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Big Sky Conference

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Big Sky Conference
AssociationNCAA
FoundedJuly 1, 1963; 61 years ago (1963-07-01)
CommissionerTom Wistrcill (since November 16, 2018)
Sports fielded
  • 16
    • men's: 7
    • women's: 9
DivisionDivision I
SubdivisionFCS
No. of teams10 (+2 football affiliates)
HeadquartersFarmington, Utah
RegionWestern United States
Official websitebigskyconf.com
Locations
Location of teams in {{{title}}}

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

[edit]
Big Sky Conference
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
200km
125miles
Eastern Washington
UC Davis
Cal Poly
Weber State
Sacramento State
Portland State
Northern Colorado
Northern Arizona
Montana State
Montana
Idaho State
.
Idaho
Location of Big Sky members:
full member
affiliate member, football

Initially conceived for basketball,[1][2][3] the Big Sky was founded 61 years ago on July 1, 1963, with six members in four states;[4][5] 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,[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), leaving football, basketball, wrestling, track, and cross country skiing.[9][10]

Women's sports were added 36 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.[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]

Current full members

[edit]
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Endowment
(millions) 		Nickname Joined Colors
Eastern Washington University Cheney, Washington 1882 Public 10,915 $28.9 Eagles 1987    
University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho 1889 11,849 $465 Vandals 1963,
  2014[a] 		   
Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho 1901 12,301 $75 Bengals 1963    
University of Montana Missoula, Montana 1893 10,104 $241.6 Grizzlies[b] 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 31,181 $92.9 Hornets 1996    
Weber State University Ogden, Utah 1889 29,914 $219.5 Wildcats 1963    
Notes
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ The Montana women's basketball team is known as the Lady Griz, but all other women's teams are known as Grizzlies. [12]

Affiliate members

[edit]
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Colors Big Sky
sport(s) 		Primary
conference
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California 1901 Public 21,812 Mustangs 2012       Football Big West (BWC)
University of California, Davis Davis, California 1905 38,369 Aggies    


Former full members

[edit]
Institution Location Founded Affiliation Enrollment Nickname Joined Left Colors Subsequent
conference 		Current
conference
Boise State University Boise, Idaho 1932 Public 26,155 Broncos 1970 1996     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       Big West (BWC)
(2001–present)
Gonzaga University[a] Spokane, Washington 1887 Private
(Jesuit) 		7,421 Bulldogs 1963 1979       West Coast (WCC)
(1979–2026)
Pac-12
(2026–future)
University of Nevada Reno, Nevada 1874 Public 21,034 Wolf Pack 1979 1992     Big West (BWC)
(1992–2000)
Western (WAC)
(2000–12) 		Mountain West (MW)
(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     Western (WAC)
(2022–present)
Notes
  1. ^ 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 Sky
sport(s) 		Primary
conference 		Conference
in former
Big Sky sport
Binghamton University, SUNY Vestal, New York 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)[a]
Notes
  1. ^ Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference.

Membership timeline

[edit]
University of California, DavisCalifornia Polytechnic State UniversityWestern Athletic ConferenceSouthern Utah UniversitySummit LeagueSummit LeagueNCAA Division I FCS independent schoolsAmerican West ConferenceNCAA Division I FCS independent schoolsNCAA Division II independent schoolsRocky Mountain Athletic ConferenceNAIA independent schoolsSummit LeagueUniversity of North DakotaGreat West ConferenceNorth Central ConferenceUniversity of Northern ColoradoNCAA Division I independent schoolsNorth Central ConferenceNCAA Division II independent schoolsRocky Mountain Athletic ConferenceRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePortland State UniversityPacific West ConferenceOregon Collegiate ConferenceCalifornia State University, SacramentoAmerican West ConferenceNorthern California Athletic ConferenceNorthern California Athletic ConferenceBig West ConferenceCalifornia State University, NorthridgeAmerican West ConferenceNCAA Division I independent schoolsCalifornia Collegiate Athletic AssociationEastern Washington UniversityNCAA Division I FCS Independent SchoolsNCAA Division II Independent SchoolsEvergreen ConferenceMountain West ConferenceWestern Athletic ConferenceBig West ConferenceUniversity of Nevada, RenoWest Coast ConferenceNorthern California Athletic ConferenceNorthern Arizona UniversityPac-12 ConferenceMountain West ConferenceWestern Athletic ConferenceBig West ConferenceBoise State UniversityIntermountain Collegiate Athletic ConferenceWeber State UniversityMontana State UniversityUniversity of MontanaIdaho State UniversityWestern Athletic ConferenceBig West ConferenceUniversity of IdahoPac-12 ConferenceWest Coast ConferenceGonzaga University

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 championships

NCAA 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 2022–23 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 quarterback Sam Huard looks downfield during a Big Sky Conference football game against Northern Colorado on Oct. 21, 2023.

