Sacramento State will join the Big West conference as a full member starting with the 2026-27 academic year.
Sacramento State to join Big West in 2026 in all sports except football
Sacramento State will join the Big West conference as a full member starting with the 2026-27 academic year.
Sacramento State informed the Big Sky on Wednesday that it will leave the conference after this year and the Big West announced that the school will become the 12th school in the conference.
“The Big West membership and conference staff are excited to welcome Sacramento State to The Big West,” commissioner Dan Butterly said in a statement. “In addition to strengthening The Big West competitively and expanding our geographic footprint, Sacramento State is a staunch advocate for excellence in academics, athletics and service within their community. The new look Big West promises to bring a new level of competition and friendly rivalry for student-athletes and fans alike.”
The Big West doesn’t sponsor football so Sacramento State’s program will be an independent in that sport. The Hornets are trying to move up from FCS level to FBS as an independent and are awaiting a ruling next week from the NCAA Division I Council.