FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 4, 2023) – No. 7 Sacramento State travels to No. 4 Montana this Saturday, marking the fifth time this season that a Big Sky football game will feature two Top-10 teams. Below are news and notes from around the league for Week 10.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (Week 10)
Sacramento State Travels to Montana for Another Big Sky Top-10 Showdown
No. 7 Sacramento State will travel to No. 4 Montana this Saturday, as the Hornets seek to extend their three-game winning streak over the Grizzlies. The Hornets are 1-12 all-time against the Grizzlies in Missoula, with their win in 2021 snapping a winless skid in the series on the road. Montana was ranked No. 5 in the nation before that 2021 upset, as Sacramento State won 28-21.
Homecoming for Two Big Sky Coaches
This week's matchups will see a pair of homecomings for Big Sky head coaches, as Cal Poly's Paul Wulff returns to face Eastern Washington and Sacramento State's Andy Thompson goes back to take on Montana.
Wulff spent eight seasons as head coach at EWU from 2000-07, winning 53 games and reaching the FCS Playoffs three times. Wulff also served as an assistant at EWU from 1994-99, where he coached current Eagles head coach Aaron Best from 1996-99.
Thompson, who has been at Sacramento State since 2019, played linebacker at Montana from 1999-2003. Thompson helped the Grizzlies to five Big Sky titles and one national championship (2001) during his five-year career in Missoula. He played in 44 career games with 103 total tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss.
Eck Picks Up Another Top-5 Win
Idaho defeated No. 2 Montana State last week at home, as the Vandals picked up another Top-5 win under current head coach Jason Eck. During Eck's two-year tenure, the Vandals are 3-1 against Top-5 teams, with wins over No. 2 Montana State and No. 4 Sacramento State this season while defeating No. 3 Montana last year. Prior to Eck's arrival, Idaho was 0-4 In games against Top-5 teams since returning to the FCS.
Montana's Hauck on the Verge of History
Head coach Bobby Hauck has 123 career victories during his time at Montana (2003-09, 2018-present), which is tied with Jerome Souers (NAU, 1998-2018) for the most career wins ever by a head coach while at a Big Sky institution.
Hauck is also nearing the all-time wins mark for conference victories as well, with the Montana coach ranking third with his 71 Big Sky wins.
All-Time Wins in Big Sky History
Rank - Name, Record (School, Yrs. at School)
T1. - Jerome Souers, 123-114 (NAU, 1998-2018)
T1. - Bobby Hauck, 123-35 (Montana, 2003-09/2018-pres.)
3. - Chris Ault, 111-46 (Nevada, 1979-91)
4. - Tim Walsh, 107-107 (PSU/CP, 1996-06/2012-19)
5. - Mike Kramer, 95-125 (EWU/MSU/ISU, 1994-06/2011-16)
All-Time Conference Wins in Big Sky History
Rank - Name, Record (School, Yrs. at School)
1. - Jerome Souers, 85-77 (NAU, 1998-2018)
2. - Tim Walsh, 74-73 (PSU/CP, 1996-06, 2012-19)
3. - Bobby Hauck, 71-19 (Montana, 2003-09/2018-pres.)
4. - Chris Ault, 68-28 (Nevada, 1979-91)
5. - Beau Baldwin, 60-31 (EWU/CP, 2008-16/2019-22)
Big Sky Slate Features Nine Ranked Matchups
The Big Sky slate will potentially feature nine ranked matchups between league foes in 2023.
Four ranked matchups so far have been between Top-10 ranked teams, with another two more left on the year as No. 7 Sacramento State and No. 6 Montana State both face off against No. 4 Montana in November.
Ranked vs. Ranked Big Sky Games
9/23: #4 Sacramento State at #7 Idaho (Idaho W/36-27)
9/23: #3 Montana State at #10 Weber State (MSU W/40-0)
9/30: #4 Idaho at #19 Eastern Washington (Idaho W/44-36)
10/7: #17 Montana at #20 UC Davis (Montana W/31-23)
10/14: #16 Montana at #3 Idaho (Montana W/23-21)
10/21: #2 Montana State at #3 Sacramento State (MSU W/42-30)
10/28: #2 Montana State at #9 Idaho (Idaho W/24-21)
11/4: #7 Sacramento State at #4 Montana
11/18: #6 Montana State at #4 Montana
FCS Rankings: FCS Stats Perform
FCS Playoff Outlook
Since expanding the field to 24 teams in 2013, the Big Sky Conference has sent 36 teams to the FCS Playoffs. The league had a record-high five teams make the playoffs in the past two seasons, while earning a conference-high four national seeds in 2019.
The 2023 championship field will consist of 10 automatic qualifiers, with another 14 at-large selections. The FCS Selection Show will air Nov. 19 at 10:30 a.m. MT on ESPNU.
Big Sky Teams in FCS Playoffs Since Expanding the Field to 24 Teams
Year: Teams in Playoffs | Schools (#National Seed)
2022: 5 | #2 Sac State, #4 MSU, WSU, Idaho, Montana
2021: 5 | #4 Sac State, #6 Montana, #8 MSU, EWU, UC Davis
2020: 2 | EWU, Weber State
2019: 4 | #3 Weber State, #4 Sac State, #5 MSU, #6 Montana
2018: 4 | #2 Weber State, #3 EWU, #6 UC Davis, MSU
2017: 3 | #8 Southern Utah, NAU, Weber State
2016: 3 | #2 EWU, Cal Poly, Weber State
2015: 3 | #6 Portland State, Montana, Southern Utah
2014: 3 | #4 EWU, Montana, MSU
2013: 4 | #3 EWU, #8 Montana, NAU, Southern Utah
Big Sky Week 9 Honors Announced
Offensive Player of the Week: Jobi Malary (Portland State)
Portland State's Jobi Malary had a career day for the Vikings in their 47-35 win over Eastern Washington this past Saturday, as the junior running back rushed for 241 yards and six touchdowns. The touchdowns came on scores of eight, one, one, 39, 75 and 44 yards, with the six scores tying a school record. The six rushing touchdowns are the most in the Big Sky since Idaho's Roshaun Johnson also scored six in 2021.
Defensive Player of the Week: Riley Wilson (Montana)
Riley Wilson led a dominant defensive effort for Montana, as the Griz earned the shutout against Northern Colorado, scored two defensive touchdowns and held the Bears to just 94 yards of total offense. Wilson racked up six tackles, three of which were sacks, and four tackles for loss on the day.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Ricardo Chavez (Idaho)
Ricardo Chavez made a career-long 53-yard field goal in Idaho’s 24-21 win over No. 2 Montana State. The Vandal kicker is 10-of-11 on the year, leading the Big Sky with his 90.9% field goal percentage. Chavez also punted the ball twice for an average of 39.5, with one attempt hitting inside the 20. The weekly honor is the third of the season for Chavez.
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Upcoming Big Sky Football Week 10 Schedule
Saturday, Nov. 4
Northern Arizona at #6/8 Montana State // 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+/MTN)*
#3/5 Idaho at Northern Colorado // 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+)*
Cal Poly at Eastern Washington // 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+/SWX)*
Weber State at Idaho State // 4:00 p.m. ( ESPN+)*
Portland State at #RV/NR UC Davis // 5:00 p.m. (ESPN+/KQCA)*
#7/7 Sacramento State at #4/3 Montana // 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+/MTN)*
FCS Rankings: Stats/AFCA
All game times formatted in Mountain Time Zone
* - Denotes Big Sky Conference Game