FARMINGTON, Utah (Oct. 1, 2025) – Eight teams will be in action for the Big Sky this Saturday, as the Top 15 battle between Northern Arizona and Montana State highlights this week's games. Below are news and notes for Week 6 of the 2025 football season.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (Week 6)
NAU-Montana State Featured Game on “This Week in Big Sky Football”
The Top 15 showdown in Flagstaff between No. 13 Northern Arizona and No. 5 Montana State will be the Big Sky “Game of the Week” as the two teams seek 2-0 starts in conference action. NAU will look to defend its nine-game winning streak in the Walkup Skydome, which dates back to the 2023 season and is the longest active streak in the Big Sky Conference.
MSU has won the last three meetings in the series against NAU, which includes a thrilling 41-38 victory in Flagstaff coming back on Nov. 5, 2022. MSU scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and nailed a 24-yard field goal as time expired to win that meeting over the Lumberjacks.
Big Sky Rivalry Games on Display for Week 6
The Big Sky will have two more rivalry games in Week 6 to follow up last week’s Little Brown Stein showcase in Missoula, as the Battle for the Golden Horseshoe and the Dam Cup will be on the line this Saturday. Cal Poly will host No. 7 UC Davis in the Battle for the Golden Horseshoe, while Eastern Washington welcomes Portland State to Cheney for the Dam Cup.
Battle for the Golden Horseshoe
Cal Poly vs. UC Davis
Series Record (Meetings - First Played)
UC Davis, 28-20-2 (51 - 1939)
Dam Cup
Eastern Washington vs. Portland State
Series Record (Meetings - First Played)
Series Tied, 22-22-1 (45 -1968)
Numerous Big Sky Players Rank in Top 15 Nationally for Multiple Categories
Entering Week 6 of the football season the Big Sky has numerous players in the Top 15 of stat rankings, with the top mark going to Montana’s Eli Gillman who tops the FCS in rush yards per game so far this season.
Big Sky Leaders in Passing Yards Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Keali’i Ah Yat, Montana (271.5/4th)
Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona (269.4/5th)
Big Sky Leaders in Rushing Yards Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Eli Gillman, Montana (135.5/1st)
Big Sky Leaders in Receiving Yards Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Michael Briscoe, Cal Poly (98.4/6th)
Big Sky Leaders in Sacks Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Jayland McGlothen, Sac State (1.20/8th)
Jacob Psyk, UC Davis (1.13/9th)
Travis Arena, Northern Arizona (1.00/11th)
Big Sky Leaders in Tackles Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Rex Connors, UC Davis (11.3 (6th)
Mikey D’Amato, Cal Poly (11.2/8th)
Big Sky Football Players of the Week (Sept. 29, 2025)
Offensive Player of the Week: Caden Pinnick, UC Davis (QB, R-Fr., Loomis, Calif)
Quarterback Caden Pinnick led UC Davis to a 34-12 victory over Weber State, with the redshirt freshman racking up over 300 yards of offense and three touchdowns in the Big Sky opener. Pinnick connected on 16-of-27 passes for 288 yards, while rushing for 48 yards on the ground against the Wildcats. Pinnick threw touchdown passes of 85 and 57 yards, while rushing in a two-yard touchdown to round out his scoring plays. The weekly conference honor for Pinnick is the first of the season for the redshirt freshman.
Defensive Player of the Week: Brian Dukes, Cal Poly (DB, Sr., Spring Valley, Calif.)
Senior safety Brian Dukes had a career night with two interceptions, including a pick-six to help lead the Cal Poly defense in the upset win over No. 21 Sacramento State. Dukes' other interception also resulted in points for the Mustangs as it put Cal Poly in field goal territory which resulted in three points. Dukes added three tackles to his stat line for the night as well, as the Mustangs opened Big Sky play with the 32-24 road victory over the Hornets.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Trajan Sinatra, Idaho State (K, Jr., San Jose, Calif.)
