Good morning to all!  

  

Last week, I spoke at the Orange County Sports Commission’s Sports Summit at Concordia-Irvine.  A big thank you to those from The Big West that attended!  It was an honor to be asked to participate, represent The Big West and be a part of this panel with Caltech AD Terry Tumey and CSA Search & Consulting’s Marcy Lanoue.

ON THE DAIS | Commissioner @DanButterly shared the stage with Terry Tumey (@caltech) & Marcelline Lanoue (@CSA_Search) to talk about The Business of College Sport at today's OC Sports Summit! #?????????????????????? x #SurfToSummit https://t.co/XWAGOp5qRO

— The Big West (@BigWestSports) October 15, 2026

Photo courtesy of Big West Chief Communications Officer Jessica Lantz! 

Across The Big West, fall championship races are taking shape, basketball season is approaching, and our student-athletes continue to give us reasons to celebrate. This week’s edition highlights their achievements in competition, in the classroom and in their communities, along with the work underway to prepare for our upcoming Council meetings and championships. 

One key element to keep an eye on is the Wisne v. NCAA case. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit heard oral arguments on October 13, 2026, and is currently considering whether to reverse or uphold a nationwide preliminary injunction. (LINK) Until then, the court’s stay of the preliminary injunction remains in effect.  

The song to get your day and week started is “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles. 

  

Let’s get to The Bold Type!

   THE BIG WEST TO DELIVER RECORD BASKETBALL COVERAGE IN 2026-27   

The Big West will deliver the most basketball coverage in conference history during the 2026–27 season, with nearly 400 men’s and women’s games available to fans through continued partnerships with ESPN and Spectrum SportsNet.  

In addition to unprecedented access for audiences across the United States, select games will be distributed internationally through Big West International, bringing Big West basketball to fans around the world. The expansive coverage showcases all 12 member institutions throughout the regular season and postseason. 

As I said in this morning’s announcement, “Being bold means pushing boundaries, expanding our reach and creating new opportunities for our student-athletes to shine. With nearly 400 games on ESPN and Spectrum SportsNet and Big West International serving audiences around the world, we’re placing Big West basketball on a global platform. There has never been more Big West basketball available to our fans than there will be this season.” Read more >>>  


 

   THE BIG WEST – IN CASE YOU MISSED IT   

Chloe Clark takes us through some top highlights of the week recapping some records, statement wins, first career goals and more!

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   CONGRATULATIONS!  
 

• To Utah Valley men’s soccer as our first team in a bracketed sport that has guaranteed their spot in The Big West postseason! The Wolverines have guaranteed themselves a home game in the field of the 2026 Big West Men’s Soccer Championship with three teams still vying to join them.

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• To Cal State Bakersfield men’s soccer for their Big Win over No. 22 Oregon State, taking down the Beavers 1-0 in Corvallis on Wednesday!

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• To UC Irvine men’s basketball who was picked to win The Big West regular-season title in the preseason poll! Meet the preseason team and read more >>> 
• To UC San Diego women’s basketball who was picked to win The Big West regular-season title in the preseason poll! Meet the preseason team and read more >>> 
• To Utah Valley women’s soccer for receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll! 
• To our FIVE Big West men’s water polo teams nationally ranked and one receiving votes in the latest CWPA varsity poll!  
  • No. 6 UC Irvine
  • No. 8 UC San Diego
  • No. 10 Long Beach State
  • No. t-14 UC Santa Barbara
  • No. t-14 California Baptist
  • RV Cal State Fullerton 
• To Utah Valley men’s cross country, ranked 26th in the latest USTFCCCA national poll! 
• AND to our AMAZING ATHLETES/PLAYERS OF THE WEEK! 
  • Women's Soccer - Ariana Lopez-Angel, CSUN (offense); Allison Craycroft, Cal State Fullerton (defense); Jules Colchis, Sacramento State (rookie) 
  • Men's Soccer - Jose Luis Martin Montealegre, Utah Valley (offense); Zenden Hart, Cal State Bakersfield (defense); Dave-Ryan Tankou, CSUN (rookie) 
  • Women's Volleyball - Victoria Marthaler, Sacramento State (offense); Skyler Gartin, Sacramento State (defense); Alexis Haury, Cal Poly (setter); Gia Rivera, UC San Diego (rookie) 
  • Cross Country - Eshaan Hussain, UC Riverside (men); Kaia Schmidt, UC Irvine (women) 
  • Men's Water Polo - Landon Akerstrom, UC San Diego 

