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For the second time in the history of the Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner’s Cup, Cal Poly has reigned supreme, capturing the title as the most successful department across all Big West sponsored sports. And in each year that the Mustangs have earned the trophy, they have done so in record-setting fashion.  

In the 2025-26 Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner’s Cup standings, Cal Poly finished with an average of 163.3 points, far and away surpassing their record set in 2023-24 of 149.4 points. The Mustangs topped second place and last year’s Cup victor UC Irvine (134.9 points) by a margin of 28.4 points. This is the largest winning point spread in history and only the second difference of 20 points or more. 

“This recognition is a tremendous point of pride for Cal Poly Athletics and a reflection of the extraordinary work happening across our department every single day,” said Cal Poly Director of Athletics Carter Henderson. "To earn the Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner’s Cup while claiming 11 Big West championships - the most in a single year in Cal Poly history - is an incredible accomplishment for our coaches, student-athletes and staff, whose dedication and relentless effort made this possible. On behalf of President Jeff Armstrong, I also want to recognize and thank former Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman, whose leadership helped build the foundation for the success we are experiencing today, as well as the donors and stakeholders who continue to invest in our success." 
 

Cal Poly earned the maximum Commissioner’s Cup points awarded for eight of their 16 Big West-sponsored sports: men’s and women’s cross country, men’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s golf, beach volleyball, men’s track & field and baseball. Additionally, the Mustangs took home trophies in the postseason in women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and baseball to celebrate 11 championship moments throughout the 2025-26 season. 
 

“The Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner’s Cup represents the highest level of broad-based athletic excellence in our conference, and Cal Poly’s achievement this year was truly remarkable,” noted Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly. “To win this award for the second time in three years — while setting a new conference record for points and capturing 11 Big West championships — reflects an extraordinary commitment to competitive excellence across the department. What Cal Poly accomplished this season speaks not only to the success of its student-athletes and coaches, but also to the culture, alignment and leadership that continue to elevate Mustang Athletics.  On behalf of The Big West, congratulations to President Jeff Armstrong, Director of Athletics Carter Henderson, the entire Cal Poly athletics administration, coaches, staff and student-athletes on an historic year.” 

UC Irvine’s 134.9 points rate second with Cal State Fullerton right behind at 132.5. The Anteaters got maximum points in five sports this year with men’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s tennis and women’s track & field. The Titans took both the regular and postseason championship in softball with second-place Cup points in women’s soccer and men’s & women’s track & field to finish in the top three.  
 

The next five programs in the standings eclipsed the 100-point mark in the final tabulations with UC Santa Barbara in fourth with 125.4 points, followed by Hawai’i at 124.1, Long Beach State (116.5), UC Davis (113.2) and UC San Diego (104.2).  
 

The Gauchos took home top Cup points figures in men’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis and baseball with Hawai’i shining in aquatics with championships in men’s and women’s swimming, women’s water polo and men’s volleyball. For Long Beach State, top points were earned in men’s water polo and men’s golf. The Aggies brought home the crown in women’s volleyball and the Tritons claimed the maximum allotment in women’s basketball. 
 

CSUN (83.5), UC Riverside (46.0) and Cal State Bakersfield (45.7) fill the final three places of the 2025-26 standings. The Matadors received top billing in women’s soccer in the fall. 
 

For the sport-by-sport breakdown and to view the history of the Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner’s Cup, please visit bigwest.org/CommissionersCup.