A new era officially begins today as Utah Valley University Athletics becomes a full member of The Big West Conference on July 1, 2026. The move marks one of the most significant milestones in Utah Valley’s NCAA Division I history, positioning the Wolverines among one of the nation’s premier mid-major conferences while opening a new chapter of competition, opportunity, and growth.

“Today is a historic day for Utah Valley University Athletics,” said UVU Director of Athletics Dr. Jared Sumsion. “We are honored to officially join The Big West and begin building new rivalries, competing for championships, and representing Utah on one of the nation’s premier mid-major stages. This move strengthens our future and creates incredible opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, and fans.”

Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, Utah Valley will compete in 13 Big West-sponsored sports, including baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, and women’s volleyball. UVU’s wrestling program will continue to compete in the Big 12 Conference.

“The Big West has always embraced those willing to think bigger, compete harder and lead boldly. Utah Valley embodies that spirit,” Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly said. “Their remarkable vision, passionate fan base and competitive success make them a perfect fit for The Big West. Today isn’t simply about adding another member, it is about strengthening our shared commitment to excellence in academics, athletics and service to our communities. We are proud to welcome Utah Valley student-athletes, coaches, alumni and fans to The Big West family.”

Utah Valley officially enters The Big West alongside fellow newcomers California Baptist and Sacramento State as part of the conference’s expanded membership beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The Wolverines will compete alongside Cal Poly, California Baptist, Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, CSUN, Sacramento State, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara.

Founded in 1941 and now serving more than 46,000 students, Utah Valley becomes the largest institution in The Big West and marks the conference’s first member institution in Utah since Utah State concluded its membership in 2005.

“This moment represents years of growth, vision, and hard work across our university and athletics department,” Sumsion said. “When we accepted the invitation to join The Big West, we talked a lot about the future. Today, that future becomes reality. We are excited to begin competition as members of The Big West and help shape the next chapter of this outstanding conference.”

During 13 seasons in the Western Athletic Conference, the Wolverines captured 39 regular-season and tournament championships, claimed the 2020 WAC Commissioner’s Cup as the league’s top all-around athletics department, and earned five consecutive WAC Academic Excellence Awards from 2021-26.

The Wolverines enjoyed one of the most successful years in department history during their final season in the WAC in 2025-26. Utah Valley claimed six conference championships, including women’s soccer’s WAC regular-season title, volleyball’s WAC regular-season and tournament championships, the men’s indoor track and field championship, the women’s outdoor track and field championship, and men’s basketball’s outright WAC regular-season title. The success translated nationally as women’s soccer earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament, volleyball advanced to the NCAA Tournament, and men’s basketball secured a berth to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

During its time in the WAC, Utah Valley made NCAA Tournament appearances in seven different sports, including baseball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, softball, volleyball, and track and field. The Wolverines also produced numerous All-Americans, Academic All-Americans, conference players of the year, and individual NCAA qualifiers and national championship competitors.

Utah Valley men’s basketball made four National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearances during the Wolverines’ time in the WAC, advancing to the NIT Final Four in 2023 and earning additional berths in 2014, 2025, and 2026.

The move to The Big West continues a remarkable journey for a university that made NCAA history in 2003 by becoming the first institution to transition directly from junior college athletics to NCAA Division I competition. Since then, Utah Valley has emerged as one of the nation’s fastest-growing universities and one of the West’s most successful mid-major athletic programs.

Utah Valley also brings some of the premier athletic facilities in the conference to The Big West, including the recently opened UCCU Stadium, the UCCU Center, UCCU Ballpark, a state-of-the-art basketball practice facility, and significant recent upgrades to Wolverine Softball Field. Those facilities are expected to play a prominent role in hosting future Big West championships and events.

The addition of Utah Valley, California Baptist, and Sacramento State expands The Big West’s footprint while further strengthening one of the nation’s premier mid-major conferences. Utah Valley’s location in the Intermountain West also provides the conference with a new geographic presence and additional opportunities for championship hosting and regional exposure.

The Wolverines will begin Big West competition during the 2026-27 athletic season, with men’s and women’s soccer among the first programs to take the field as official members of the conference this fall.

“As we begin this new chapter, we remain committed to providing an exceptional student-athlete experience while competing for championships at the highest level,” Sumsion said. “We are grateful for the relationships and opportunities we had during our time in the WAC, and we look forward to representing Utah Valley University, the state of Utah, and Wolverine Nation in The Big West for years to come.”