 

   “JOURNEY OUT WEST” WITH DAN TORTORA   

This week on “Journey Out West,” Dan Tortora interviewed UC Irvine track and field student-athlete Emma Hadley. 

The next guest on Friday, October 23rd is UC Riverside women’s basketball coach Brad Langston.Wake Up Call starts at 6 a.m. PT daily, with Journey Out West each Friday beginning at 7:15 a.m. PT. MIXLR Internet Radio | YouTube | Facebook 

 

   BIG WEST SAAC OCTOBER MEETING REPORT   

The Big West Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) met virtually in October to share campus perspectives on conference proposals, student-athlete well-being and community engagement ahead of The Big West Council meetings on Oct. 29–30.  Read more >>> 

   THE BIG WEST BOOKWORMS: CALIFORNIA BAPTIST'S JESS RAMIREZ MAKES EVERY CHAPTER COUNT   

Jess Ramirez isn’t the type to do anything halfway. As a senior accounting major carrying a 3.87 GPA while competing as a Division I soccer player at California Baptist, Ramirez has mastered the art of balance, one that demands discipline, sacrifice, and a relentless work ethic. Ramirez is making every chapter count. Read more >>> 

 

   THE BIG WEST CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: UC SAN DIEGO'S JACKIE TREMPER   

For UC San Diego softball student-athlete Jackie Tremper, Mexican American heritage is rooted in family, sacrifice, and gratitude. As a first-generation college student, Tremper carries the lessons of two immigrant parents onto the field, competing with the resilience and work ethic that have shaped the family’s journey from Mexico to the United States. Read more >>> 

 

   CHAMPIONSHIP WATER POLO IS COMING TO LONG BEACH    

With five Big West teams nationally ranked and another receiving votes, the race for the men’s water polo championship promises compelling competition. Join us at Long Beach State this November as our teams compete for the conference title and an automatic berth in the NCAA championship. 

Single- and all-session tickets are now available. Visit the championship page for tickets, game times and additional information. Championship Central >>> 

 

   FROM NCAA PRESIDENT CHARLIE BAKER ON OHIO GOVERNOR EXECUTIVE ORDER   

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued an Executive Order attempting to give Ohio institutions the option to permit certain former student-athletes from the Class of 2022 to participate during the 2026-27 academic year, notwithstanding NCAA eligibility rules. 
 
The Governor of Ohio cannot legislate NCAA eligibility rules. One elected official seeking to make their own rules for their own schools’ advantage is a terrible way to run athletic competitions and precisely why Congress must pass the PCSA as soon as possible.  
 
And not only did NCAA members vote unanimously to implement the aged based eligibility change in this way, the Ohio Court of Appeals just recently agreed with that decision.  
 
The Ohio Court of Appeals isn’t alone in siding with the NCAA on this issue as multiple appellate courts have now recognized the importance of consistent application of NCAA eligibility rules and the significant disruption that results when eligibility standards vary from institution to institution or state to state.  
 
The NCAA will protect the interests of all member institutions and student-athletes. Eligibility rules established through the Association's governance process have been and will continue to be applied consistently across the membership by the NCAA including in the state of Ohio. 