Trajan Sinatra was a perfect 4-of-4 on field goals for Idaho State, helping lead the Bengals to a 26-18 win at Northern Colorado to open Big Sky play. Sinatra hit from 26, 27, 48 and 49 yards on the day, while converting both PAT attempts in the win. Sinatra accounted for 14 of Idaho State's 26 points in the 26-18 road victory. Sinatra has now won weekly conference honors three times this season and is a perfect 9-of-9 kicking field goals this year.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Football Player of the Week
Offense: Tyrei Washington (CP), Dason Brooks (ISU), Michael Wortham (UM), Justin Lamson (MSU), Quran Gossett (NAU), Eric Gibson (UNC), Sagapolutele John-Keawe (PSU)
Defense: Teilor Tuioti (ISU), Hunter Peck (UM), Cam Chapa (UNC), Isaiah Green (PSU), Jacob Psyk (UCD)
Special Teams: Ty Morrison (UM), Leo Blumentritt (UNC), Jordan Herron (PSU), Hunter Ridley (UCD)
Five Big Sky Teams Ranked in FCS Top 25 Polls
Almost half of the Big Sky is currently ranked in FCS Top 25 polls, which is becoming common place with each passing year. Montana State, Montana, UC Davis, Idaho, and Northern Arizona have all been tabbed in multiple Top 25 polls for the 2025 season.
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 (Big Sky Teams)
No. 4: Montana
No. 6: Montana State
No. 7: UC Davis
No. 12: Idaho
No. 13: Northern Arizona
RV: Sacramento State
AFCA FCS Top 25 (Big Sky Teams)
No. 4: Montana
No. 5: Montana State
No. 7: UC Davis
No. 13: Northern Arizona
No. 15: Idaho
RV: Sacramento State
RV: Cal Poly
Over 20 Former Big Sky Players Make 53-Man NFL Roster
The 2025 NFL season is underway, with 20 players who finished their collegiate playing careers in the Big Sky that are currently on NFL rosters. The New England Patriots are Big Sky East, with the club sport five former Big Sky players on their roster heading into the 2025 season. Eastern Washington, Montana State, Idaho, and Sacramento State are tied for the most former players on NFL rosters with four each. UC Davis and Weber State are not far behind with three each on NFL rosters.
Big Sky in the NFL (as of Oct. 1, 2025)
Atlanta Falcons: Troy Andersen, LB (Montana State), Kaden Elliss, LB (Idaho)
Baltimore Ravens: Teddye Buchanan*, LB (UC Davis)
Buffalo Bills: Taron Johnson, DB (Weber State)
Chicago Bears: Daniel Hardy, DL (Montana State), Braxton Jones, OL (Southern Utah)
Cleveland Browns: DeAndre Carter, WR (Sac State), Winston Reid, DL (Weber State)
Dallas Cowboys: Daron Bland*, DB (Sac State)
Denver Broncos: Alex Singleton, LB (Montana State)
Detroit Lions: Khalil Dorsey, DB (Northern Arizona), Hogan Hatten, LS (Idaho)
Green Bay Packers: Daniel Whelan, P (UC Davis)
Indianapolis Colts: Samson Ebukam, DL (EWU)
Las Vegas Raiders: Jacob Bobenmoyer, LS (UNC)
Miami Dolphins: Tanner Conner, TE (Idaho State)
New England Patriots: Christian Elliss, LB (Idaho), Marte Mapu, LB (Sac State), Efton Chism III, WR (EWU), Elijah Ponder, DL (Cal Poly), Lan Larison, RB (UC Davis)
New Orleans Saints: Rashid Shaheed, WR (Weber State)
Pittsburgh Steelers: Miles Killebrew, DB (Southern Utah)
Seattle Seahawks: Cooper Kupp, WR (EWU), Ty Okada, DB (Montana State)
San Francisco 49ers: Kendrick Bourne, WR (EWU)
Tennessee Titans: Jackson Slater, OL (Sac State), Marcus Harris*, DB (Idaho)
* - earned a degree from a Big Sky school, but finished career elsewhere
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Upcoming Big Sky Football Games (Week 6)
Saturday, Oct. 4
#5/5 Montana State at #13/13 Northern Arizona // ESPN+ & Scripps Sports (3:00 p.m. MT)
Portland State at Eastern Washington // ESPN+ & SWX (5:00 p.m. MT)
#7/7 UC Davis at Cal Poly // ESPN+ (6:00 p.m. MT)
#4/4 Montana at Idaho State // ESPN+ & Scripps Sports (6:00 p.m. MT)
FCS Rankings: Stats Perform FCS/AFCA Coaches Poll