981–95){{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b_hLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ru4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6971,2667189|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|agency=Associated Press|title=New Big Sky boss balks at expansion|date=May 21, 1981|page=26}}
  • Doug Fullerton (1995–2016){{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9sAjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9dAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2259,68146|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|agency=Associated Press|title=Changing Big Sky prepares for final fling |date=September 1, 1995|page=1B}}{{cite web|url=http://missoulian.com/ravalli/sports/college/big-sky-conference/big-sky-commissioner-doug-fullerton-to-retire-in-june/article_e903fa1c-7a56-5674-86da-31462487957c.html|title=Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton to retire in June|first=Missoulian|last=Staff|work=Missoulian.com|date=February 10, 2016 |access-date=March 2, 2017}}
  • Andrea Williams (2016–2018){{cite web|title=Big Sky announces new commissioner|url=http://www.bigskyconf.com/news/2016/4/29/GEN_0429160216.aspx?path=general|website=Big Sky Conference|access-date=April 29, 2016}}
  • Ron Loghry (interim, 2018)
  • Tom Wistrcill (2018–present)

Headquarters

  • Pullman, Washington (1963–1971){{Cite web|url=http://cahnrs.wsu.edu/alumni/profile/jack-friel/|title=Coaching Legend Would Have Loved Today's Basketball Team | CAHNRS Alumni & Development | Washington State University}}
  • Boise, Idaho (1971–1995)
  • Ogden, Utah (1995–2019)
  • Farmington, Utah (2019–present){{Cite web|url=https://bigskyconf.com/news/2019/7/31/general-big-sky-conference-moves-league-office-to-farmington.aspx|title = Big Sky Conference Moves League Office to Farmington|website=Big Sky Conference}}

Big Sky championships

= Men's basketball =

{{See also|Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament}}

class="wikitable sortable"
Season

!Regular Season
Champion(s)

!Tournament
Champion

!NCAA
Seed

!Region

!Wins

!Advancement

align=center|1964

|Montana State

|rowspan=12 align=center|no tournament

|align=center rowspan=15|

|align=center rowspan=4|

|align=center rowspan=4|

|rowspan=5|

align=center|1965

|Weber State

align=center|1966

|Weber State, Gonzaga

align=center|1967

|Gonzaga, Montana State

align=center|1968

|Weber State

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1969

|Weber State

|align=center|West

|align=center|1

|align=center|Round of 16

align=center|1970

|Weber State

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

|rowspan=2|

align=center|1971

|Weber State

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1972

|Weber State

|align=center|West

|align=center|1

|align=center|Round of 16

align=center|1973

|Weber State

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

|rowspan=2|

align=center|1974

|Idaho State  (playoff over Montana)