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[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]

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.[18][19] Montana State[20] 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.[21]

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[22] and Gonzaga, and three to Weber State.[23] Gonzaga won the final title in 1974 over Idaho State in three games, after losing the first game in Pocatello.[24] Southern division champion Idaho State chose to end its baseball program weeks following the conference's announcement,[25] and Gonzaga, Idaho, and Boise State joined the new Northern Pacific Conference (NorPac) for baseball in 1975.[26] Boise State and Idaho competed in the NorPac for six seasons, then discontinued baseball after the 1980 season.[27][28]

  • 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.[29] 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

[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) 1987

Boise 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
7
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 Cross
country		 Football Tennis Track and field
(indoor)		 Track and field
(outdoor)		 Total
Sports
Eastern Washington Yes Yes Yes Yes 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[a] 9 10 10 61+2
  1. ^ Affiliates Cal Poly and UC Davis.

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

School Baseball Golf Skiing Soccer Wrestling
Eastern Washington No No[a] No No No
Idaho No Big West No No No
Montana State No No Independent No No
Northern Colorado Summit Summit No No Big 12
Sacramento State WAC Big West No Big West No
Weber State No Summit No No No
  1. ^ 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.[30]

Women's sponsored sports by school

[edit]
School Basketball Cross
country		 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

Women'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 WAC
Montana State No No No Independent No
Northern Arizona No No No No WAC
Northern Colorado No No No No WAC
Sacramento State Big West MPSF WCC No No

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 Holt Arena 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[31] Bank of Colorado Arena 2,992
Portland State Hillsboro Stadium 7,600 Viking Pavilion 3,094
Sacramento State Hornet Stadium 21,195 Hornets Nest 1,012[32]
UC Davis UC Davis Health Stadium 10,367 Football-only member
Weber State Stewart Stadium 17,500 Dee Events Center 11,500

Basketball

[edit]

Current NBA players

[edit]

Conference rivalries

[edit]

Non-conference rivalries

[edit]

2021–22 Home Game Attendance Averages

[edit]
School[34] 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

[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. As of July 2022, the following rivalries are protected through 2024.[35][36][37]

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

[edit]
Schools First
Meeting		 Game Winner
(Last Meeting)		 All-time Record
Cal Poly UC Davis 1939 Battle for the Golden Horseshoe UC Davis UC Davis 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 Davis Sacramento State 1954 Causeway Classic Sacramento State UC Davis leads 46–21

Non-conference

[edit]
Schools First
Meeting		 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]

Headquarters

[edit]

Big Sky championships

[edit]

Men's basketball

[edit]
See also: Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament
Season Regular Season
Champion(s) 		Tournament
Champion 		NCAA
Seed 		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
  • 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 2024, the Big Sky has yet to have an at-large team in the NCAA tournament

Championships (by school)

[edit]
School Member years Conference
titles		 Tournament
titles		 Last won
Weber State 1963–present 22 10 2016
Montana 1963–present 12 11 2019
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 1 1 2011
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 N/A

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 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 2024, 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
2021 Idaho State Idaho
2022 Montana State Northern Arizona

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 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

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 1965–95
2018–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 Davis 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.[48]

# Team Records Pct. Big Sky
Championships		 National
Championships
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 Davis 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

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  1. ^ "Idaho, six others study basketball league". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. June 1, 1962. p. 8.
  2. ^ "Six intermountain colleges move toward athletic ties". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 30, 1962. p. 8.
  3. ^ "Teams meet in basketball". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 25, 1962. p. 6, sports.
  4. ^ a b Missildine, Harry (February 26, 1963). "Six western schools create Big Sky athletic conference". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 12.
  5. ^ a b "Big Sky is ready for league action". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). February 26, 1963. p. 13.
  6. ^ Missildine, Harry (February 20, 1963). "The conference should band smoothly". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 12.
  7. ^ "Officials view sports loop". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). February 25, 1963. p. 13.
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  10. ^ a b "Baseball axed in Big Sky". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). May 29, 1974. p. 15.
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  15. ^ 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.
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