Northern Arizona University competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics as a fully certified member of NCAA Division I. The athletic department sponsors a comprehensive suite of varsity sports programs that participate primarily within the Big Sky Conference, engaging in rigorous regular-season schedules and conference tournament battles against regional rivals. Operating at the Division I level grants the athletic department national television visibility, opportunities to contend for automatic qualification bids to national tournaments, and a prominent platform that showcases student-athletes.