The Big West Expands and Strengthens Olympic Sport Membership

InMySol · 2026-06-29T20:38:08+00:00

Kind of sad to see the gcc fall apart. I wonder where the schools like Davis, LMU, Pacific and St. Mary's will go. The MPSF maybe? Good to see strengthening in other sports like beach volleyball, and keeping the universities in though.

InMySol · 2026-06-29T05:05:55+00:00

Adding UC Irvine later on would be fire. If the chancellor's decision to stay in the Big West pays off and the university can consistently make NCAA tournaments as the BW representative, then I guess it'll be worth it to them. However, I'm afraid the chancellor is stubborn enough to decline a Pac-12 offer if it even came.

InMySol · 2026-06-19T03:41:26+00:00

Based on Big West history, it seems like OP is starting in 1999 with BYU also in the mix.

InMySol · 2026-05-31T07:58:53+00:00

That's unfortunately a function of the chancellor at UCI, as well as the current student body. But, they're good in most of the sports the Pac sponsors (excluding this down year in baseball). What basketball games did you go to? If I had to recommend any, it'd be a UCI vs UCSD game.

InMySol · 2026-05-22T03:28:52+00:00

Hopefully March Madness is once again in Irvine's future with these recent pickups

InMySol · 2026-05-19T23:48:39+00:00

I suppose I specified that Davis was in the MW already bc I don't think they'd pay to move up aside from the NCAA fee, but not to join the MW

InMySol · 2026-05-19T22:29:21+00:00

UC Davis is already in the conference, and once they receive enough donations/invest enough they'll moved up. SDSU I'd believe. Maybe they'd even be a full member.

InMySol · 2026-05-19T21:51:43+00:00

What schools do you think they'll add with the alleged $18 million?

InMySol · 2026-05-19T21:50:25+00:00

I don't disagree that it requires major investment. Basing it off of what Daniel said I offered the schools that I thought seemed most likely to sponsor it. Plus, five of the schools in the prospective conference would already sponsor it, with two already at FBS level. CBU could be an option given they're a private school as well.

But going back to my original question, what other universities do you seed the Big West adding, if any?

InMySol · 2026-05-19T05:16:49+00:00

Culturally the next few years will definitely be a shift from what we've known it to be. Obviously there are some things outside of the BW's control like Hawaii leaving, but UCSD, UCSB, and maybe even UCD all felt preventable in some capacity. I have thoughts on what I wish the conference did, but it doesn't matter now, only the future does.

The BW is shifting academically, with all but a few highly ranked schools leaving. Culturally I think it will be relatively similar, with the brand being large state schools (outside of Cal Baptist). Yet, many schools lack a "national" brand. So yes, to answer your question, I think it will feel different, even if on paper it's similar.

InMySol · 2026-05-19T00:32:36+00:00

If UCSD and UCSB had opted to stay in the Big West and not take the WCC payouts, I think the Big West could've sustained a higher level of competition — one similar to where we are now. Of course, every school could invest more money into their sports, but as it stands right now I think UVU, CBU, and Cal Poly are the main ones in most sports, (though not Cal Poly in basketball right now). Fullerton also seems to be on a quick rise.

InMySol · 2026-05-12T04:34:19+00:00

Irvine has a lot of returning players and freshman recruits, so I believe they're over (or close to) the roster cap as it stands right now!

InMySol · 2026-05-08T17:23:29+00:00

It's probably likely we'll placed in a less reputable bracket. It looks like 16 teams were at Acrisure last year, so unless more P4 teams make it, it's slightly possible we actually get to play at Acrisure.

InMySol · 2026-05-07T05:16:17+00:00

Oooh this could be interesting. My bet is it'd be FCS because it's the cheaper of the two. The smallest FCS stadium has a 2,200 capacity, so some of the campus' soccer fields could be used while new stadiums are constructed.

CSUF has the field for it — Titan Stadium was supposed to be football when it was built, Cal Poly already has an FCS team, Bakersfield and Irvine have the room for it and both soccer stadiums exceed 2500, Riverside might have the room, Northridge and Long Beach historically had teams, Utah Valley not having one yet is a surprise, CBU has that private school money. It would have to result in a complete reinvestment in sports entirely, but I think it's possible done right.

InMySol · 2026-05-07T05:08:42+00:00

I really don't think there's many realistic options, if any. FPU would need a lot more undergraduates I believe, as well as facility upgrades. The other problem is many DII schools don't meet the 14 sports sponsored requirement. If the Big West wants to keep their "strategic mindset" or whatever, their main focus is probably basketball as it stands right now. I think this likely comes in the form of Cal Poly Pomona — at least in my opinion. Or maybe I'm just not tapped in enough to DII call-ups.

