NCAA Sports Blog

The Big Sky Conference (or BSC) is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS; formerly Division I-AA). The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Charter (original) members 

    * Gonzaga

    * Idaho

    * Idaho State

    * Montana

    * Montana State

    * Weber State

Current members (and year joined)

Institution	Location	Founded
Eastern Washington University	Cheney, Washington	1882
Idaho State University	Pocatello, Idaho	1901
The University of Montana	Missoula, Montana	1893
Montana State University - Bozeman	Bozeman, Montana	1893
Northern Arizona University	Flagstaff, Arizona	1899
University of Northern Colorado	Greeley, Colorado	1889
Portland State University	Portland, Oregon	1946
California State University, Sacramento	Sacramento, California	1947
Weber State University	Ogden, Utah	1889

Conference facilities 

School	Football stadium	Capacity	Basketball arena	Capacity
Eastern Washington	Woodward Field	8,600	Reese Court	6,000
Idaho State	Holt Arena	12,000	Reed Gym	3,040
Montana	Washington Grizzly Stadium	23,117	Dahlberg Arena	7,500
Montana State	Bobcat Stadium	15,000	Worthington Arena	6,378
Northern Arizona	Walkup Skydome	15,000	Walkup Skydome	8,000
Northern Colorado	Nottingham Field	8,500	Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion	4,500
Portland State	PGE Park	20,000	Stott Center	1,500
Sacramento State	Hornet Stadium	21,195	Hornets Nest	1,200
Weber State	Stewart Stadium	17,500	Dee Events Center	12,000

Rivalries 

Conference 

    * Eastern Washington and Montana

    * Eastern Washington and Sacramento State

    * Idaho State and Montana State

    * Idaho State and Weber State

    * Montana and Montana State

          o For the football game between these schools, see Brawl of the Wild.

    * Portland State and Sacramento State

    * Northern Arizona and Weber State

    * Northern Arizona and Montana State

    * Portland State and Montana

Non-conference 

    * Eastern Washington and Gonzaga (non-football)

    * Montana and Idaho

    * Montana State and Chadron State

    * Sacramento State and UC Davis 

Former members (and years of membership) 

    * Gonzaga - from 1963-79 (to West Coast Conference) - no football since 1941

    * Nevada - from 1979-92 (to Big West, WAC)

    * Boise State - from 1970-96 (to Big West, WAC)

    * Idaho - from 1963-96 (to Big West, Sun Belt (for football only), WAC)

    * Cal State Northridge - from 1996-2001 (to Big West) 

Commissioners 

    * 1963 - Jack Friel

    * 1971 - John Roning

    * 1977 - Steve Belko

    * 1981 - Ron Stephenson

    * 1995 - Doug Fullerton 

Headquarters 

    * 1963 - Pullman, Washington

    * 1971 - Boise, Idaho

    * 1996 - Ogden, Utah

Championships 

football 

    * 1963 Idaho State

    * 1964 Montana State

    * 1965 Idaho and Weber State

    * 1966 Montana State

    * 1967 Montana State

    * 1968 Idaho, Montana State and Weber State

    * 1969 Montana

    * 1970 Montana

    * 1971 Idaho

    * 1972 Montana State

    * 1973 Boise State

    * 1974 Boise State

    * 1975 Boise State

    * 1976 Montana State

    * 1977 Boise State

    * 1978 Northern Arizona

    * 1979 Montana State

    * 1980 Boise State

    * 1981 Idaho State

    * 1982 Montana

    * 1983 Nevada

    * 1984 Montana State

    * 1985 Idaho

    * 1986 Nevada

    * 1987 Idaho

    * 1988 Idaho

    * 1989 Idaho

    * 1990 Nevada

    * 1991 Nevada

    * 1992 Idaho and Eastern Washington

    * 1993 Montana

    * 1994 Boise State

    * 1995 Montana

    * 1996 Montana

    * 1997 Eastern Washington

    * 1998 Montana

    * 1999 Montana

    * 2000 Montana

    * 2001 Montana

    * 2002 Montana, Montana State and Idaho State

    * 2003 Montana, Montana State and Northern Arizona

    * 2004 Eastern Washington and Montana

    * 2005 Eastern Washington, Montana and Montana State

    * 2006 Montana