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| Pages related to the Big West Conference | |
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| Men | Women |
The Big West Conference (known as the Big West) is a conference participating in the NCAA's Division I, with all member institutions in California and Hawaii. The California schools are evenly divided between the state's two public university systems, with five each in the University of California and California State University systems.
The conference grew out of discussions in 1968 that involved five schools—four members of the California Collegiate Athletic Association that decided to move up to the highest level of college sports, plus San Jose State, then in the league now known as the West Coast Conference. By the time the Big West began play in 1969 as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association, two other schools had joined—Cal State Los Angeles for all sports, and Pacific in football only; the latter would join for all sports two years later.
The conference changed its name to the Big West in 1989, and dropped football after the 2000 season (2000–01 school year).
Current members (year joined)
| Institution | Location | Type | Nickname | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
San Luis Obispo, California | Public (CSU) | Mustangs | 1996 |
| California State University, Bakersfield (Cal State Bakersfield) |
Bakersfield, California | Public (CSU) | Roadrunners | 2020 |
| California State University, Fullerton (Cal State Fullerton) |
Fullerton, California | Public (CSU) | Titans | 1974 |
| California State University, Northridge (Cal State Northridge) |
Northridge, California | Public (CSU) | Matadors | 2001 |
| University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (Hawaiʻi) |
Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wāhine | 2012 |
| California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach State) |
Long Beach, California | Public (CSU) | The Beach | 1969 |
| University of California, Davis (UC Davis) |
Davis, California | Public (UC) | Aggies | 2007 |
| University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) |
Irvine, California | Public (UC) | Anteaters | 1977 |
| University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside) |
Riverside, California | Public (UC) | Highlanders | 2001 |
| University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) |
La Jolla, California | Public (UC) | Tritons | 2020 |
| University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara) |
Santa Barbara, California | Public (UC) | Gauchos | 1969, 1976 |
- UC Santa Barbara left in 1974 and rejoined in 1976.
Former members
| Institution | Location | Type | Nickname | Joined | Left | Current primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise State University | Boise, Idaho | Public | Broncos | 1996 | 2001 | Mountain West |
| California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State Los Angeles) |
Los Angeles, California | Public (CSU) | Golden Eagles | 1969 | 1974 | CCAA |
| California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) |
Fresno, California | Public (CSU) | Bulldogs | 1969 | 1992 | Mountain West |
| University of Idaho | Moscow, Idaho | Public | Vandals | 1996 | 2005 | Big Sky |
| University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada) |
Reno, Nevada | Public | Wolf Pack | 1992 | 2000 | Mountain West |
| New Mexico State University | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | Aggies | 1983 | 2000 | WAC |
| University of North Texas | Denton, Texas | Public | Mean Green | 1996 | 2000 | C-USA |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, California | Private | Tigers | 1969 (football only) 1971 (all sports) |
2013 | WCC |
| San Diego State University | San Diego, California | Public (CSU) | Aztecs | 1969 (men's sports) 1984 (women's sports) |
1978 (men) 1990 (women) |
Mountain West |
| San Jose State University | San Jose, California | Public (CSU) | Spartans | 1969 | 1996 | Mountain West |
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) |
Paradise, Nevada | Public | Rebels | 1982 | 1996 | Mountain West |
| Utah State University | Logan, Utah | Public | Aggies | 1978 | 2005 | Mountain West |
- UNLV uses three different but related nicknames—Runnin' Rebels for men's basketball, Lady Rebels for women's basketball, and Rebels for all other teams regardless of sex.
