CEDAR CITY, Utah – Southern Utah University released a statement on Tuesday after reports surfaced of the school receiving an offer to leave the Big Sky Conference and join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

Reports surfaced over the weekend that Southern Utah was going to leave the Big Sky and join the WAC.

KSL Sports obtained a statement from Southern Utah University President Scott L. Wyatt.

“Southern Utah University has sponsored Division I athletics for the past 25 years and remains absolutely committed to that level of competition. We have been a proud member of the Big Sky Conference since 2012, and continue to be a member. SUU has not received an official offer to join any other conference, although the discussion comes up from time to time. We would not consider changing conferences unless it presented enhanced opportunities for our Division I student-athletes and for our SUU community. Any new conference would also need to sponsor all sports we currently field in the Big Sky Conference, including Division I football,” Wyatt said.

Awaiting official confirmation but all signs point toward Southern Utah joining the WAC #BigSkyFB https://t.co/FOeoNbcGar

— Skyline Sports (@SkylineSportsMT) October 2, 2020

The Thunderbirds joined the Big Sky Conference in 2012 where they have competed with Weber State and others at the Division I FCS level. The WAC ended their run as a football conference in 2012 when Utah State took the crown. They still have basketball and other sports tied to their conference. Utah Valley and Dixie State are in-state schools that are members of the WAC.