5 Teams The Big Sky Conference Could Replace Sacramento State With

The Sacramento State Hornets announced that they would leave the Big Sky Conference at the beginning of June 2026. 

That will bring the number of full-time members to 9, and 13 football members. There's a good chance the Big Sky will replace Sac State with a different school, so we put together a list of the 5 most likely teams to join the Big Sky Conference. 

Using our conversation with Sam Herder from HERO Sports, and what I'm hearing from sources close to the Big Sky, here's the 5 we compiled.

5 Most Likely Teams To Join The Big Sky Conference

Utah Tech Trailblazers

Sources close to the situation told me Utah Tech is the most likely team to receive the invite. Utah Tech is in St. George, Utah, which is only a 4:40 drive to Flagstaff, home of Northern Arizona. Geographically, it makes sense to pair the two schools together as travel partners.

Tarleton State Texans

Tarleton State is on the rise in the FCS world. The Stephenville, Texas based school has poured a lot of money into upgrading its football facilities. It makes sense that Tarleton State could be looking for a new home as the WAC conference is dissolving. The problem is the Summit League/Missouri Valley Football Conference is reportedly heavily interested in Tarleton State and...

Abilene Christian Wildcats

ACU is in the same boat as Tarleton State, currently in limbo in the dying WAC conference with multiple suitors.

UT Arlington Mavericks

See the ACU explanation above.

Incarnate Word Cardinals

Ok, this one is NOT likely, but I may have stretched the list too far at 5 top teams. Maybe if one of the above Texas schools joins, the Big Sky could snag Incarnate Word as a football-only school... But that would also require UC Davis departing the league, thus needing a 12th football member. I don't know. It's a stretch.