FARMINGTON, Utah (Oct. 15, 2025) – The Big Sky will only have seven teams in action for Week 8, as Sacramento State and Northern Colorado vie for winning records and Top 25 recognitions to highlight the short week in the league. Below are news and notes for Week 8 of the 2025 football season.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (Week 8)
Sac State-Northern Colorado Featured Game on “This Week in Big Sky Football”
Sacramento State will host Northern Colorado, as the two teams sit just outside of the Top 25 and will be trying to get above .500 with their fourth win of the season. Each team is coming off a double-digit road win as well, with Sacramento State outpacing Weber State 55-27, while Northern Colorado upset No. 11 Idaho 49-33 in the Kibbie Dome.
Sacramento State leads the all-time series 15-2 against Northern Colorado and has won the last six meetings between the two football programs.
The showdown in Sacramento will be the Game of the Week for “This Week in Big Sky Football” which airs each Thursday evening on @BigSkyConf’s YouTube.
Three Big Sky Teams in Playoff Committee’s Top 10
The Division I Football Championship Committee announced its midseason Top 10 live on ESPN2 this past Wednesday, with three Big Sky teams being featured in the first of two Top 10 reveals of the season before the official release on Nov. 23.
FCS Top 10 Rankings for Oct. 15
School (Record) - SOS
1. North Dakota State (6-0) - 51st
2. South Dakota State (6-0) - 30th
3. Tarleton State (7-0) - 37th
4. Montana State (5-2) - 2nd
5. Montana (6-0) - 43rd
6. UC Davis (5-1) - 15th
7. Lehigh (7-0) - 86th
8. North Dakota (4-2) - 9th
9. Monmouth (5-1) - 58th
10. Tennessee Tech (6-0) - 117th
Another “National Team of the Week” for the Big Sky
The Big Sky has had two teams earn “National Team of the Week” honors from FCS Stats Perform this season, as the Week 5 and Week 7 wins over Idaho for Montana and Northern Colorado secured the honor. Montana defeated then 8th-ranked Idaho 41-30 in Week 5, before Northern Colorado upset the No. 11 Vandals 49-33 in Week 7.
Numerous Big Sky Players Rank in Top 10 Nationally for Multiple Categories
Entering Week 8 of the football season the Big Sky has numerous players in the Top 10 of stat rankings, with the top mark going to Idaho State’s Jordan Cooke who ranks third in the FCS for passing yards per game so far this season.
Big Sky Leaders in Passing Yards Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Jordan Cooke, Idaho State (282.3/3rd)
Keali'i Ah Yat, Montana (282.2/4th)
Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona (257.4/8th)
Big Sky Leaders in Rushing Yards Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Eli Gillman, Montana (118.8/5th)
Big Sky Leaders in Receiving Touchdowns
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Michael Briscoe, Cal Poly (7 TDs/T-3rd)
Samuel Gbatu, UC Davis (6 TDs/T-7th)
Big Sky Leaders in Sacks Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Jayland McGlothen, Sac State (1.00/T-7th)
Jacob Psyk, UC Davis (1.00/T-7th)
Big Sky Leaders in Tackles Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Mikey D'Amato, Cal Poly (11.3/8th)
Kenny Olson, Cal Poly (10.0/10th)
Big Sky Fields the Toughest Schedules in the FCS
The Big Sky is consistently one of the toughest leagues to play in among its FCS peers, with eight of the Top 15 toughest schedules in the nation played by Big Sky teams. Furthermore, among the Top 15 toughest schedules in the country, only five of those teams currently have winning records against the stout competition as three come from the Big Sky.
Massey Ratings for Strength of Schedule
Team (Conference): Record
1. Portland State (Big Sky): 0-6
2. Montana State (Big Sky): 5-2
3. Northern Arizona (Big Sky): 4-3
4. Nicholls (Southland): 1-5
5. Utah Tech (UAC): 1-6
6. Abilene Christian (UAC): 4-3
7. Murray State (MVFC): 0-6
8. Weber State (Big Sky): 2-4
9. North Dakota (MVFC): 4-2
10. Northern Iowa (MVFC): 2-4
11. Idaho State (Big Sky): 2-5
12. Eastern Washington (Big Sky): 2-4
13. Incarnate Word (Southland): 2-4
14. Idaho (Big Sky): 2-4
15. UC Davis (Big Sky): 5-1
Big Sky Football Players of the Week (Oct. 13, 2025)
Offensive Player of the Week: Caden Pinnick, UC Davis (QB, R-Fr., Loomis, Calif.)
