The Big West Conference is a powerhouse of California athletic excellence and a national force in Olympic sports. From Long Beach State’s electrifying volleyball dynasty to UC Irvine’s storied baseball triumphs, Big West athletes bring West Coast pride and championship fire to every competition. Discover all the ways Big West fans like you can amplify your conference’s stars through platforms like RallyFuel.
Why the Big West Matters in NIL
The Big West Conference has become a unique NIL environment for important reasons:
- California Market Access: The conference spans the nation’s largest state, including the Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego media markets, providing significant visibility for student-athletes.
- Non-Football Excellence: The Big West has established itself as a premier destination for Olympic sports, particularly men’s volleyball (six teams ranked in the AVCA poll in 2025), baseball, and women’s soccer.
- Conference-Wide NIL Infrastructure: The Big West partnered with CLC to implement the COMPASS platform across all member institutions, providing unified NIL education, deal disclosure, and compliance monitoring.
- Revenue Sharing Leadership: Multiple Big West institutions—including Cal Poly, CSU Bakersfield, CSU Fullerton, CSUN, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara—opted into the House v. NCAA settlement’s revenue-sharing model.
- Volleyball Dynasty: The Big West has produced the last five National Players of the Year in men’s volleyball. Top-tier collegiate volleyball players can command significant NIL compensation, making the conference a retention powerhouse.
- Strategic Expansion: California Baptist, Utah Valley, and Sacramento State join in 2026, expanding the conference’s geographic reach into the Intermountain West.
The result: Big West athletes have engaged California fanbases, and NIL support connects West Coast communities directly with their student-athletes.
Big West NIL by School
NIL activity spans Big West programs:
- Cal Poly: Mustangs in San Luis Obispo with a devoted Central Coast fanbase. Opted into revenue sharing with nationally ranked beach volleyball and women’s soccer programs. Influxer partnership for merchandise.
- CSU Bakersfield: Roadrunners with Central Valley community support. Opted into revenue sharing with a commitment to Division I standards. Influxer partnership provides NIL opportunities.
- CSU Fullerton: Titans in Orange County with Los Angeles-area market access. Opted into revenue sharing to protect historic baseball legacy and Southern California recruiting pipelines.
- CSU Northridge: Matadors leveraging the Los Angeles media market. Opted into revenue sharing for potential revenue opportunities in the nation’s second-largest market.
- Hawaii: Rainbow Warriors with a passionate island fanbase. Rainbow Collective (powered by SANIL) supports all Hawaii athletes. Departing for Mountain West in 2026 but maintaining Big West affiliation in men’s volleyball, beach volleyball, and women’s water polo.
- Long Beach State: Beach with a robust multi-collective ecosystem. Beach Alliance supports men’s basketball; Dirtbag Collective (tiered memberships $250-$1,000/month) supports baseball; Men’s Volleyball Collective supports the #1-ranked program.
- UC Davis: Aggies with Sacramento-area fanbase. Departing for Mountain West in 2026. Initially, opted out of revenue sharing.
- UC Irvine: Anteaters with Orange County market access. Anteater NIL Marketplace (powered by Opendorse) connects UCI athletes with fans and brands. 2025 Big West Baseball champions with 11 programs earning top-three Commissioner’s Cup finishes.
- UC Riverside: Highlanders with Inland Empire community support. Growing program with Southern California recruiting territory.
- UC San Diego: Tritons with an elite academic profile and the La Jolla market. Opted into revenue sharing. First Division I postseason bids in 2025. Departing for the West Coast Conference in 2027-28.
- UC Santa Barbara: Gauchos with a passionate Central Coast fanbase. Opted into revenue sharing to sustain national profile in men’s soccer and baseball.
RallyFuel hosts verified athletes from Big West schools for direct fan support.
Big West NIL Beyond Basketball
The Big West excels in NIL across multiple sports:
- Men’s Volleyball: The Big West is the nation’s elite conference, with Long Beach State ranked #1 and Hawaii ranked #3 in 2025. Six conference teams ranked in the AVCA National Poll. Top players can command approximately $600,000 in average annual NIL value.
- Baseball: UC Irvine captured the 2025 Big West Championship and advanced to the NCAA regional finals. Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara, and Hawaii maintain nationally competitive programs. The Dirtbag Collective at Long Beach State specifically supports baseball NIL.
- Women’s Soccer: Cal Poly achieved historic firsts, with programs across the conference maintaining strong traditions.
