Yesterday, The Big West proudly announced that Sacramento State will join the conference as a full member beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. This expansion brings full membership in The Big West to 12 NCAA Division I institutions beginning July 1, 2026, making it the largest intercollegiate athletic conference in the western United States. Read more >>>

See some of the first reactions of the news from social media:
 

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Sacramento State to join @BigWestSports beginning in 2026-27. https://t.co/00Zh0MYmk6

— Sacramento State Athletics (@hornetsports) June 18, 2025

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A new ???????? addition coming in 2026. #?????????????????????? x @sacstate x @hornetsports pic.twitter.com/vdXT1SKmYF

— The Big West (@BigWestSports) June 18, 2025

????The Big West has made the best moves out of any conference I’ve seen recently. Id say currently the most solid West Coast Conference#bigwest #StingersUp #OnlyTheBold #midmajor https://t.co/Q5VZa69FkV

— Ben Rowsey (@BenRowsey4) June 19, 2025

Welcome @CBULancers, @GoUVU and @hornetsports! #GoGauchos pic.twitter.com/R5XAbFKA1y

— UC Santa Barbara Athletics (@UCSBathletics) June 18, 2025

Hear from @CSUBakersfield President Dr. Vernon B. Harper, Jr., PH.D on the addition of @hornetsports as a full member in 2026. #?????????????????????? x #StingersUp pic.twitter.com/v1YYuLnst9

— The Big West (@BigWestSports) June 18, 2025

Super happy to join this great conference

I’ll be attending a ton of sac state away games finally pic.twitter.com/glBm41F7oa

— Jamo?? (@JamoSacSt) June 18, 2025

Sacramento State to join Big West in 2026 in all sports except football | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/FejKmJptbv

— kcranews (@kcranews) June 18, 2025

Hear from @UCR_Athletics Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Wesley Mallette on the addition of @hornetsports as a full member in 2026.#?????????????????????? x #StingersUp pic.twitter.com/ckFMfnT7wC

— The Big West (@BigWestSports) June 18, 2025

Mike Bibby and Sacramento State heading to the Big West as a full member.

With this addition, The Big West will be the largest intercollegiate athletic conference in the western United States. https://t.co/gSiByVvtG9

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 18, 2025

This conference is going to be a baseball SCENE https://t.co/wcLbgifd0m

— Jacob Rudner (@JacobRudner) June 18, 2025

Hear from the Chair of The Big West Board of Directors and @UCSanDiego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla on the addition of @hornetsports as a full member in 2026.

#?????????????????????? x #StingersUp pic.twitter.com/OgLV6V4FEv

— The Big West (@BigWestSports) June 18, 2025

I am excited to see how Sac State succeeds in The Big West conference this coming year. Let's Go Sacramento! https://t.co/pQYQ81QERZ

— Mayor Pro Tem Eric Guerra, City of Sacramento (@EricZGuerra) June 18, 2025

This will be our last year in the Big Sky Conference before joining the Big West Conference next year. Lots of great teams, great players, and great coaches in both conferences. We are looking forward to keep elevating our program here at Sac State. pic.twitter.com/YyQDxBxt7J

— Aaron Kallhoff (@CoachAKallhoff) June 18, 2025