Charlie Baker 
NCAA President 

  


   REPRESENTING THE BIG WEST IN NATIONAL DISCUSSIONS    

On Friday, I participated in a briefing led by NCAA Division I Board Chair Tim Sands for conferences without representation on the Board. Topics included federal legislation, transfer portal transparency, academic outcomes and an FBS Working Group recommendation to retain FBS football governance within the NCAA. The recommendation also calls for creating an NCAA vice president of football position. 

Following the briefing, I raised questions directly with President Sands regarding funding and accountability under the proposed football structure. The NCAA does not operate the College Football Playoff or bowl games, making it important to understand whether additional contributions from FBS institutions or football revenues would cover the proposed staffing and administrative expenses—or whether those costs would be shared across the broader membership. 

I also raised concerns about the institutional resource demands and broader implications of the men’s soccer season proposal. President Sands acknowledged these questions and committed to bringing them into the Board’s discussion. 

The Big West was not a party to the House settlement negotiations but was assessed a significant share of the damages funding obligation over a ten-year period. That experience reinforces the importance of asking who will fund expanded football administration and how related legal costs will be allocated. 

Our focus remains on decisions that support student-athletes, protect broad-based athletics opportunities and account for the resources required to deliver them. Financial responsibility and meaningful representation must be part of that discussion. 

  
   MEDIA REPORTS ON THE BIG WEST, NCAA,  LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATES   

