MOSCOW, Idaho- On Thursday, the Big Sky Conference announced, in conjunction with the Summit League, that the annual rivalry between the two conferences has been extended through the 2029-30 season.
The 2025-26 season was the third rendition of the series, and the Vandals went a combined 3-1 over Summit League competition. The Idaho men swept the competition, handling North Dakota in a 32-point gap and forcing just the 11th home loss of the last decade for South Dakota State.
Each of the first three years featured both conference's men's and women's teams getting up to two games each. Going forward, the series will carry on in a new format, featuring four men's teams from each league to continue the home-and-home contests. Idaho will join in-state foe Idaho State and Treasure State institutions Montana and Montana State to take on the four DI Dakota schools: North Dakota, South Dakota, North Dakota State, and South Dakota State.
"The Vandals are excited to continue competition with the Dakota schools in this basketball series challenge," said Idaho Director of Athletics Terry Gawlik. "I want to thank [Montana State Director of Athletics] Leon Costello for pulling this all together. We look forward to the matchups in the next four years."
Not only is the inter-conference rivalry renewed through year seven, but the matchups are set for each year. The Vandals will host the North Dakota State Bison in ICCU Arena and tip off a rematch with South Dakota State in Brookings next season.
"We are excited to continue these matchups with the Summit League opponents," stated Vandal Hoops head coach Alex Pribble. "These are great opportunities to prepare ourselves for conference play, and we are grateful that the administrators came together to make this happen."
The full slate of contests between the Big Sky and Summit League programs through the 2029-30 season is listed below.
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
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