FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 23, 2023) – The first round FCS Playoff slate will be an appetizer for Big Sky football fans, as Sacramento State opens its postseason run this Saturday before three more teams join the menu next week.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (FCS Playoff First Round)
Sacramento State Opens Playoff Slate at North Dakota
Sacramento State finished the season 7-4 overall and 4-4 in conference play, as the Hornets earned their fourth-straight postseason appearance overall. Sacramento State will play at North Dakota in the opening round of the playoffs this Saturday, Nov. 25, with kickoff slated for 11 a.m. MT on ESPN+.
North Dakota is 6-0 at home this season and is now 110-29 all time at the Alerus Center. Two of those losses have come against the Hornets as Sacramento State won 31-7 in 2013 and 34-27 in 2017.
If the Hornets win at North Dakota, they will travel to South Dakota next Saturday to face the Coyotes at 2 p.m. MT.
Big Sky's Three National Seeds Tops FCS
Led by Montana's No. 2 overall seed, the Big Sky Conference topped all other leagues with three national seeds as Idaho secured the No. 4 seed and Montana State earned the No. 6 slot. The Missouri Valley Football Conference (2), CAA (2) and SoCon (1) earned the remaining five seeds up for grabs by other conferences this past Sunday.
Four Straight FCS Fall Playoff Appearances
Only five schools have qualified for the last four fall playoffs (2019, 2021-23), with three of those being from the Big Sky. Sacramento State, Montana and Montana State join North Dakota State and South Dakota State as the only teams to achieve that feat.
Big Sky Announces 2023 Award Winners and All-Conference Teams
With the Big Sky football regular season officially concluded, the league office announced its 2023 All-Conference Teams, along with the yearly individual award winners, as voted on by the league's 12 head football coaches. For the full all-conference announcement, click
here.
2023 Individual Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Year: Lan Larison, RB, UC Davis
Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Gubner, DL, Montana
Newcomer of the Year: Clifton McDowell, QB, Montana
Freshman of the Year: Eli Gillman, RB, Montana
Coach of the Year: Bobby Hauck, Montana*
* - Unanimous Selection
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Upcoming Big Sky Football Schedule
Saturday, Nov. 25
Sacramento State at North Dakota // 11:00 a.m. (ESPN+)
Saturday, Dec. 2
Drake/NDSU at #6 Montana State // 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sac State/North Dakota at South Dakota // 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Lafayette/Delaware at #2 Montana // 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Nicholls/SIU at #4 Idaho // 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Rankings are National Seeds
All game times formatted in Mountain Time (MT)