To say that the Big Sky has put itself in great position within the topsy-turvy landscape of college football doesn’t accurately describe what conferene commissioner Doug Fullerton has built.

    In the section of smaller D-1 universities, a division that doesn’t get nearly as much attention or respect as the more popular FBS, the Big Sky has transformed itself from a rock solid FCS league into a model of consistency for other conferences as well as a potential refuge for universities that get left out of the realignment shuffle.

    “We are really in a perfect position,” Fullerton said at last week’s Big Sky Kickoff event in Park City, Utah. “We’ve added stability to the West and I really appreciate where we are as a conference.”

    Fullerton says that the addition of Cal Poly, UC Davis, Southern Utah and North Dakota have helped reestablish the Big Sky as a power in the West.

    “The four schools that are joining us really help us make this such a great conference going forward,” he said. “This is really exciting.”

    Idaho State head coach Mike Kramer has a different take on the growth of the Big Sky.

    “Every one of these schools that come in is coming in solid academically,” he said. “You’re adding four schools who academically are on par or maybe higher than many long-time members of the conference. So it gives us a good table of food for knowledge.”

    As part of the conference realignment shuffle, it appears the University of Idaho will be left without a home as the WAC has been gutted by the Mountain West Conference. Because of the position in which the Big Sky has placed itself, it is capable of providing a nice landing spot for Vandal athletics.

    On July 17, Idaho athletic director Rob Spear confirmed that he was in talks with Fullerton about the school rejoining the Big Sky in every sport but football.

    “Despite reports at this point in time the only conversations with the Big Sky have centered around a home for our non football sports,” Spear tweeted.

    It appears that Idaho will try football independence for a time.

    As mutually beneficial as a Big Sky/Vandal reunion would be, Fullerton has no need to beg and plead as the conference is in a great position without or without the school. If Idaho is a flying trapeze artist, the Big Sky is a large, supportive safety net waiting for the first aerial mistake.

    “One of the things that we are really going to play as we go forward is that we are the heart of the American West as far as athletics is concerned,” he said. “The West is obviously something that we control.”

    As part of the Big Sky’s bright future, the league has partnered with Root Sports, a series of networks owned and operated by DirecTV.

    “We are excited to be the TV partner of the conference,” said Root Sports president Patrick Crumb. “As we went through the details it became pretty clear that there was going to be a partnership.”

    Crumb added that the 12 Big Sky games that will be broadcast on Root Sports will reach about 8.7 million viewers in 18 states.

    Idaho State’s lone game that will appear on Root Sports is an Oct. 27 contest at Montana, which begins at 1:30 p.m.