For the second-straight week Caden Pinnick threw for over 300 yards on his way to leading No. 6 UC Davis to a 45-24 victory over No. 14 Northern Arizona, moving the Aggies to 3-0 in Big Sky play. Pinnick finished the night completing 25-of-29 passes for 348 yards and five passing touchdowns. The five passing touchdowns were the most thrown by an Aggie in a single game since 2018. The 86.2% completion percentage marks the second-straight week the freshman has completed at least 80% of his passes in a game. On the national stage, Pinnick’s five passing touchdowns are tied for the second most in the FCS this season. Pinnick’s 243.9 passing efficiency is the highest of the season in the Big Sky for a single game and ranks as the 13th highest of the season in the FCS. Pinnick has now won conference weekly honors three times this season, all coming in consecutive weeks. The three-straight offensive weekly honors are the most for a Big Sky player since Dalton Sneed won three consecutive honors during the 2019 season.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Cam Chapa, Northern Colorado (S, So., Aurora, Colo.)
Cam Chapa had 10 tackles, 8 being solos, an interception and tackle for loss to help Northern Colorado upset No. 11 Idaho 49-33 in Moscow. Chapa’s interception in the fourth quarter set up the game-ending drive with 2:32 remaining as the Bears would control the ball and run out the clock for the ranked victory. The home loss was the first for Idaho since 2023.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Kenzel Lawler, Montana (DB, R-Sr., Corona, Calif.)
Trailing 9-0 coming out of halftime, Kenzel Lawler picked off a pass and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown as he flipped momentum for Montana in the 28-9 victory over Cal Poly. Lawler’s interception for a score was the start of 28 unanswered points for the Grizzlies, as the Montana defense shut out the Mustangs in the second half and allowed just 60 yards of offense in the final 30 minutes. Lawler also added in a pair of tackles on the day for Montana.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Rodney Hammond Jr., Sacramento State (KR/RB, Sr., Norfolk, VA.)
Rodney Hammond, Jr. helped lead Sacramento State to a 55-27 victory at Weber State, as the senior accounted for three total touchdowns, including a 99-yard kickoff return for a score. After Weber State cut Sac State’s lead to two scores, Hammond fielded the kickoff at the 1-yard line and broke free through the middle of the field for the touchdown. The score was the longest kick return by a Sac State player since Tyrone Taylor also went 99 yards against Idaho State in 1996. Hammond's mark is tied for third in program history, trailing only a pair of 100-yard returns. The senior’s other kickoff return in the game went for 42 yards. He also rushed for 106 yards and scored two touchdowns on the ground.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Football Player of the Week
Offense: Elii Gillman (UM), Justin Lamson (MSU), Eric Gibson (UNC), Cardell Williams (SAC)
Defense: Alex Rocha (SAC), Jacob Psyk (UCD)
Special Teams: Ty Morrison (UM), Jacob Willig (UNC)
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. 5: Montana State
No. 6: UC Davis
No. 19: Northern Arizona
No. 24: Idaho
RV: Sacramento State
RV: Northern Colorado
AFCA FCS Top 25 (Big Sky Teams)
No. 4: Montana
No. 5: Montana State
No. 6: UC Davis
No. 21: Northern Arizona
RV: Idaho
RV: Sacramento State
Upcoming Big Sky Football Games (Week 8)
Saturday, Oct. 18
Sacred Heart at #4/4 Montana // ESPN+ & Scripps Sports // 1:00 p.m. MT
Weber State at Portland State // ESPN+ // 3:00 p.m. MT
#24/RV Idaho at Eastern Washington // ESPN+ & SWX // 5:00 p.m. MT
RV/NR Northern Colorado at RV/RV Sac State // ESPN+ & KMAX // 7:00 p.m. MT
FCS Rankings: Stats Perform FCS/AFCA Coaches Poll