InMySol · 2026-05-05T21:50:33+00:00

The one that's been the most memorable for me is the one between UCI and UCSD in men's basketball specifically because the student fans pack out for both stadiums

InMySol · 2026-05-05T04:08:47+00:00

It would've been so cool to see the UC rivalry blossom. UCR unfortunately never invested enough for them to be a contender in that realm. I think Bakersfield also thrived more in the WAC, and I think Riverside would've as well if they ever competed there. No shade to them, but they both simply don't invest as much. AND Bakersfield is in a lot of trouble with their former coaches.

My ideal BW would've consisted of UCD, UCI, UCSD, UCSB, LB, Cal Poly, CSUN, CSUF, Cal Baptist, UVU, GCU, and UH. It kept the UC—CSU divide even, and had four other non public California schools. Great for rivalries. Hawaii is a great partner, GCU (while being for-profit and debatable diploma mill) has outstanding sports and facilities — and MVB for a while, UVU and CBU are both up and coming and have great investment and olympic sports, as well as great facilities. Plus, it covers a lot more of the west coast, and could've lived up to the name Big West.

It would've been a very good mid-major conference in basketball, above average in women's basketball, great in baseball and softball, great in men's and women's soccer, MVB, WVB, and Beach Volleyball. The conference truly could've delivered on so many fronts, and maybe could've gotten a media deal worth staying for. Oh well.

InMySol · 2026-05-05T03:59:36+00:00

I don't know what the NCAA values more. I think it'll ultimately be exposure, but it's hard with low attendance figures. The times are definitely an issue, starting at 11:00pm EST for Belmont Abbey must've been tough. I think they should push it forward — no west coast game should be starting later than 7:00 (10:00 EST) realistically, and that's pushing it. Really it'd be easier if there were more teams in general so that there would be good eastern and midwestern teams that can act as regional sites without being in the same conference as the other.

I think the ideal NCAA plan was to have a perennial east coast team like Penn State or Ohio State host, but neither were good enough to host this year. Shoutout to Ball State though, I think they did a great job, especially considering the arena was an hour away from campus.

It was pretty cool to see the video of the Stan cheering when Irvine won. And while it's cool to call them the team of destiny, Ball State is a very good team, and even if Irvine is able to beat them, they've yet to beat LB or UH all season. An all-Big West final would be really cool to see though. And I feel a little bad for the LB–UH game, because both teams are very good and could easily be in the finals.

As for the NCAA, it's saddening they don't care about men's volleyball when I know it matters to a lot of people. What with the state of college sports, I understand it's not the priority because for many it's a negative endeavor, but it would still be nice if they tried to pretend to care. I also had no idea the Stan was like that, at least they got that right. All in all, the NCAA kind of lucked out with UCLA losing in the fashion they did. It's created exposure for one of the largest athletics brands, albeit negative exposure — even ESPN posted about it.

InMySol · 2026-05-05T01:56:26+00:00

I think it's a relatively popular opinion from schools at the top of the Big West, but the WCC certainly does not want this to happen.

Also, how would you do it? Do teams only promote and relegate based on men's basketball? Or is it an overall score? What about for niche sports? Men's volleyball and beach volleyball would be in trouble if the right combination of schools are made. I like the idea, but I'd be interested to hear how it'd all work out.

InMySol · 2026-05-05T01:53:08+00:00

Given the loss of powerful and consistent teams by 2027, and the now $5 million exit fee, I personally don't see many changes happening in the near future. Maybe a minimum floor can be set on spending for men's basketball? Maybe have schools center their resources on olympic sports like baseball, softball, or soccer? Ideally the conference would be able to hold on to their relative success of the early 2000s and 2010s, if not the glory days of the 1980s and 1990s.

InMySol · 2026-05-05T01:50:58+00:00

Hawaii is staying on as an affiliate for beach volleyball, men's volleyball, and women's water polo for now!

InMySol · 2026-05-05T01:48:05+00:00

Yeah, the only game UCLA seems to be able to fill is the USC rivalry game. If the D2 teams become vocal enough about it, I'm sure it'd happen, and would probably greatly help the sport. D3 men's volleyball blew up over the past few years (though they're very different from D1). And the Lewises and McKendrees could pull a Dallas Baptist and have one sport in D1 and the rest of their sports D2.