• Cal State Northridge AD Ryan Swartwood sat down for a Q&A on the Journey Out West podcast to discuss his return to the university, elevating the CSUN brand in a crowded California market and more. Here’s what you need to know… 
  • Utilizing local demographics to differentiate the athletic department: "We're a Hispanic-serving institution and we're a Black-serving institution as well, which we're very proud of. … Just in the San Fernando Valley, which is where we're located on campus... there's, I believe, about 2M residents. ... We think focusing on the San Fernando Valley is an area of strength for us as we set ourselves apart in what is definitely a busy and crowded SoCal market." 
  • On the unique elements of the university's branding: "I think being the Matadors is a unique mascot. And then I think also we're the only school in the Big West Conference with the color red as well. ... [We] have a beautiful Matador statue in the heart of our campus right by the library. And that statue gets involved in a lot of campus traditions. After students graduate, they'll place a rose on the Matador statue." (link) 
• Long Beach State has named former Hawaii AD Craig Angelos as Senior Assoc. AD for Facilities and Capital Projects, per CollegeAD. (link) 
• UC San Diego has broadened its partnership with UC San Diego Health to include the hospital system’s logo on the Tritons’ varsity uniforms. Take a look. (link)
• Colorado State professor Kyle Saunders has mapped out where more than 1,550 universities stand comparatively based on institutional resilience, post-college market position and artificial intelligence exposure. Institutional resilience is based on the question: “Can this institution absorb financial and enrollment shocks?” Meanwhile, the post-college market position is based on the question: “How well does this institution position graduates for the labor market ahead?” The data has now been refreshed with the latest IPEDS and College Scorecard releases, and the enrollment trend now covers 2019-20 to 2024-25. See where your institution stands, both on its own and relative to others. (link) 
• The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit appears poised to reverse a nationwide injunction that would grant a fifth year of eligibility to the high school class of 2022, a potential major legal victory for the NCAA, Sportico's Michael McCann observes. During oral arguments in the Wisne case yesterday, McCann notes NCAA attorney Rakesh Kilaru successfully pressed the argument that the plaintiffs' antitrust claims lacked sufficient market data, warning that allowing the return of former players would actively drive down athlete wages through labor oversupply while displacing current roster members. Conversely, players' attorney Robert Shelquist argued the NCAA operates as an unfair monopolist but faced a "hot bench" that repeatedly criticized his broad definition of the relevant antitrust market encompassing all DI athletes. Notably, a victory for the NCAA would only cover the 10th Circuit’s jurisdiction of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming. (link) 
• NCAA President Charlie Baker, speaking today in Chicago at the Women Leaders in Sports Convention, says the Protect College Sports Act will “absolutely” make college sports more sustainable, adding: “As a former governor, I signed thousands of pieces of legislation, and I can promise you, I never signed one that was perfect.” On conferences stepping up to make and enforce their own rules: “I think it could be a good thing. … [The Brendan Sorsby case] was a really good example of where we lost and they won. … I think the place where it gets complicated would be around something like eligibility, right? Because if you want to have a national championship, there's a whole bunch of things where you need to have a national rule.” As for what the association may look like in five years, Baker joked that there would probably be a 48-team CFP by then but that March Madness would still reign supreme. He added that with most of the conference TV deals coming up around that five-year mark, there would be real implications. (link) 
• NCAA President Charlie Baker recently dispatched a letter to House lawmakers urging them to pass the Protect College Sports Act in its current form, while notably citing statistics that highlight the negative effects multiple transfers are having on graduation rates. From the missive, in part: “The NCAA recently conducted a comprehensive review of graduation outcomes for all Division I student-athletes who entered college sports in 2018. Despite the fact that many in this class graduated before the current unlimited transfer policy went into effect, we are already seeing fewer Division I student-athletes graduating in six years. Across race, gender and sport, our review found that multiple transfers negatively impact student-athlete graduation. Of those who did not transfer, 88% graduated on time, and 12% did not. Of one-time transfers, 81% graduated on time, and 19% did not. And only 71% of multiple transfers graduated on time, while 29% did not. For decades, participating in NCAA sports provided a pathway to academic success at rates that far surpassed those for nonathletes, but endless attacks on eligibility and transfer rules are threatening that success.” (link)
• SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey sat down with both CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander and 247Sports’ Kyle Tucker at the SEC Basketball Tipoff to discuss a myriad of topics. Here’s what you need to know… 
  • On March Madness binding Division I together to prevent potential breakaways: "I do think one of the impediments to this departure idea is the expectation that big and small, north, south, east, west, public, private, liberal arts, public research all come together with basketball teams and have what is really a ‘Hoosiers’-type moment. That's what America expects. ... Why are Fordham and Florida in Division I together? Why [are] Montana State and Ole Miss? Why [are] Texas and Tennessee Tech? … It's because of March. And you can make up all the other reasons. In my opinion, it's because of March. And that's a cultural expectation." 
  • Evolving governance among the Power 4 conferences: “We've tried to adapt over time, and this is where there's maybe more authority and responsibility given to the four conferences in decision making. I don't think we can solve big problems in big rooms filled with people. And every problem we have is a big problem right now, in my opinion. And so the adaptation needs to continue about how we govern ourselves nationally. … We have to have a decision making process and eligibility standard. An agreement to make that work.”  
  • Describing the job of a commissioner in 2026: "It's intense, but that would've been five, six, seven years ago. It is transformational. And I think that's always been part of the collegiate environment, but it's accelerated.” (link, link) 
• Ivy League Commissioner Robin Harris joined The Field of 68 podcast to discuss the league’s unique athletic model, moving the annual “Ivy Madness” men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., and more. Here are some takeaways… 
  • NCAA Tournament expansion and league impact: "I was squarely on the fence because I could see both the positives for the Ivy League and I could see the potential negatives. ... For example, with the women, we pretty regularly now are placing multiple teams in the tournament and so obviously expansion continues to help that. And I continue to believe on the men's side that there will be a day where we will be able to have that second team." 
  • Moving the "Ivy Madness" men's and women's basketball tournaments to the PPL Center starting in 2028: "We have been looking throughout the past 10 years for neutral sites that are also cost-effective because we candidly don't generate net revenue on our tournaments. They're about the student-athlete experience. ... It’s how we operate, but we also have to be fiscally prudent. Even though we looked at major venues, they just didn’t work economically. And so, as we continued to explore options, PPL Center became a really exciting option. ... The enhancements to the arena are truly incredible and it’s right-sized. … By engaging in a three-year deal, it gives us the chance to anchor the tournament and to grow it." (link)