FARMINGTON, Utah (Oct. 8, 2025) – The Big Sky will have 10 teams in action this Saturday for Week 7 competition, as No. 4 Montana puts its undefeated record on the line against visiting Cal Poly. Below are news and notes for Week 7 of the 2025 football season.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (Week 7)
Montana-Cal Poly Featured Game on "This Week in Big Sky Football"
No. 4 Montana will host a surging Cal Poly squad this Saturday, as the matchup will serve as the featured game on "This Week in Big Sky Football." The game will also be Homecoming for Montana, as they pay homage to the 1995 National Champions on that team's 30th anniversary. Overall, Montana is 69-11-1 in Homecoming games during its history.
Montana is 5-0 entering Week 7, which is its first 5-0 start to a season since 2022. Cal Poly enters the game at 3-3 overall, which is the program's best six-game start to a season since going 4-2 to start the 2016 campaign.
Big Sky Fields the Toughest Schedules in the FCS
Entering Week 7, the Big Sky has seven teams in the Top 15 for strength of schedule according to the Massey Ratings. The next closest FCS conference has two teams in the Top 15 for toughest schedules, with the UAC, Southland, Missouri Valley, and OVC-Big South all having two teams each in the Top 15. Furthermore, among the Top 10 toughest schedules in the FCS, only Montana State (2nd) and Northern Arizona (9th) have winning records for the group.
Massey Ratings for Strength of Schedule
Team (Conference): Record
1. Portland State (Big Sky): 0-6
2. Montana State (Big Sky): 4-2
3. Abilene Christian (UAC): 3-3
4. Idaho (Big Sky): 2-3
5. Murray State (MVFC): 0-5
6. Nichols (SLC): 1-5
7. SEMO (OVC-BS): 1-4
8. UT-Martin (OVC-BS): 1-5
9. NAU (Big Sky): 4-2
10. Utah Tech (UAC): 1-5
11. Weber State (Big Sky): 2-3
12. North Dakota (MVFC): 3-2
13. UC Davis (Big Sky): 4-1
14. UIW (SLC): 2-4
15. EWU (Big Sky): 2-4
Numerous Big Sky Players Rank in Top 15 Nationally for Multiple Categories
Entering Week 7 of the football season the Big Sky has numerous players in the Top 15 of stat rankings, with the top mark going to Cal Poly's Michael Briscoe who is tied for second overall in the FCS for receiving touchdowns after hauling in seven so far.
Big Sky Leaders in Passing Yards Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Keali'i Ah Yat, Montana (287.2/3rd)
Jordan Cooke, Idaho State (277.4/4th)
Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona (25.9.5/10th)
Big Sky Leaders in Rushing Yards Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Eli Gillman, Montana (118.0/5th)
Big Sky Leaders in Receiving Touchdowns
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Michael Briscoe, Cal Poly (7 TDs)
Big Sky Leaders in Sacks Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Jayland McGlothen, Sac State (1.20/5th)
Jacob Psyk, UC Davis (.90/T-13th)
Dylan Hampsten, Sac State (.90/T-13th)
Travis Arena, Northern Arizona (.83/T-15th)
Mikey D'Amoto, Cal Poly (.83/T-15th)
Big Sky Leaders in Tackles Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Rex Connors, UC Davis (11.3 (8th)
Mikey D'Amato, Cal Poly (10.8/9th)
Big Sky Football Players of the Week (Oct. 6, 2025)
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Michael Wortham, Montana (WR, R-Sr., North Highlands, Calif)
Michael Wortham did a bit of everything for the Griz, and did it well when the team needed him most. The senior receiver totaled 247 all-purpose yards while throwing for a touchdown and rushing for two more, including the game winner against Idaho State. He had 41 yards on the ground, 124 receiving, and another 82 on kickoff returns. He also set up a big touchdown with his arm, throwing to quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat on a reverse that set Montana up in the red zone late in the fourth quarter. On the next play he ran it in from nine yards out to put the Griz up for good. Wortham leads the Big Sky and the FCS as a whole in all-purpose yards with 883 on the season, an average of 176 per game.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Caden Pinnick, UC Davis (QB, R-Fr., Loomis, Calif)
Caden Pinnick had the best night of his young career in the 34-27 win over Cal Poly for No. 7 UC Davis. The redshirt freshman led the offense all night, including scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter that allowed the Aggies to pull away from their rivals to retain the Golden Horseshoe. Pinnick went 21-for-26 for 313 yards and tossed three touchdowns, while adding 60 yards on the ground and another score to finish the night with 373 total yards of offense and four touchdowns. Pinnick recorded career-highs in completion percentage (80%), total yards (373), passing yards (313) and total touchdowns (4) in the win over Cal Poly. The weekly honors are the second of the year for Pinnick.
Defensive Player of the Week: Kenneth Eiden, Montana State (DL, Sr., Bozeman, Mont.)
Kenneth Eiden IV led No. 5 Montana State to another stifling defensive effort, registering seven tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, in his team's 34-10 win at No. 13 Northern Arizona. He also logged half a sack and hurried NAU quarterback Ty Pennington once. MSU's pass rush, keyed by Eiden, helped hold Pennington to nearly 60 yards below his season average while intercepting him for just the second time in 2025. The Bobcat defense held NAU to under 300 yards of offense, which included a sub-100 day rushing the ball.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Taco Dowler, Montana State (WR/RS, Jr., Billings, Mont.)
Trailing 7-0 on the road to No. 13 Northern Arizona, Taco Dowler energized No. 5 Montana State with a 90-yard punt return touchdown as the Bobcats outscored the Lumberjacks 34-3 from that point on in the 34-10 victory. Montana State had gained 76 yards of offense midway through the second quarter before Dowler's return, which was the longest in school history and ranks as the longest in the FCS so far this season. The punt return touchdown was the fourth of Dowler's career. Dowler also rushed for three yards and caught two passes for 45 yards in Montana State's road win.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Football Player of the Week
Offense: Nate Bell (EWU), Jordan Cooke (ISU), Justin Lamson (MSU), John-Keawe Sagapolutele (PSU)
Defense: Read Sunn (EWU), Rylan Leathers (ISU), TJ Rausch (UM), Jayden Stanley (UCD), Spencer Elliot (PSU)
Special Teams: Landon Ogles (EWU), Trajan Sinatra (ISU), Ian Finch (UM), Tony Johnson (PSU)
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. Sacramento State and Cal Poly are receiving votes in a pair of polls as well, but are outside of the Top 25 for Week 7.
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 (Big Sky Teams)
No. 4: Montana
No. 5: Montana State
No. 6: UC Davis
No. 11: Idaho
No. 14: Northern Arizona
RV: Sacramento State
AFCA FCS Top 25 (Big Sky Teams)
No. 4: Montana
No. 5: Montana State
No. 6: UC Davis
No. 13: Idaho
No. 16: Northern Arizona
RV: Cal Poly
Upcoming Big Sky Football Games (Week 7)
Saturday, Oct. 11
Idaho State at #5/5 Montana State // ESPN+ & Scripps Sports // 1:00 p.m. MT
NR/RV Cal Poly at #4/4 Montana // ESPN+ & Scripps Sports // 2:00 p.m. MT
Northern Colorado at #11/13 Idaho // ESPN+ & SWX // 3:00 p.m. MT
#14/16 Northern Arizona at #6/6 UC Davis // ESPN+ & KCRA // 5:00 p.m. MT
RV/NR Sac State at Weber State // ESPN+ // 6:00 p.m. MT
FCS Rankings: Stats Perform FCS/AFCA Coaches Poll