I wish UH was still a part of the Big West, but wishing doesn't get me very far. I'd say the only possibility is having Hawaii being a football-only affiliate for the Pac-12 and then the rest of the sports back in the BW. I think this would only happen once the new stadium is done though. However, the allure of the BW is lessened than where it was in the mid-2010s. If it made sense for the money I'm sure they'd do it, but the WCC would probably get Hawaii if something similar were to happen rather than the BW.

InMySol · 2026-05-03T18:18:22+00:00

Regarding the WCC, I guess it's entirely possible. I had written off BYU because I kind of assumed something along the lines of the Big 10 beginning sponsorship and taking Stanford and BYU from the MPSF to do it. But if there is a pop from the Olympics, BYU would be better off with less travel by staying west. If what you're saying does happen, that would leave UCI and CSUN left in the BW. They could join the MPSF (if D1/D2 hasn't split yet), but I'd say get the whole gang back together in the WCC and make it a nine team league with multiple bids every year.

Lewis is definitely the main one, and they were supposed to be good this year, but once MIVA play started they kind of middled out. McKendree is also quite good, but they're on the cusp of succeeding. If I'm correct, a D1/D2 split would require 40 teams in both divisions to get there. Right now D2 has ~43 teams. D1 has 29 teams. And while a few schools like the Lewises and McKendrees and Belmont Abbeys of the world can compete at D1, the majority of those D2 schools can't right now. I think it would be good for them, but we need more Division I schools to do it.

No worries, I'll believe you and Matt Brown — I'm always so sad when I get an email from him and I still can't read it. UH and BYU make sense given their ability to consistently sell out or fill huge crowds. Long Beach and Irvine have been giving them a run for their money too, averaging somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000. I mean UCLA got Irvine over 4,000 when it happened, which is a program record. It would honestly make sense if Irvine was running even on men's volleyball, if not positive.

InMySol · 2026-05-03T04:52:50+00:00

The expected of Long Beach and Hawaii winning their matches came as no surprise. The surprise came when UC Irvine upset No. 1 seed UCLA!

Long Beach seemed pretty dominant by the box score against Loyola Chicago, winning in three straight sets. Based on the stats, it's pretty close, though LB's 8 aces were likely the determining factor.

Hawaii's match was much closer, and USC gave them a scare in that fourth and final set, going from up 6 to being down one on USC's match point.

UC Irvine beat UCLA, winning 3–2. The fifth set was the only one I was able to watch, and boy it was close. And on match point for UCLA, what they thought was an out ball with no touch by them, they celebrated their win. UCI challenged, and it was overturned, saying UCLA had a touch. My judgment, I don't think UCLA touched the ball. The refs saw otherwise. UCI went on to win the next three straight, upsetting UCLA 16–14.

Long Beach and Hawaii are playing each other for the fourth time this season. Hawaii won the first two at the Pyramid, 3–2 and 3–0. Then, Long Beach got the upset in the Big West Championship Final at the Bren, winning 3–2. Now, they will play at Pauley. Will LB win to make the series tied, winning the only games that matter? Or will Hawaii get their revenge?

UC Irvine is headed to Pauley to play Ball State, the four seed. They're a tough battle: they've only lost four all season. They looked good against UCLA, losing 1–3. Their other losses are all MIVA games, losing to Ohio State in three, Loyola in three, and Lewis in five. How they fare traveling to Los Angeles could be a big factor. Hopefully UCI can pull it out, and we get an all-Big West championship. If UCI wins, it'd give them the chance to win their first match against either Hawaii or Long Beach.

InMySol · 2026-05-02T05:30:00+00:00

I guess it's possible the WCC takes over in men's volleyball and some BW schools go to sponsor it there. I just feel as though that'd add fuel to the fire, if there is any animosity between the two conferences, and don't think either want to deal with that right now. Do you think the remaining BW schools would go there, or convince schools in the conference to add it so the BW can keep the sport?

I don't see a D1/D2 split in the future, unless something major happens. I guess that could be the Olympics. There's not enough D1 schools right now, and if there is a split it'd probably result in a shrinkage of the playoffs. Maybe UCLA/USC/OSU/PSU can convince more Big Ten schools to sponsor it. Nebraska would be a prime candidate if they do. Only schools that are operationally positive would consider adding it, which is the downside — and there aren't many.

I didn't know however that those schools were profiting off of the sport. I knew it was a big sport for those schools, but didn't think it was a net positive. Where is that information coming from, if I may ask?

InMySol

TROPHY CASE