Big Sky's next move

[captain jazz]

Now the dead weight of sac state has left the building, the BSC should look outside the box on its next conference members rather than begrudgingly accepting our fate of South Utah Tech Support. Some options:

Has the conf explored poaching NDSU and SDSU to make us the SEC of FCS? - Unlikely it'll happen, but the worst they can say is no.

What about getting the Texas schools dwindling in the WAC of Tarleton and ACU - plus perhaps UTA? Would be an improvement over the Utah's plus give the big sky a new recruiting area (plus maybe even more tv dollars?)

What about asking San Diego if they'd be interested in providing scholarships football and joining rather than flying halfway across the country for meaningless non scholly games?

I'm hoping all these questions are asked and explored in conference meetings, rather than just going with the Utah schools because they're the safe/obvious option.

 

[grizfnz]

Now the dead weight of sac state has left the building, the BSC should look outside the box on its next conference members rather than begrudgingly accepting our fate of South Utah Tech Support. Some options:

Has the conf explored poaching NDSU and SDSU to make us the SEC of FCS? - Unlikely it'll happen, but the worst they can say is no.

What about getting the Texas schools dwindling in the WAC of Tarleton and ACU - plus perhaps UTA? Would be an improvement over the Utah's plus give the big sky a new recruiting area (plus maybe even more tv dollars?)

What about asking San Diego if they'd be interested in providing scholarships football and joining rather than flying halfway across the country for meaningless non scholly games?

I'm hoping all these questions are asked and explored in conference meetings, rather than just going with the Utah schools because they're the safe/obvious option.

They need to add a school with women’s softball and men’s golf. Otherwise, the BSC doesn’t meet the NCAA conference minimum of 6 participating schools, which means no path to a conference championship and national championship auto bid.

 

[EverettGriz]

There is literally zero incentive for the Dakotas to leave the Mo valley for the bsc. All they'd gain is a move to worse basketball conference which is also poorly managed.

Sadly, the addition of ut tech is all but a forgone conclusion. Yet another DI in name only program joining the bsc. They seem to collect those....

 

[AZDoc]

There is literally zero incentive for the Dakotas to leave the Mo valley for the bsc. All they'd gain is a move to worse basketball conference which is also poorly managed.

Sadly, the addition of ut tech is all but a forgone conclusion. Yet another DI in name only program joining the bsc. They seem to collect those....

Although I love St. George

 

[p8nted]

There is literally zero incentive for the Dakotas to leave the Mo valley for the bsc. All they'd gain is a move to worse basketball conference which is also poorly managed.

Sadly, the addition of ut tech is all but a forgone conclusion. Yet another DI in name only program joining the bsc. They seem to collect those....

Next will be UC Davis FB leaving for the MWC with Portland State and EWU hanging onto FB by a thread. Could get a bit rough. People might be glad to have the Utah Schools in the Fold given the alternative.

 

[Griz til I die]

There is literally zero incentive for the Dakotas to leave the Mo valley for the bsc. All they'd gain is a move to worse basketball conference which is also poorly managed.

Sadly, the addition of ut tech is all but a forgone conclusion. Yet another DI in name only program joining the bsc. They seem to collect those....

I’ll go on record that the Summit League was not better than the Big Sky last year. It was pretty even IMO. By the end of the season I probably would’ve given the nod to the Big Sky. That said, I totally agree. No reason for the Dakotas to ever come to the BSC.

 

[Griz til I die]

I still think San Diego would be the best case scenario but it does appear that all roads lead to Utah Tech. My biggest issue is I’m not wild about the prospect of not having a full time member in California anymore. I think that’s important and that’s why Wistrcill needs to pick up the phone and at least inquire.

As far as Utah Tech, it’s a no brainer that they’re a better option than SUU. As people have mentioned, St. George is a very nice city. It’s only 2 hours from Las Vegas, and they actually have decent air service in St. George. Plus their facilities actually aren’t that bad. Talking to some people who went to the Football game down there a couple years ago, the stadium is actually pretty decent. It holds 10,000 but the visitor sides stands are fairly new, only like 5 years old. Their Basketball arena is not bad either and they got some other nice facilities as well.

The biggest knock on UTU is they’ve had a hard time getting it going on the field. They’ve been abysmal in both Football and Basketball in their D1 era. Their new Football coach is only in his second year and has deep ties to Stanford and some other P5 programs that they could eventually get there, but it won’t be anytime soon. Maybe getting into the Big Sky would help them elevate their program. It’s hard to say for sure but who knows.

Just my personal opinion!

 

[Grizzinator]

UTU might also give Weber an in-state rival.

 

[Ut-Grizfan]

We're unfortunately limited by Geography and I personally think we will see both SUU and UT-Tech join the Conference despite past history.

As mentioned we need members for multiple OLY sports or else we don't meet NCAA requirements, and with Basketball looking at expanding the number of games getting both would be beneficial. And at least SUU Football seems to be solid under the new coach (arguably should have made the playoffs over NAU last season):

Montana.......MSU
Idaho............ISU
EWU..............PSU
Weber...........UNC
NAU..............SUU
UT-Tech........*Cal Poly

* = Football Only

Would give the Big Sky 11 Full time members which will ensure 20 Conference games for Basketball, won't negatively effect travel and probably most importantly provide 2 additional members to the Oly Sports who need it. Not my first choice but you do what you have to do in order to survive, especially in Realignment.

