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Situated in the heart of the historic Magnolia Avenue district in Riverside and just a short drive from popular beaches and mountain resorts, California Baptist University's beautiful 160-acre main campus that boasts an enrollment of 11,931 students will become a Big West locale in less than 14 months. 

With the recent announcement of CBU's full membership into The Big West set to begin in 2026-27, the Lancers are ready to elevate their level of competition and embrace the rivalries that come with joining a new conference. 

The motivations for this move are rooted in CBU’s commitment to providing its student-athletes with the best possible experience, both on and off the field. 

Dr. Micah Parker, Vice President of Athletics at CBU, is particularly enthusiastic about how this move aligns with the university’s mission to support its student-athletes. 

“It’s very important for us to be in a regional conference and to be associated with nine great universities that are in The Big West,” Parker said. “It’s also going to help our student-athlete experience because they can have fans more likely come to watch their games. It’s just a win-win all around for us.” 

As CBU integrates 17 of their 19 Division I sports into The Big West footprint, they are aware of the challenges that come with competing in a league top-tier athletic and academic programs with a rich history of success on the conference, regional and national stage. 

Parker acknowledges the competitive landscape of the league and is eager for CBU to rise to the occasion. 

“It’s a good conference,” Parker said. “If you look across the board, the number of national championships that the Big West has won and how good they compete nationally in all sports, we’re going to have our work cut out for us, but we’re excited for that challenge.” 

The Lancers already rose to the challenge of Division I competition, with their first year of competition coming in 2018-19. Since then, CBU has claimed 20 WAC team championships (13 regular season, 7 tournament) and 21 individual championships. Nine teams and 19 individuals have competed in the NCAA national postseason since becoming fully eligible after the Division II transition in 2022-23. 

CBU’s community has wholeheartedly embraced the university, making it a fantastic place to learn and compete. The support from the Inland Empire is a significant factor in CBU’s decision to join The Big West. 

Parker highlights the enthusiastic attendance at CBU sporting events, which creates an electric atmosphere for student-athletes. 

“Our community has really embraced California Baptist University,” Parker said. “If you come here as a student-athlete, you’re going to be supported. I’ve witnessed and I’ve seen many sporting events or universities where really not that many people come to their events. That’s not the case here. It’s pretty fun for our student-athletes to see our community out. We have sports that are very well attended here, like basketball, baseball, and soccer, which makes it really fun.” 

Beyond the athletic realm, CBU’s unique identity as a Christian university shapes its approach to student-athlete development. CBU strives to nurture not only the physical growth of its athletes but also their academic and spiritual growth, emphasizing the importance of holistic development. 

“We are unique, you know, we’re a Christian university, and so we strive to not only help our student-athletes grow physically, but we also want them to learn how to compete in the classroom just as much as they compete in their sport,” Parker said. “And then we want to see them grow in their faith and their knowledge of who God is in their life.” 

While new conference rivalries and records will form, the familiarity between CBU and The Big West is already well established. Currently, the Lancers dot their schedules with many non-conference competitions against current Big West member-institutions, playing 127 contests since the 2022-23 season, with a 61-61-5 record in those games across a multitude of sports. 

As CBU gears up to join The Big West, anticipation is building for the rivalries that will grow and develop. 

Parker assures fans that CBU will be a gracious host and provide the best possible student and fan experiences. 

“Our fans are really looking forward to going to other universities to watch us play, and so it’s going to increase their season ticket or their ticket revenue a little bit anyway, but that’s what they can look forward to,” Parker said. “I think we’re going to develop some really unique, fun rivalries. We already have a great rivalry with UCR, but it’s going to be fun to see which other universities kind of rise up and become our rivals.” 

In addition to the competition and community aspects, the transition to Big West membership brings several logistical benefits. These advantages will have a positive impact on the overall student-athlete experience. 

“I am most excited for not having to pay so much to travel,” Parker said. “I’m excited about not having our student-athletes on so many airplanes. I’m excited about our missed class time decreasing tremendously. I’m excited about our staff and coaches being at home more and not being on the road quite as much.” 

The proximity and footprint of the league membership will reduce travel time, allowing student-athletes to spend more time on campus and in the classroom. This change will also foster stronger local rivalries, such as the one between CBU and UC Riverside, already dubbed the 'Crosstown Showdown’ with both institutions calling Riverside home. With league games carrying even greater significance and every sport having the rivalry on the schedule annually, Parker is enthused about fostering that relationship on and off the field and in the community. 

“I’m really excited about the Crosstown Showdown,” Parker said. “We’ve already started to develop that, and we have a great relationship with their administration. There’s a lot of respect between both universities athletically and I think academically and administratively, but that’s just going to turn up a notch now playing for conference games that are just going to mean a lot more. I’m really, really excited to see what happens with that.” 

As CBU counts down to its full membership in The Big West in July 2026, the university is filled with excitement and anticipation. 

The move is a testament to CBU’s commitment to its student-athletes, community, and holistic growth. With new rivalries, enhanced fan experiences, and logistical advantages on the horizon, CBU is poised to make a significant impact in The Big West and continue its tradition of excellence both on and off the field. 

With the support of its community and a shared vision for the future, CBU is ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the bold new Big West.