FARMINGTON, Utah (May 5, 2023) – The inaugural matchups of the Big Sky – Summit Challenge for the 2023-24 season have been officially announced, setting up a number of exciting men's and women's basketball contests across the midwest and western United States.
The agreement for the challenge series was made official on April 18.
This incoming campaign, the challenge will take place on January 3 and 6, 2024 and each program in the conference will play one home game and one away game against teams from the Summit League. For the Big Sky, this means there will be one weekend of in-conference competition on December 28 and 30, 2023, leading into the challenge the following week.
This upcoming season's iteration of the schedule will feature four sets of double-headers, two hosted by each league.
On Jan. 3, Montana State will play host to Oral Roberts on the men's side and North Dakota State on the women's side, and Denver will welcome in both Idaho State on the men's side and Idaho on the women's side.
On Jan. 6, regional rivalries will come to the forefront with another pair of thrilling doubleheaders. In Greeley, Colo., Northern Colorado will host Denver for a men's and women's game, while in Brookings, S.D., South Dakota State will host Montana State in the same manner.
Each gender will play 10 games per day, meaning a total of 40 games available for fans to track throughout the series. There will be an even split of home and away contests across the two leagues on each of those days.
The matchups for the series are determined annually using data from past seasons, including NET rankings and regular-season conference finishes, along with consideration for the prior season matchups. For the Challenge games this season, the leagues also took into account previously scheduled non-conference contests as a factor in determining the matchups.
2023-24 Big Sky – Summit Challenge Matchups
Eastern Washington Men
Home: North Dakota State (Jan. 6)
Away: South Dakota (Jan. 3)
Eastern Washington Women
Home: Omaha (Jan. 3)
Away: North Dakota (Jan. 6)
Idaho Men
Home: St. Thomas (Jan. 3)
Away: Western Illinois (Jan. 6)
Idaho Women
Home: Western Illinois (Jan. 6)
Away: Denver (Jan. 3)
Idaho State Men
Home: Omaha (Jan. 6)
Away: Denver (Jan. 3)
Idaho State Women
Home: North Dakota (Jan. 3)
Away: South Dakota (Jan. 6)
Montana Men
Home: South Dakota (Jan. 6)
Away: North Dakota State (Jan. 3)
Montana Women
Home: South Dakota (Jan. 3)
Away: Omaha (Jan. 6)
Montana State Men
Home: Oral Roberts (Jan. 3)
Away: South Dakota State (Jan. 6)
Montana State Women
Home: North Dakota State (Jan. 3)
Away: South Dakota State (Jan. 6)
Northern Arizona Men
Home: North Dakota (Jan. 6)
Away: Omaha (Jan. 3)
Northern Arizona Women
Home: South Dakota State (Jan. 3)
Away: North Dakota State (Jan. 6)
Northern Colorado Men
Home: Denver (Jan. 6)
Away: North Dakota (Jan. 3)
Northern Colorado Women
Home: Denver (Jan. 6)
Away: Oral Roberts (Jan. 3)
Portland State Men
Home: Western Illinois (Jan. 3)
Away: Kansas City (Jan. 6)
Portland State Women
Home: St. Thomas (Jan. 6)
Away: Kansas City (Jan. 3)
Sacramento State Men
Home: Kansas City (Jan. 3)
Away: St. Thomas (Jan. 6)
Sacramento State Women
Home: Oral Roberts (Jan. 6)
Away: St. Thomas (Jan. 3)
Weber State Men
Home: South Dakota State (Jan. 3)
Away: Oral Roberts (Jan. 6)
Weber State Women
Home: Kansas City (Jan. 6)
Away: Western Illinois (Jan. 3)
