The University of California, Davis has accepted a formal invitation to join the Mountain West Conference beginning July 1, 2026. “We are thrilled to join the Mountain West Conference, and we look forward to an incredible experience for our student-athletes and for our fans,” said UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May. “Our transition to the […]
The University of California, Davis has accepted a formal invitation to join the Mountain West Conference beginning July 1, 2026.
“We are thrilled to join the Mountain West Conference, and we look forward to an incredible experience for our student-athletes and for our fans,” said UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May. “Our transition to the highly regarded conference will introduce our Aggie community to a broader audience, in major metropolitan areas and through increased media coverage. It also provides us with an opportunity to align with universities that share similar academic strengths while also expanding our competitive presence in the Western United States.”
The Aggies will compete in all Mountain West Conference-sponsored sports, except for football, which will continue to participate in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in the Big Sky Conference. Men’s and women’s water polo as well as beach volleyball will seek to remain in the Big West through affiliate membership but are prepared to explore other options, if necessary. No changes will occur with membership agreements for equestrian, field hockey and lacrosse.
“Adding UC Davis further strengthens the trajectory of the Mountain West as it continues to build its brand that has proven to elevate institutions and student-athletes,” said Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez. “Chancellor Gary S. May and Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca have shared their strategic plan and financial vision for enhancing student-athlete development, welfare and competitive excellence, and I believe UC Davis brings a wealth of positives in the continuing growth of the Mountain West.”
The announcement comes on the heels of a historic fall sport season for the Aggies in which all eight varsity fall sports teams qualified for postseason competition.
Men’s soccer secured a Big West championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament. UC Davis football finished the regular season seeded fifth in the nation with a bye in the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship followed by a win against Illinois State on Dec. 7. They will play South Dakota on Saturday, Dec. 14 at noon in the quarterfinals.
Women’s soccer and women’s cross country ended the season in second place in the Big West Conference, with men’s water polo, men’s cross country and women’s indoor volleyball finishing third in the Big West and field hockey finishing sixth in the America East.
“We are grateful to the Mountain West Conference membership for this incredible opportunity and for sharing our vision of academic and athletics excellence,” said UC Davis Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca. “Our campus leadership, students, Aggie alumni, fans, the Davis community and the broader Sacramento region all recognize the unique spirit of UC Davis and carry Aggie Pride with them each and every day. They have invested their time, talent and resources in supporting our growth, and the success of our fall sports is a clear reflection of those efforts. Now is the time to showcase Aggie Pride on a national stage, and the Mountain West’s brand and strategy align perfectly with our aspirations.”
Additional costs to support the transition, including travel, staffing and support services, will be primarily offset by increased revenues from ticket sales, donations, multimedia rights and, for the first time, revenue distributions from the conference. A ramp-up period of three to four years is anticipated before revenues fully reach projected levels. The university does not plan to use existing institutional funds to support the transition.
Starting no later than the 2026-27 academic year, the Mountain West will feature the United States Air Force Academy; University of California, Davis; Grand Canyon University; University of Hawai’i at Mānoa; University of Nevada, Reno; University of New Mexico; San José State University; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; University of Texas, El Paso and the University of Wyoming.
FAQs
Why the Mountain West Conference and why now?
Over the course of the last year, significant conference membership changes have occurred, especially among Western schools and conferences including the Mountain West Conference, the Pac-12 Conference and the West Coast Conference. The Mountain West Conference includes institutions like Air Force, Wyoming, New Mexico, Hawaii, Nevada, UNLV, Grand Canyon, and San Jose State.
With access to major metropolitan areas like Phoenix, San Jose, Albuquerque, and Las Vegas, UC Davis Athletics will benefit from increased media coverage and opportunities for alumni networking and engagement, as well as sharing the UC Davis story with prospective students from a broader geographical area.
Joining the Mountain West allows UC Davis to align with universities engaged in similar academic disciplines, such as agriculture, engineering, and sciences, while expanding our competitive footprint in the Western United States. This move also strategically elevates our athletics program to a higher level of Division I athletics, reflective of the level of investment and ambition unique to UC Davis.
What sports are included and which are excluded?
All programs which currently compete in the Big West Conference will transition to the Mountain West in 2026, except for men’s and women’s water polo and beach volleyball. We are currently pursuing affiliate membership in the Big West for these sports but are prepared to explore other options, if necessary.
What about UC Davis Football?
UC Davis Football will continue as an affiliate member of the Big Sky Conference, recognized as the premier Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) conference. We aim to build on our historic season, in pursuit of Big Sky and NCAA championships.
How will the costs of this move be funded?
The additional costs involved in this transition—travel, staffing, and support services—will primarily be offset by increased revenues from ticket sales, donations, multimedia rights and, for the first time, revenue distributions from the conference. A ramp-up period of three to four years is anticipated before revenues fully reach projected levels. No institutional funds will be used to support the transition.
Will this result in more missed class time for student-athletes?
While travel will extend beyond the California footprint, the expected additional travel time to Mountain West Conference schools will be minimal and should not significantly impact class time for our student-athletes. Currently, as geographic outliers in the Big West, many UC Davis teams already spend considerable time traveling to Southern California. The transition is expected to result in similar time commitments.
Will there be changes to student-fee support for ICA?
No. The current funding model through various student fees will remain unchanged. Over time, the additional revenue generated by the athletics program’s conference change may reduce reliance on UC Davis core funds.
What are the impacts to the remaining UC members of the Big West?
Our departure has no negative financial effects on the remaining UC or CSU institutions in the Big West.
What benefits does this move provide to students?
UC Davis students will continue enjoying free access to all UC Davis athletic events. Additionally, this move introduces opponents with greater appeal to our students and fans. Home games in basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, and soccer against teams like UNLV, Nevada, Air Force, New Mexico, Wyoming, San Jose State, and Hawaii are likely to resonate more strongly with our campus community than some of our current conference opponents, and therefore draw more interest and greater attendance.