- Beach Volleyball: Cal Poly and Hawaii field nationally ranked programs in this growing Olympic sport.
- Women’s Track & Field: UC Irvine won its first-ever women’s outdoor track and field championship in 2025.
- Women’s Water Polo: Conference programs compete nationally, with Hawaii maintaining affiliate status after its move.
With fan-powered platforms like RallyFuel, every sport in the Big West gets a chance to shine, and every fan can make a difference—not just for basketball, but for the entire spectrum of Big West athletics.
How Big West Fans Can Support Athletes
Big West fans can fuel current roster athletes through RallyFuel in a few simple steps:
1. Create an account on RallyFuel.com or the mobile app.
2. Select your Big West school affiliation.
3. Browse verified athletes currently on your program’s roster.
4. Fuel athletes across any sport
5. Track your support through your fan dashboard.
How It Works: When you purchase Fan Fuel, you earn Conditional NIL Engagement Rights (CNERs). If the conditions are met, RallyFuel or its affiliate offers an NIL Agreement to the athlete, allowing direct, impactful support. If conditions aren’t met—for example, if an athlete transfers—you receive an automatic refund, ensuring your support is risk-free.
RallyFuel’s conditional model protects Fan Fuel with automatic refunds if athletes transfer or conditions aren’t met, so Big West fans can support players without financial risk.
Important: Fan support through RallyFuel is voluntary and conditional. Fuel purchases are not charitable donations. RallyFuel is not a guarantor that any athlete will accept an NIL Agreement. Purchasing Fan Fuel does not guarantee athletic performance, playing time, or any specific outcome.
Big West Battleground Competition
RallyFuel’s Battleground tracks Big West rankings:
How It Works:
- Every Fan Fuel contribution adds to your school’s total.
- Real-time updates as transactions occur
- Big West schools ranked against each other and nationally.
- Championship counts display alongside NIL totals.
Conference Competition:
- See how your school compares to Big West rivals.
- Long Beach State vs. Hawaii volleyball rivalry extends to Battleground.
- UC Irvine vs. Cal State Fullerton baseball rivalries continue year-round.
- Track your personal contribution to the school totals.
Battleground measures fan engagement for current roster athletes—showing which Big West fan bases are most active in supporting their programs.
The Transfer Portal and NIL
The transfer portal has intensified NIL activity across the Big West:
For Athletes: Players entering the portal evaluate multiple factors, including NIL opportunity. Athletes make independent decisions—NIL is one consideration among academics, playing time, coaching, location, and other factors.
RallyFuel’s conditional model allows fans to support athletes in the transfer portal and provides automatic refunds if the athlete selects another school during the conditional period.
Conditional Protection:
- Automatic refunds if the athlete selects a different school
- Automatic refunds if the conditional period expires
- No financial risk to fans
Important: Fan support does not guarantee any athlete will transfer to a specific program. RallyFuel is not a guarantor that any athlete will accept an NIL Agreement or join a specific school. Athletes make independent decisions based on many factors.
With these opportunities in mind, here’s how you can start supporting Big West athletes right now.
Discover and support verified Big West athletes on RallyFuel. See your school’s Battleground ranking, fuel your favorite athletes, and make a real impact today—get started now!
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information on athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure of modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in greater depth.
Visit RallyFuel
Learn More About the NIL Landscape
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information about athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure behind modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in more depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can Big West fans support athletes through NIL?
Big West fans can fuel athletes directly through RallyFuel by creating an account, selecting their school affiliation, and browsing verified athletes. The conditional model provides automatic refunds if athletes transfer or if conditions aren’t met.
Which Big West schools are on RallyFuel?
Athletes from Big West schools are available for fan support on RallyFuel, including Long Beach State, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, Cal Poly, CSU Fullerton, CSU Northridge, CSU Bakersfield, UC Riverside, UC Davis, and Hawaii.
Why is NIL important for Big West athletes?
NIL creates opportunities for Big West athletes at programs that excel in Olympic sports such as volleyball, baseball, and soccer. Fan support through platforms like RallyFuel allows California communities to directly support their student-athletes in sports that may receive less national attention than football.
Can I support Big West athletes in sports other than basketball?
Yes. RallyFuel hosts verified Big West athletes across all sports—volleyball, baseball, soccer, beach volleyball, and more. The Big West is particularly strong in non-football sports, and fan support extends to all Big West athletes.
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