BYU-I Sports
Once a Viking, Always a Viking.
This website is dedicated to celebrating the legacy of Ricks College athletics while exploring the possibilities of reviving sports at BYU–Idaho. Our goal is to preserve history, spark conversation, and show how athletics can enrich student life, strengthen community spirit, and enhance the university’s identity.
Category: Opinion
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How Intercollegiate Athletics Can Strengthen BYU–Idaho’s Mission and Build the Kingdom of Christ When most people think of college athletics, they picture roaring crowds, televised games, and athletes chasing trophies. But for a university like BYU–Idaho (founded, supported, and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) intercollegiate athletics can represent something far…
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The NCAA’s stance on sports betting is shifting quickly, and new data shows just how widespread wagering has become among young people. In 2023, the organization surveyed more than 3,500 adults between the ages of 18 and 22 to get a clearer picture of how often they bet and why. The results were eye-opening: more…
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Women’s sports are experiencing unprecedented growth, and colleges across the country are reaping the benefits of this momentum. The 2025 NCAA Women’s Final Four drew 39,508 fans, the second-highest attendance ever recorded, proving that women’s athletics have moved from the margins to the mainstream. Major networks like ESPN are signing standalone broadcast deals for women’s…
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When people talk about the possible return of athletics at BYU–Idaho, the conversation usually jumps straight to the big-ticket sports—basketball, football, baseball, etc. But the reality is that one of the most certain additions would not be a varsity sport at all. Cheer and dance teams, which fall under the category of spirit squads, are…
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On Saturday, February 8, 2025, something remarkable happened inside the John W. Hart Building. For the first time since athletics were cut in 2000, a BYU–Idaho basketball team faced outside competition, squaring off against a group of students from Provo in an exhibition matchup. What unfolded that night was more than a basketball game; it…
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If Brigham Young University–Idaho ever chose to reinstate intercollegiate athletics, one of the most strategic steps it could take would be joining the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, the NCCAA governs intercollegiate sports at faith-based institutions in the United States and Canada. With nearly a…
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Intercollegiate wrestling has one of the richest athletic traditions in Idaho, and Ricks College once stood at the center of that story. The Vikings fielded a powerhouse program that produced national champions and even an Olympic gold medalist in Rulon Gardner, who stunned the world in 2000 by defeating Russian legend Aleksandr Karelin in Sydney.…
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Our team at byuisports.com is profoundly grieved by the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated yesterday at Utah Valley University. He was a beloved husband, father, and son of God. Our team includes men and women across the political spectrum, many of us active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day…
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Something really surprising (and welcomed) has been happening recently: our readers have been reaching out to us through DMs and email and asking questions. This has been one of the most encouraging and exciting developments since we started this project, so thank you. We’re going to start posting a weekly blog-style article answering your questions,…
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For years, rumors have swirled in Rexburg about the possibility of BYU–Idaho bringing back intercollegiate athletics. The school, formerly known as Ricks College, once boasted one of the most successful junior college programs in the nation before transitioning into a four-year university in 2001 and dropping varsity sports entirely. Since then, BYU–Idaho has invested heavily…
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