(ST. GEORGE, Utah – June 25, 2025) Utah Tech University announced on Wednesday that it has accepted an invitation to join the Big Sky Conference as a full member institution beginning on July 1, 2026.

“Utah Tech University is thrilled to join the Big Sky Conference, a respected leader in NCAA Division I athletics,” said Utah Tech University President Shane B. Smeed. “This invitation reflects the achievements of our student-athletes, world-class facilities, and the unwavering support of our community. Competing in the Big Sky allows us to keep and build meaningful regional rivalries and elevate the overall student-athlete experience. We can’t wait to welcome Big Sky teams and fans to Trailblazer Nation!”

Wednesday’s announcement comes just days before the Trailblazer intercollegiate athletics program embarks on its 20^th-season of NCAA membership, including the last five years at the Division I level.

Starting in the 2026-27 season, 13 of the Trailblazers’ 16 sports will compete in the Big Sky, including men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s golf, women’s soccer, softball, women’s tennis, women’s indoor and outdoor track & field, and volleyball.

Meanwhile, Utah Tech’s women’s swimming program is slated to begin its first season competing in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) this upcoming year, while the future conference homes for both the Trailblazer baseball and men’s soccer programs will be announced in the near future.

Utah Tech will join the more regionally-based Big Sky Conference that includes charter members Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, and fellow in-state member Weber State.

The Big Sky also features full members in Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, and Southern Utah, which announced its return to the conference after it had departed to join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2022. In addition, Cal Poly and UC Davis are football-only affiliate members.

“We are excited to join the Big Sky, a conference that is known for its stability as much as it is known for its athletic prowess,” said Ken Beazer, Utah Tech University Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “To begin our third decade of NCAA competition as part of the Big Sky Conference is truly a testament to the people who put in a lot work here at Utah Tech University.

“From where this institution has come from, first as a junior college, to Division II, and now to Division I and the Big Sky, it is truly remarkable,” Beazer continued. “I believe we have a lot to offer the Big Sky as the conference continues to build and gain momentum. We also look forward to the new rivalries throughout the region, particularly with Weber State, Northern Arizona and Idaho State, along with our continued relationship with Southern Utah.”

Utah Tech (then known as Dixie State) has been an NCAA member institution since the 2006-07 season, when the school began its transition to Division II competition after several decades as a NJCAA national power.

After the university became eligible for postseason play in 2009, the Trailblazers combined to win 21 conference championships, made 57 NCAA Division II Regional championship appearances, and won three regional championships in softball in 2009, 2014 and 2015 (national runner-up).

Utah Tech has also had 27 student-athletes earn Division II All-America honors, while 20 more student-athletes earned Academic All-America recognition.

Utah Tech’s success at the D-II level ultimately led to university officials announcing a second transition in early 2019, this one to NCAA Division I status and membership in the WAC, which began on July 1, 2020.

That transition was officially completed in late June last year, leading to Utah Tech becoming eligible for NCAA postseason play ahead of the just completed 2024-25 academic year.

Fifteen of Utah Tech’s 16 intercollegiate programs have competed in the WAC over the past five seasons, while the Trailblazer football program has spent the last two seasons as a member of the United Athletic Conference.

In those five short years, the Trailblazers have won one WAC regular season championship (softball – 2023), and competed at several conference championship tournaments.

“The time is right for the Big Sky to bring in Utah Tech and to bring back Southern Utah,” Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill said. “The addition of rising rival athletic departments from these two universities, located squarely within our geographic footprint in the western United States, reinforce the long-term stability and success of our league. Amid a rapidly evolving national landscape that each day seemingly pulls college sports farther from its true mission, this move underscores our commitment to a strong and sustainable future at the top of the FCS and across several key sports. Both of these programs bring institutional alignment that will enhance the Big Sky’s tradition as a national leader that continually aspires to elevate the experience for our constituencies.”

Founded in 1963, the Big Sky Conference is a NCAA Division I conference competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Big Sky prides itself on its “#ExperienceElevated” platform that emphasizes the unique traits and lifelong benefits that the conference and its member institutions provide to around 3,300 student-athletes each year.

Conference members have won 13 NCAA championships, including seven in football by five different members as well as six of the last nine Division I men’s cross country titles by NAU. For more information on the Big Sky Conference, please visit BigSkyConf.com.

For more information on Trailblazer Athletics, please visit UtahTechTrailblazers.com.