SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - 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 MW 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.