FARMINGTON, Utah (July 1, 2026) – Southern Utah University and Utah Tech University officially joined the Big Sky Conference today, growing the league's full-time membership to 11 universities for the 2026-27 academic year and beyond.
The Big Sky's full-time membership now includes: Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Southern Utah, Utah Tech, and Weber State. The conference also has two existing football affiliate members, Cal Poly and UC Davis, as well as men’s golf affiliate Francis Marion.
Southern Utah and Utah Tech, located just 52 miles apart in Cedar City and St. George, respectively, join the Big Sky by the way of the Western Athletic Conference. The Thunderbirds officially joined the WAC in 2022, while the Trailblazers became members in 2020.
SUU, which previously was part of the Big Sky from 2012-22, rejoins the league where it won nine conference championships in its 10 seasons as a member. Beginning in the 2026-27 season, a total of 14 Thunderbird teams will compete for Big Sky championships in the sports of football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, men’s and women’s outdoor track & field, women’s soccer, softball, and women’s indoor volleyball.
UT, who officially completed its full transition to Division I in 2024, resides in one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the United States. When the 2026-27 season commences, 15 Trailblazer teams will compete for Big Sky championships in the sports of football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men's and women’s indoor track & field, men's and women’s outdoor track & field, women’s soccer, softball, women’s tennis, and women’s indoor volleyball.
Founded in 1963, the Big Sky Conference is a NCAA Division I conference competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. Conference members have won 14 NCAA championships, including eight in football by five different members as well as six of the last 10 Division I men’s cross country titles by NAU. More than 3,000 student-athletes will compete in the Big Sky this upcoming season, with 161 teams representing 14 institutions in 16 sports (seven men’s and nine women’s).
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