POCATELLO, Idaho - Eight total members of the Big Sky Conference and Summit League have agreed to compete in a four-year men's basketball series beginning in the 2026-27 season.
"Collaborating to ensure these matchups is important for our program," said Director of Athletics Pauline Thiros. "This challenge delivers quality games that matter. Playing strong opponents, especially in home environments, elevates our schedule, showcases our student-athletes, and helps raise the profile of Bengal Basketball. We are committed to bringing our fans more DI home games and to building our program using every tool available, including scheduling."
Four teams from each conference will play one home and one away game against a participating member from the other league during each of the next four seasons. The series will consist of eight games per year and 32 total games between the 2026-27 and 2029-30 seasons.
Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, and Montana State will represent the Big Sky Conference in the series. The Summit League's representatives are North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota, and South Dakota State.
"We are excited to continue this partnership with the Summit League," said Head Men's Basketball Coach Ryan Looney. "It's an opportunity to compete against some quality opponents, especially in Reed Gym. These are games that Bengal fans can look forward to."
The series revives a four-year scheduling agreement between the two conferences, which previously took place between the 2018-19 and 2021-22 seasons and continues a scheduling relationship after the current league-wide agreement, which ends this year, was not renewed.
The list of year-by-year matchups includes the following:
Year One (2026-27)
Idaho at South Dakota State
North Dakota State at Idaho
North Dakota at Montana State
Montana State at South Dakota
Idaho State at North Dakota State
South Dakota State at Idaho State
South Dakota at Montana
Montana at North Dakota
Year Two (2027-28)
Idaho at South Dakota
North Dakota at Idaho
South Dakota State at Montana State
Montana State at North Dakota State
Idaho State at North Dakota
South Dakota at Idaho State
North Dakota State at Montana
Montana at South Dakota State
Year Three (2028-29)
South Dakota State at Idaho
Idaho at North Dakota State
Montana State at North Dakota
South Dakota at Montana State
North Dakota State at Idaho State
Idaho State at South Dakota State
Montana at South Dakota
North Dakota at Montana
Year Four (2029-30)
South Dakota at Idaho
Idaho at North Dakota
North Dakota State at Montana State
Montana State at South Dakota State
North Dakota at Idaho State
Idaho State at South Dakota
Montana at North Dakota State
South Dakota State at Montana
