The NCAA’s financial engine is heavily fueled by March Madness, pulling in more than a billion dollars each year from the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments alone. While Power Five conferences routinely bank tens of millions, the Big Sky has long relied on a different model, channeling its modest earnings back to member institutions for facility upgrades and athlete support.
Expanding the Field
In 2027 the Big Sky will field 76 teams across its men’s and women’s brackets, a dramatic increase from previous editions. The schedule will follow a 20‑game double‑round‑robin format that begins in early December and wraps up by March 1, giving teams ample time to jockey for seeding before the conference tournament kicks off.
The new bracket includes a play‑in game between the No. 10 and No. 11 seeds on Friday night, with the victor advancing to face a No. 9 seed. This structure is designed to reward the top two seeds with a first‑round bye while still providing competitive pathways for lower‑seeded programs.
Recent history has shown that upsets are becoming commonplace; the Montana men’s team captured the 2024‑25 tournament as a No. 2 seed, underscoring the parity that the conference hopes to leverage. The championship games are slated for March 10, positioning the winners for automatic bids to the NCAA’s March 16 men’s tournament and March 17 women’s tournament.
Although the Big Sky does not generate the massive profits seen in Power Five leagues, the additional tournament slots translate into more financial units that are redistributed to schools for scholarships, travel, and arena improvements. The conference’s strategy reflects a broader push to maximize exposure and revenue while maintaining its unique regional identity.