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1975

|Montana

|align=center|West

|align=center|1

|align=center|Round of 16

align=center|1976

|Weber State, Boise State, Idaho State

|Boise State

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

|

align=center|1977

|Idaho State

|Idaho State

|align=center|West

|align=center style="background:#E6E8FA;"|2

|align=center style="background:#E6E8FA;"|Round of 8

align=center|1978

|Montana

|Weber State

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

|

align=center|1979

|Weber State

|Weber State

|align=center|7

|align=center|Midwest

|align=center|1

|align=center|Round of 32

align=center|1980

|Weber State

|Weber State

|align=center|7

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

|rowspan=2|

align=center|1981

|Idaho

|Idaho

|align=center|7

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1982

|Idaho

|Idaho

|align=center style="background:#E6E8FA;"|3

|align=center|West

|align=center|1

|align=center|Round of 16

align=center|1983

|Nevada, Weber State

|Weber State

|align=center|9

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

|rowspan=12|

align=center|1984

|Weber State

|Nevada

|align=center|11

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1985

|Nevada

|Nevada

|align=center|14

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1986

|Northern Arizona, Montana

|Montana State

|align=center|16

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1987

|Montana State

|Idaho State

|align=center|16

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1988

|Boise State

|Boise State

|align=center|14

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1989

|Boise State

|Idaho

|align=center|13

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1990

|Idaho

|Idaho

|align=center|13

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1991

|Montana

|Montana

|align=center|16

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1992

|Montana

|Montana

|align=center|14

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1993

|Idaho

|Boise State

|align=center|14

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1994

|Weber State, Idaho State

|Boise State

|align=center|14

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1995

|Weber State, Montana

|Weber State

|align=center|14

|align=center|Southeast

|align=center|1

|align=center|Round of 32

align=center|1996

|Montana State

|Montana State

|align=center|13

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

|rowspan=3|

align=center|1997

|Northern Arizona

|Montana

|align=center|16

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1998

|Northern Arizona

|Northern Arizona

|align=center|15

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|1999

|Weber State

|Weber State

|align=center|14

|align=center|West

|align=center|1

|align=center|Round of 32

align=center|2000

|Montana, Eastern Washington

|Northern Arizona

|align=center|15

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

|rowspan=6|

align=center|2001

|Cal State Northridge

| Cal State Northridge

|align=center|13

|align=center|Midwest

|align=center|0

align=center|2002

| Montana State

|Montana

|align=center|15

|align=center|Midwest

|align=center|0

align=center|2003

|Weber State

|Weber State

|align=center|12

|align=center|Midwest

|align=center|0

align=center|2004

| Eastern Washington

| Eastern Washington

|align=center|15

|align=center|East

|align=center|0

align=center|2005

| Portland State

| Montana

|align=center|16

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|2006

| Northern Arizona

| Montana

|align=center|12

|align=center|Midwest

|align=center|1

|align=center|Round of 32

align=center|2007

| Weber State, Northern Arizona

| Weber State

|align=center|15

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

|rowspan=19|

align=center|2008

| Portland State

| Portland State

|align=center|16

|align=center|Midwest

|align=center|0

align=center|2009

| Weber State

| Portland State

|align=center|13

|align=center|East

|align=center|0

align=center|2010

| Weber State

| Montana

|align=center|14

|align=center|East

|align=center|0

align=center|2011

| Northern Colorado

| Northern Colorado

|align=center|15

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|2012

| Montana

| Montana

|align=center|13

|align=center|East

|align=center|0

align=center|2013

| Montana

| Montana

|align=center|13

|align=center|East

|align=center|0

align=center|2014

| Weber State

| Weber State

|align=center|16

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|2015

| Montana, Eastern Washington

|Eastern Washington

|align=center|13

|align=center|South

|align=center|0

align=center|2016

| Weber State

| Weber State

|align=center|15

|align=center|East

|align=center|0

align=center|2017

| North Dakota

| North Dakota

|align=center|15

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|2018

| Montana

| Montana

|align=center|14

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|2019

| Montana

| Montana

|align=center|15

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|2020

| Eastern Washington

|align=center|canceled

|colspan=3 align=center|canceled

align=center|2021

| Southern Utah

| Eastern Washington

|align=center|14

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|2022

| Montana State

| Montana State

|align=center|14

|align=center|West

|align=center|0

align=center|2023

| Eastern Washington

| Montana State

|align=center|14

|align=center|East

|align=center|0

align=center|2024

| Eastern Washington

| Montana State

|align=center|16

|align=center|First Four

|align=center|0

align=center|2025

| Northern Colorado, Montana

| Montana

|align=center|14

|align=center|East

|align=center|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 have an at-large team in the NCAA tournament

== Championships (by school) ==

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"

!School!! Member years!! Conference
titles !! Tournament
titles!!Last won

Weber State1963–present22102016
Montana1963–present13122025
Montana State1963–present652024
Eastern Washington1987–present632024
Northern Arizona1970–present522007
Idaho1963–96, 2014–present441993
Idaho State1963–present421994
Boise State1970–96341989
Nevada1979–92221985
Portland State1996–present222009
Gonzaga1963–79201967
Northern Colorado2006–present212025
Cal State Northridge1996–2001112001
North Dakota2012–18112017
Southern Utah2012–22102021
Sacramento State1996–present00{{n/a}}

==NCAA tournament==

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 {{nowrap|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 {{nowrap|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 heavily-favored 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 have 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 =

