FARMINGTON, Utah (Jan. 10, 2024) – Five teams finished ranked in the Top 25, four made the FCS playoffs and Montana played in its first national championship game since 2009 to highlight another standout football season for the Big Sky Conference in 2023. Below are news and notes to close out the 2023 season.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (2023 Season Recap)
Montana Wraps Up 2023 Season in Frisco
Montana closed out the season representing the Big Sky Conference in the 2024 FCS National Championship Game, with the Griz dropping a 23-3 decision to No. 1 South Dakota State in Frisco, Texas.
The trip to the national championship game was Montana's first since 2009, as the Grizzlies close out the season as the national runner-up with a 13-2 overall record on the year.
Montana went 7-1 in league play as well this past season, winning its first Big Sky title since 2009.
Big Sky’s History in Championship Game (6-10)
Season: Big Sky vs. Opponent - Result (Location)
2023: Montana vs. South Dakota State - L/3-23 (Frisco, TX)
2021: Montana State vs. North Dakota State - L/10-38 (Frisco, TX)
2018: Eastern Washington vs. North Dakota State - L/24-38 (Frisco, TX)
2010: Eastern Washington vs. Delaware - W/20-19 (Frisco, TX)
2009: Montana vs. Villanova - L/23-31 (Chattanooga, TN)
2008: Montana vs. Richmond - L/7-24 (Chattanooga, TN)
2004: Montana vs. James Madison - L/21-31 (Chattanooga, TN)
2001: Montana vs. Furman W/13-6 (Chattanooga, TN)
2000: Montana vs. Georgia Southern - L/25-27 (Chattanooga, TN)
1996: Montana vs. Marshall - L/29-49 (Huntington, WV)
1995: Montana vs. Marshall - W/22-20 (
Huntington, WV)
1994: Boise State vs. Youngstown State - L/14-28 (Huntington, WV)
1990: Nevada vs. Georgia Southern - L/13-36 (Statesboro, GA)
1984: Montana State vs. LA Tech - W/19-6 (Charleston, SC)
1981: Idaho State vs. Eastern Kentucky - W/34-23 (Wichita Falls, TX)
1980: Boise State vs. Eastern Kentucky - W/31-29 (Sacramento, CA)
Montana’s Gillman, Montana State's Mellott Honored at FCS Awards Banquet
Montana's Eli Gillman and Montana State's Tommy Mellott were honored at the 2023 Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet, presented by FedEx Ground. Gillman won the Jerry Rice Award, while Mellott was named the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award recipient.
Gillman becomes the fifth player from the Big Sky Conference to win the honor since it began in 2011, while Mellott's honor is the first-ever for a Big Sky recipient.
To watch the full 2023 Stats Perform FCS National Awards Banquet show, click
here.
Final Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll for 2023 Season Announced
Five Big Sky teams finished the 2023 season ranked in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll, as Montana led the league at No. 2 after its national championship game appearance. Joining Montana was Idaho at No. 8, Montana State at No. 9, Sacramento State at No. 13 and UC Davis at No. 24.
Montana and Montana State are each tied for the longest active streak of appearances in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 among Big Sky teams, with each appearing in 42-straight polls. That total is tied for third-most among all FCS teams. Sacramento State is the next closest Big Sky team, with the Hornets appearing in 35-straight polls.
Big Sky Statistical Leaders for 2023
Below is a list of statistical leaders in the Big Sky Conference following the 2023 season.
