Cal Baptist has officially announced that it will leave the Western Athletic Conference and join the Big West in 2026.
“The addition of California Baptist University marks a significant step forward for The Big West,” Commissioner Dan Butterly said in a press release. “CBU aligns with our mission of fostering competitive excellence, academic achievement and service within our communities. We are excited to welcome them and look forward to the talent, excitement and rivalries they will bring beginning July 1, 2026.”
The Lancers’ addition comes after the announced departures of UC Davis and Hawaii from the Big West, to join the Mountain West Conference in 2026.
Once Hawaii departs, the Big West will consist of 10 California-based schools in the conference. Cal Baptist will be the only private school in the Big West.
Cal Baptist joined the WAC in 2018 when it was in its first season as a Division I institution.
Action Network’s Brett McMurphy stated that CBU will pay a $1.2 million entrance fee to join the conference.
“This move provides an outstanding opportunity for our student-athletes to compete at the highest level whilestrengthening our regional presence,” CBU Athletic Director Dr. Micah Parker said in the press release. “We appreciate The Big West’s leadership for recognizing the value CBU brings to the conference.”
The Lancers will have a crosstown rivalry with UC Riverside, with the schools located eight miles from each other.
With Cal Baptist leaving the conference, it puts the Western Athletic Conference in jeopardy.
The WAC is set to lose two schools by 2026. Seattle University with a move to the West Coast Conference in the summer and Grand Canyon to the Mountain West in 2026.
Cal Baptist finished the 2024-25 regular season in third place in the WAC with a 17-15 record. The Lancers wereeliminated in the second round of the conference tournament against Grand Canyon.
According to McMurphy, Utah Valley has also received an invitation from the Big West to join the conference but has yet to decide.