 

[kemajic]

Now the dead weight of sac state has left the building, the BSC should look outside the box on its next conference members rather than begrudgingly accepting our fate of South Utah Tech Support. Some options:

Has the conf explored poaching NDSU and SDSU to make us the SEC of FCS? - Unlikely it'll happen, but the worst they can say is no.

What about getting the Texas schools dwindling in the WAC of Tarleton and ACU - plus perhaps UTA? Would be an improvement over the Utah's plus give the big sky a new recruiting area (plus maybe even more tv dollars?)

What about asking San Diego if they'd be interested in providing scholarships football and joining rather than flying halfway across the country for meaningless non scholly games?

I'm hoping all these questions are asked and explored in conference meetings, rather than just going with the Utah schools because they're the safe/obvious option.

We don't need to add football members, particularly weak ones. Less is better. 10 would be a good number with the 12 game season that appears to be happening. Back to a balanced schedule and a real conf champion. 9 conf games and 3 OOC.

 

[EverettGriz]

I don't think suu would be warmly received, and 11 is a bad number for most sports

 

[Ut-Grizfan]

We don't need to add football members, particularly weak ones. Less is better. 10 would be a good number with the 12 game season that appears to be happening. Back to a balanced schedule and a real conf champion. 9 conf games and 3 OOC.

According to the Big Sky schools HAVE to have Football in order to be considered, unless they change the Conference rules that's what we're dealing with.

I don't think suu would be warmly received, and 11 is a bad number for most sports

Beggars can't be choosers in Realignment, and if 11 is bad for most sports we will then be forced to look at CWU.

 

[Mick Belker]

Although I love St. George

Been through there, coming and going on long drives. Even had to stop at their airport once, at night. Otherwise, no incentive to stop. The Virgin River Gorge and Canyon is just south of town, right along the Interstate. Actually, I was thinking about retiring to St. George about ten years ago.

 

[Mick Belker]

And at least SUU Football seems to be solid under the new coach (arguably should have made the playoffs over NAU last season):

Montana.......MSU
Idaho............ISU
EWU..............PSU
Weber...........UNC
NAU..............SUU
UT-Tech........*Cal Poly

* = Football Only

Arguably? Sound like they need to improve their Debate Program, FIRST, then see what can be done with Football.

 

[p8nted]

What is the Story with SUU? Did they burn a bridge or leave the Big Sky in an ugly way?

 

[EverettGriz]

What is the Story with SUU? Did they burn a bridge or leave the Big Sky in an ugly way?

Yes and yes. And they added precisely zero while they were a member.

 

[Wolf777]

Analysis: Sacramento State is leaving. What’s next for the Big Sky Conference?

Sacramento State will exit the Big Sky Conference after 30 years in the league, effective July 1, 2026. The school this week informed the conference of its intention to leave as it will move all of its sports programs but football to the Big West Conference. The Big West doesn’t sponsor football...

www.standard.net

Pretty objective write up looking at all sports and a good amount of potentials.

 

[captain jazz]

Analysis: Sacramento State is leaving. What’s next for the Big Sky Conference?

Sacramento State will exit the Big Sky Conference after 30 years in the league, effective July 1, 2026. The school this week informed the conference of its intention to leave as it will move all of its sports programs but football to the Big West Conference. The Big West doesn’t sponsor football...

www.standard.net

Pretty objective write up looking at all sports and a good amount of potentials.

Good summary and I agree with most of what the author says. But he seems to suggest that if BSC were to add the two Texas schools, then they would need to also add the Utah schools. Instead, I'd like to see us just add the Texas schools - which have a much stronger focus on improving their sports and facilities (just google Tarleton and ACU's facilities). Surely that isn't a far fetched idea?

 

[Wolf777]

Good summary and I agree with most of what the author says. But he seems to suggest that if BSC were to add the two Texas schools, then they would need to also add the Utah schools. Instead, I'd like to see us just add the Texas schools - which have a much stronger focus on improving their sports and facilities (just google Tarleton and ACU's facilities). Surely that isn't a far fetched idea?

Tarleton seems pretty short sighted with their aspirations to be FBS and they do have nice facilities and some $$$ support. It would be nice to have a footprint down into Texas from a recruiting standpoint. Trading Texas for California might be nice for some of our contingent as well.

 

[oldrunner]

I'm sure that there will be a thorough discussion on all of the options as the Presidents and ADs work through this.

The problem with the Texas schools is travel for us and them. Same could be said of SUU, really. I think you still have to ride donkies to get into Cedar City and there are just a few fleabag hotels to stay in. SUU has a nice BB arena, but the football facility is atrocious. UTU has much better facilities and travel is much better.

I could see the BSC adding just one school to replace Shaq State. Sacramento is a large market, but nobody there follows the Mud Wasps, so it isn't much in the way of media exposure. UTU is a solid replacement for Sacramento. St George is a growing community with a vision for the future. Add them and then wait to see what comes with UCD going to the MWC. No need to go hog wild and add too many new programs to most sports, when one school takes care of your needs.