SAN RAMON, California — The Pac-12 Conference and The Big West jointly announced today a collaborative men's soccer partnership designed to strengthen and sustain Division I men's soccer opportunities across the western United States.
As part of this strategic partnership, California Baptist, Cal Poly, UC Riverside, and UC San Diego will compete as affiliate members in Pac-12 men's soccer beginning with the 2026–27 season. In addition, the Pac-12 and Big West will implement a scheduling collaboration featuring crossover matches between member institutions of both conferences.
This joint initiative reflects a shared commitment to preserving competitive opportunities for student-athletes and ensuring long-term sustainability for men's soccer programs across the region.
Beginning this fall, Utah Valley will face off with UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton, Sacramento State, CSUN, and Cal State Bakersfield in The Big West. Utah Valley's opponents for crossover games against Pac-12 teams this season have yet to be finalized and will be announced at a later date.
Utah Valley Men's Soccer Head Coach Michael Chesler Quote
"We are thrilled about the Big West and Pac-12 men's soccer alignment. This exciting partnership elevates the competition to an entirely new level, delivering intense, high-quality weekly battles against some of the best programs in the West. For our team, it means weekly tests that will accelerate our growth, sharpen our competitive edge, and provide the demanding environment we need to reach their full potential both on and off the field. We embrace these new challenges with great enthusiasm and look forward to representing UVU with pride as we compete in this stronger, more dynamic conference landscape. This is a tremendous step forward for our program and for college soccer in the West — and we cannot wait to get started."
Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly Quote
"This partnership represents what can happen when conferences work together with purpose," said Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly. "Our shared goal has been clear — protect opportunities for student-athletes, preserve Division I men's soccer in the West, and ensure our institutions continue to have meaningful access to NCAA championship pathways. This collaborative approach reflects the strength of our partnership with the Pac-12 and our collective commitment to the future of the sport."
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould Quote
"The Pac-12 is proud to partner with the Big West on this important initiative," said Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould. "By working together, our conferences are ensuring stability for men's soccer programs across the region and maintaining strong competitive opportunities and postseason access for our student-athletes. This collaboration and partnership advances our goal of supporting competitive and viable Olympic sports."
