Realignment
How Utah's Division I map is being redrawn at once — UVU to the Big West, Utah State to the Pac-12, and the three FCS programs sharing the Big Sky — and what each move means for athletes, recruiting, and travel.
Last updated June 21, 2026
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Useful routes
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What the Big West move changes for Utah Valley athletes in 2026-27.
Open routeThe top-tier side of Utah's realignment year, rebuilt for 2026.
Open routeWeber State, SUU, and Utah Tech share a conference for the first time.
Open routeStories
Sourced stories and athlete features that make this topic easier to understand, share, and revisit.
Utah Valley leaves the WAC for the Big West on July 1, 2026, competing in 13 league-sponsored sports while wrestling stays affiliated with the Big 12.
Southern Utah and Utah Tech join the Big Sky on July 1, 2026, putting Weber State, SUU, and Utah Tech in the same conference for the first time.
Utah State leaves the Mountain West on June 30, 2026 and joins a rebuilt eight-team Pac-12 the next day — the biggest change to the Aggies' national footprint in a generation.
Utah Tech's conference move needs local anchors too. Jace Sweeten gives the Trailblazers a Crimson Cliffs linebacker profile inside the spring roster.
Utah Tech's 2025 season-opener release put a fifth-year quarterback with Iowa starts at the top of the depth chart, giving the Trailblazers a real profile heading into their Big Sky transition.
Southern Utah heads into a Big Sky Conference transition with a quarterback room that Thunderbirds coaches called one of their biggest 2025 strengths, and transfer Will Burns gives the Thunderbirds a dual-threat arrival story.
Athletes
Athlete pages give each story a durable place to live after the post, tag, or game result moves on.
Sami Blackett is a UVU outside hitter from Orem High School. Her official UVU bio credits her with 304 kills and 233 digs during a 2025 First Team All-WAC season after she earned 2024 WAC Co-Freshman of the Year honors.
Alyvia Jaffa is a UVU middle blocker from Morgan High School and Utah Hive. The Wolverines' August 29, 2025 recap against Navy marked a career-high night and highlighted her role on a roster that opened the season picked first in the WAC preseason poll.
Bryson Barnes is a Utah State graduate quarterback from Milford, Utah and Milford High School. Utah State's official releases confirm his selection to the 2025 Davey O'Brien QB Class and his place among the 10 semifinalists for the 2025 Burlsworth Trophy, the latter given to college football's top former walk-on.
Mason Falslev is a 6-foot-4 Utah State junior guard from Benson, Utah and Sky View High School. Utah State's own April 2026 releases named him the Mountain West Player of the Year and a CSC Academic All-American, the first Aggie men's basketball player to earn Academic All-America honors since Justin Bean in 2022.
Jackson Gilkey is a Weber State quarterback from Ennis, Texas and Ennis High School by way of UTSA. The Wildcats' 2025 Week 1 depth chart named him the starter, and Weber State's official season coverage documented his five starts before a fractured left fibula at UC Davis ended his year.
Will Burns is a Southern Utah redshirt junior quarterback from Mission Viejo, California and Trabuco Hills High School. SUU's own 2025 preview documented his arrival from Golden West College, where he was named the 2024 Southern California Football Association Offensive Player of the Year after 1,857 passing yards and 22 touchdowns.
Deacon Hill is a Utah Tech fifth-year quarterback from Santa Barbara, California and Santa Barbara High School by way of Wisconsin and Iowa. Utah Tech's own 2025 opener release confirmed his return after starting four of five games in 2024 before a season-ending injury.
Brayden Wilson gives Weber State a Kaysville defensive line story with All-Big Sky production, Farmington High roots, and a profile that keeps Ogden football connected to northern Utah.
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