The inaugural Big Sky-Summit Challenge was played during the 2023-24 college basketball season. Prior to the first challenge, the two conferences revealed the scoring system that has been used to determine the first champion of the competition and unveiled the trophy that will be given to the winner. The two conferences play for a combined trophy, taking both men’s and women’s results into consideration equally from 36 total games being played during each edition of the challenge.
Victories in the challenge will be weighted differently based on whether they occur at home or on the road. Teams will be awarded one (1) point for a victory on their home floor, while if a road team emerges with a win, it will be awarded one and one-half (1.5) points for the result.
The conference with the most total points combined between men’s and women’s results will be declared the winner. If there is a tie in points following the conclusion of all contests, the first tiebreaker will be total margin of victory. If there is still a tie following the calculation of margin of victory, the two commissioners will compete in an arm-wrestling contest at the Final Four to determine the champion.
The winning league will display the championship trophy at its office for the following year until the challenge commences the subsequent season, when it will be put up for grabs once again. The Summit League has won the first two challenges and will aim for a three-peat in 2025-26.
All Summit League home games will be streamed on the Summit League Network. Fans can visit www.midcosportsplus.com for more information on how to access the streams. All Big Sky home games will be streamed on ESPN+.
2025-26
Big Sky – Summit Challenge Matchups
Denver Men
Home: Eastern Washington (Dec. 3)
Away: Idaho State (Dec. 6)
Denver Women
Away: Eastern Washington (Dec. 3)
Home: Idaho (Dec. 6)
Kansas City Men
Home: Idaho State (Dec. 3)
Away: Eastern Washington (Dec. 6)
Kansas City Women
Away: Northern Colorado (Dec. 3)
Home: Portland State (Dec. 6)
North Dakota Men
Away: Idaho (Dec. 3)
Home: Montana (Dec. 6)
North Dakota Women
Home: Montana (Dec. 3)
Away: Montana State (Dec. 6)
North Dakota State Men
Away: Montana (Dec. 3)
Home: Northern Arizona (Dec. 6)
North Dakota State Women
Home: Montana State (Dec. 3)
Away: Weber State (Dec. 6)
Omaha Men
Home: Northern Colorado (Dec. 3)
Away: Portland State (Dec. 6)
Omaha Women
Away: Idaho State (Dec. 3)
Home: Northern Colorado (Dec. 6)
Oral Roberts Men
Away: Weber State (Dec. 3)
Home: Montana State (Dec. 6)
Oral Roberts Women
Away: Idaho (Dec. 3)
Home: Idaho State (Dec. 6)
St. Thomas Men
Away: Montana State (Dec. 3)
Home: Weber State (Dec. 7)
St. Thomas Women
Home: Northern Arizona (Dec. 3)
Away: Montana (Dec. 6)
South Dakota Men
Home: Portland State (Dec. 3)
Away: Northern Colorado (Dec. 6)
South Dakota Women
Away: Portland State (Dec. 3)
Home: Eastern Washington (Dec. 6)
South Dakota State Men
Away: Northern Arizona (Dec. 3)
Home: Idaho (Dec. 6)
South Dakota State Women
Home: Weber State (Dec. 3)
Away: Northern Arizona (Dec. 6)
2024-25
December 4, 2024
December 6, 2024
2023-24
January 3, 2024
January 6, 2024
2023-24 Commissioner Challenge Standings
Challenge 1 >> Big Sky Video | Summit League Video (winner)
Challenge 2 >> Big Sky Video | Summit League Video (winner)
Challenge 3 >> Big Sky Video | Summit League Video (winner)
Challenge 4 >> Big Sky Video (winner) | Summit League Video
Challenge 5 >> Big Sky Video (winner) | Summit League Video
Challenge 6 >> Big Sky Video (winner) | Summit League Video
Challenge 7 >> Big Sky Video | Summit League Video (winner)
Final Results >> Results