Team Leaders
Points Scored per Game: Montana State (39.9)
Points Allowed per Game: Montana (17.2)
Total Offensive Yards per Game: Montana State (473.4)
Total Offensive Yards Allowed per Game: Idaho (307.0)
Passing Yards per Game: Idaho State (330.1)
Passing Yards Allowed per Game: Idaho (182.3)*
Rushing Yards per Game: Montana State (292.4)
Rushing Yards Allowed per Game: Montana (108.6)
* - also the FCS leader
Individual Leaders
Most Passing Yards per Game: Kekoa Visperas, Eastern Washington (275.4)
Most Total Passing Yards: Gevani McCoy, Idaho (2,910)
Most Passing TDs: Kekoa Visperas, Eastern Washington (19)
Most Rushing Yards per Game: Lan Larison, UC Davis (137.6)
Most Rushing Yards: Anthony Woods, Idaho (1,155)
Most Rushing TDs: Anthony Woods, Idaho (16)
Most Receiving Yards per Game: Chedon James, Idaho State (95.0)
Most Receiving Yards: Hayden Hatten, Idaho (1,231)
Most Receiving TDs: Hayden Hatten, Idaho (9)
Most Catches: Chedon James, Idaho State (102)*
Most Tackles: Braxton Hill, Montana (128)
Most Tackles for Loss: Brayden Wilson, Weber State (16.5)
Most Sacks: Jack Kelly, Weber State (10.5)
?Most Forced Fumbles: Jack Kelly, Weber State (4)
Most Interceptions: Trevin Gradney, Montana (5)
Most Pass Breakups: Dillon Juniel, Sacramento State (13)
Highest Kickoff Return Average: Abraham Williams, Weber State (29.7)
Highest Punt Return Average: Jermaine Jackson, Idaho (18.4)
Most Field Goals Made: Ricardo Chavez, Idaho (19)
Highest Punt Average: Jack Burgess, Weber State (47.2)
* - also the FCS leader
All-American Round Up for Big Sky Football
Below is a list of Big Sky recipients that earned All-American honors from this past season.
AFCA All-American Teams
First Team Big Sky Members
Marcus Wehr, OL, Montana State
Alex Gubner, DL, Montana
Second Team Big Sky Members
Hayden Hatten, WR, Idaho
Cameron Broussard, DB, Sacramento State
Brendan Hall, P, Montana State
AP All-American Teams
First Team Big Sky Members
Noah Atagi, OL, Weber State
Marcus Wehr, OL, Montana State
Alex Gubner, DL, Montana
Marcus Harris, DB, Idaho
Second Team Big Sky Members
Rush Reimer, OL, Montana State
Hayden Hatten, WR, Idaho
Chedon James, WR, Idaho State
Winston Reid, LB, Weber State
Junior Bergen, AP, Montana
Ricardo Chavez, K, Idaho
Third Team Big Sky Members
Lan Larison, RB, UC Davis
Efton Chism III, WR, Eastern Washington
Brody Grebe, DL, Montana State
Braxton Hill, LB, Montana
Sean Chambers, AP, Montana State
Stats Perform FCS All-American Teams
First Team Big Sky Members
Noah Atagi, OL, Weber State
Marcus Wehr, OL, Montana State
Winston Reid, LB, Weber State
Marcus Harris, DB, Idaho
Second Team Big Sky Members
Hayden Hatten, WR, Idaho
Chedon James, WR, Idaho State
Alex Gubner, DL, Montana
Brody Grebe, DL, Montana State
Braxton Hill, LB, Montana
Maxwell Anderson, DB, Weber State
Junior Bergen, AP, Montana
Third Team Big Sky Members
Hayden Hatten, WR, Idaho
Lan Larison, RB, UC Davis
Efton Chism III, WR, Eastern Washington
Armon Bailey, LB, Sacramento State
Cameron Broussard, DB, Sacramento State
Brendan Hall, P, Montana State
Abraham Williams, KR, Weber State
Sean Chambers, AP, Montana State
Walter Camp All-American Teams
First Team Big Sky Members
Lan Larison, RB, UC Davis
Hayden Hatten, WR, Idaho
Noah Atagi, OL, Weber State
Omar Aigbedion, OL, Montana State
AJ Forbes, OL, Montana
Elijah Ponder, DL, Cal Poly
Winston Reid, LB, Weber State
Trevin Gradney, DB, Montana
Phil Steele All-American Teams
First Team Big Sky Members
Derryk Snell, FB, Montana State
Winston Reid, LB, Weber State
Marcus Harris, DB, Idaho
Second Team Big Sky Members
Hayden Hatten, WR, Idaho
Marcus Wehr, OL, Montana State
Jackson Slater, OL, Sacramento State
Ricardo Chavez, K, Idaho
Abraham Williams, KR, Weber State
Sean Chambers, AP, Montana State
Third Team Big Sky Members
Lan Larison, RB, UC Davis
Chedon James, WR, Idaho State
Rush Reimer, OL, Montana State
Alex Gubner, DL, Montana
Braxton Hill, LB, Montana
Cameron Broussard, DB, Sacramento State
Fourth Team Big Sky Members
Efton Chism III, WR, Eastern Washington
Noah Atagi, OL, Weber State
Elijah Ponder, DL, Cal Poly
Brody Grebe, DL, Montana State
Armon Bailey, LB, Sacramento State
Maxwell Anderson, DB, Weber State
Brendan Hall, P, Montana State
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