FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 20, 2023) – Two ranked matchups kickoff Big Sky league play this Saturday, with six total games on tap for Week 4. Below are news and notes from around the league for Week 4 of the 2023 football season.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (Week 4)
Big Sky Slate Features 11 Ranked Games
The Big Sky once again had six teams ranked in the Top 25 of the FCS Stats Perform and AFCA Coaches polls this week, with Eastern Washington receiving votes in both. The Big Sky has the most teams of any FCS conference in the Top 25 rankings, with Montana State leading the way at No. 3 in both polls.
Heading into conference play, the Big Sky schedule will feature 11 ranked matchups with Weber State and Idaho hosting three each at home, while Montana and UC Davis host two each and Sacramento State hosts one.
Ranked vs. Ranked Big Sky Games
9/23: #4/4 Sacramento State at #7/10 Idaho
9/23: #3/3 Montana State at #10/8 Weber State
10/7: #13/11 Montana at #15/15 UC Davis
10/14: 13/11 Montana at #7/10 Idaho
10/14: #15/15 UC Davis at #10/8 Weber State
10/21: #3/3 Montana State at #4/4 Sacramento State
10/28: #3/3 Montana State at #7/10 Idaho
11/4: #4/4 Sacramento State at #13/11 Montana
11/11: #7/10 Idaho at #10/8 Weber State
11/18: #3/3 Montana State at #13/11 Montana
11/18: #4/4 Sacramento State at #15/15 UC Davis
FCS Rankings: FCS Stats/AFCA
Home Sweet Home
No. 7 Idaho will host its first home game of the season this Saturday, as the Vandals welcome No. 4 Sacramento State to the Kibbie Dome. The Vandals are the last team in the Big Sky to play a home game in 2023, after playing its first three non-conference matchups on the road to start the season. The game against Sacramento State will also mark just the fifth matchup between the two football programs and third as Big Sky members.
Let's Go Streaking
Montana State and Sacramento State have done a lot of winning over the last few seasons, with the two squads owning a few impressive winning streaks heading into this weekend.
- Montana State has won 21 straight home games
- Sacramento State has won Its last 12 games overall on the road
- Sacramento State has won its last 22 regular season games
- Sacramento State has won Its last 19 Big Sky games
Another FBS Win for the Big Sky
Sacramento State upset Stanford 30-23 last week, as the Hornets gave the Big Sky its eighth FBS win since 2021. The Big Sky has defeated three teams from the Pac-12, three members from the Mountain West and one team from the American Conference during that span.
Last 8 Big Sky Wins Over FBS Foes
9/16/23: Sacramento State 30, Stanford 23
9/9/23: Idaho 33, Nevada 6
9/24/22: Sacramento State 41, Colorado State 10
9/10/22: Weber State 35, Utah State 7
9/18/21: Northern Arizona 21, Arizona 19
9/4/21: Montana 13, No. 20 Washington 7
9/2/21: Eastern Washington 35, UNLV 33
9/2/21: UC Davis 19, Tulsa 17
FCS ALL-IN Returns to ESPN+
FCS ALL-IN returns for its second season on ESPN+, with the show airing every Friday at 10 a.m. MT/9 a.m. PT. The Big Sky's Alex Eschelman will serve as host, while Craig Haley (Stats Perform/The Analyst) and Sam Herder (HEROSports) provide in-depth analysis each week.
Follow all things #BigSkyFB on Twitter and Instagram at @BigSkyFB. Follow the Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, and TikTok for all the latest news around the league and use the hashtag #ExperienceElevated.
Upcoming Big Sky Football Week 4 Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 23
Cal Poly at Portland State // 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)*
#13/11 Montana at Northern Arizona // 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+/Scripps)*
#4/4 Sacramento State at #7/10 Idaho // 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+/SWX)*
Northern Colorado at Idaho State // 4:00 p.m. (ESPN+)*
#3/3 Montana State at #10/8 Weber State // 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+/Scripps)*
#RV/RV Eastern Washington at #15/15 UC Davis // 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+/KQCA)*
FCS Rankings: Stats/AFCA
All game times formatted in Mountain Time Zone