{{See also|Big Sky Conference women's basketball tournament}}

class="wikitable sortable"
Season

!Tournament champion

!Tournament runner-up

align=center|1983

|Montana

|Weber State

align=center|1984

|Montana

|Eastern Washington

align=center|1985

|Idaho

|Montana

align=center|1986

|Montana

|Eastern Washington

align=center|1987

|Eastern Washington

|Montana

align=center|1988

|Montana

|Eastern Washington

align=center|1989

|Montana

|Idaho

align=center|1990

|Montana

|Idaho

align=center|1991

|Montana

|Montana State

align=center|1992

|Montana

|Boise State

align=center|1993

|Montana State

|Montana

align=center|1994

|Montana

|Boise State

align=center|1995

|Montana

|Montana State

align=center|1996

|Montana

|Weber State

align=center|1997

|Montana

|Montana State

align=center|1998

|Montana

|Northern Arizona

align=center|1999

|Cal State Northridge

|Portland State

align=center|2000

|Montana

|Cal State Northridge

align=center|2001

|Idaho State

|Montana

align=center|2002

|Weber State

|Montana State

align=center|2003

|Weber State

|Montana State

align=center|2004

|Montana

|Idaho State

align=center|2005

|Montana

|Weber State

align=center|2006

|Northern Arizona

|Weber State

align=center|2007

|Idaho State

|Northern Arizona

align=center|2008

|Montana

|Montana State

align=center|2009

|Montana

|Portland State

align=center|2010

|Portland State

|Montana State

align=center|2011

|Montana

|Portland State

align=center|2012

|Idaho State

|Northern Colorado

align=center|2013

|Montana

|Northern Colorado

align=center|2014

|North Dakota

|Montana

align=center|2015

|Montana

|Northern Colorado

align=center|2016

|Idaho

|Idaho State

align=center|2017

|Montana State

|Idaho State

align=center|2018

|Northern Colorado

|Idaho

align=center|2019

|Portland State

|Eastern Washington

align=center|2020

|align=center colspan=2|Canceled (final): Montana State / Idaho

align=center|2021

|Idaho State

|Idaho

align=center|2022

|Montana State

|Northern Arizona

align=center|2023

|Sacramento State

|Northern Arizona

align=center|2024

|Eastern Washington

|Northern Arizona

align=center|2025

|Montana State

|Montana

=Football titles=

Bold = National Champions

class="wikitable"

!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 Davis

|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)=

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"

!School!! member years!! total titles!! Last won

Montana1963–present192023
Montana State1963–present172024
Eastern Washington1987–present102018
Idaho1965–95
2018–present		81992
Boise State1970–9561994
Nevada1979–9241991
Weber State1963–present52019
Idaho State1963–present32002
Sacramento State1996–present32022
Northern Arizona1970–present22003
Southern Utah2012–present22017
Cal Poly2012–present12012
North Dakota2012–201712016
UC Davis2012–present12018
Cal State Northridge1996–20010
Portland State1996–present0
Northern Colorado2006–present0

=All-time school records by wins for current teams=

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.{{Cite web|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2020/FCS.pdf|title = 2020 NCAA Football Records (FCS Records)}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
#TeamRecordsPct.Big Sky
Championships		National
Championships
1North Dakota622-383-30{{winning percentage|622|383|30}}11
2Montana564-478-26{{winning percentage|564|478|26}}182
3Eastern Washington503-404-23{{winning percentage|503|404|23}}101
4UC Davis495-384-35{{winning percentage|495|384|35}}10
5Cal Poly485-383-19{{winning percentage|485|383|19}}11
6Montana State470-467-33{{winning percentage|470|467|33}}163
7Idaho State449-488-21{{winning percentage|449|488|21}}31
8Northern Arizona445-438-23{{winning percentage|445|438|23}}20
9Northern Colorado425-450-26{{winning percentage|425|450|26}}02
10Portland State331-354-10{{winning percentage|331|354|10}}00
11Weber State266-294-3{{winning percentage|266|294|3}}60
12Sacramento State263-351-8{{winning percentage|263|351|8}}20
13Southern Utah261-319-13{{winning percentage|261|319|13}}21

= Overall Big Sky Conference champions =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
! 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

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

{{commons cat}}

  • {{Official website}}

{{Big Sky Conference navbox}}

{{NCAA Division I all-sports conferences}}

{{NCAA Division I FCS conference navbox}}

Category:Sports in the Western United States

Category:Ogden, Utah

Category:Sports organizations established in 1963