Big West Release

IRVINE, Calif. – Another successful season led to UC Irvine capturing the 2024-25 Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner's Cup.

The Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner's Cup is awarded annually to The Big West institution that has the highest degree of success in all men's and women's conference-sponsored sports during the academic year.

It is the first time the Anteaters have stood on top the standings, tallying 148.8 points, the second highest total all-time, just shy of Cal Poly's mark of 149.4 set last year. UC Irvine totaled 2,530 points with 11 of its 17 teams earning top-three points.

"This is a testament to our student-athletes, coaches and staff," Athletic Director Paula Smith said. "We put our student-athletes at the heart of everything we do and it results in a strong culture of winning and success. I'm really proud of all the hard work everyone put in."

The Anteaters started strong in the fall with men's water polo winning their second consecutive Big West title with a perfect 5-0 record. Both men's and women's soccer were tied for third, while women's cross country was third and men's cross country was fourth at the Big West Championships. Women's volleyball was sixth, sweeping the season series over Hawaii for the first time in program history and handing the Rainbow Wahine two of their 10 losses in 2024.

Men's basketball finished second in the conference standings on their way to the NIT Championship game and a school record 32 wins.  Women's basketball also placed second, posting 20 or more wins for the fourth consecutive season.

The spring sports brought home the victory with championships in baseball and women's outdoor track and field, the first in school history. Men's tennis was second in the regular season and went on to win the Big West Championship for the third time in the last four years and advance to the NCAAs. Men's volleyball, who ended the year ranked No. 5 nationally and women's water polo, who ranked No. 8, ended third in the standings. At the Big West Championships, men's golf was tied for third and women's golf was fourth.

The Big West Commissioner's Cup is in honor of Dennis Farrell, who served as Big West Commissioner for 28 years before his retirement in 2020. 

Points are distributed based on the order of finish during either the regular season (for the sports of baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's water polo) or in The Big West Championship (for the sports of beach volleyball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's track and field, and men's and women's swimming & diving).  First awarded after the 1998-99 season and is given to the Institution with the highest average point total following the 19 conference-sponsored sport seasons.
 
2024-25 Dennis Farrell Big West Commissioner's Cup Standings 
School                           Points  
1.  UC Irvine                   148.8 
2. Cal Poly                      130.6 
3. Long Bach State         129.4 
4. Hawai'i                         127.1 
5. UC Santa Barbara        119.5 
6. UC Davis                      117.4 
7. Cal State Fullerton        111.9 
8. UC San Diego               106.3 
9. CSUN                             74.1 
10. UC Riverside                65.3 
11. Cal State Bakersfield    52.9