FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 10, 2025) – The Big Sky will have 10 teams in action for Week 3, with Montana's Top 20 matchup against North Dakota highlighting the slew of games. Below are news and notes for Week 3 of the football season.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (Week 3)
Montana-North Dakota Featured Game on “This Week in Big Sky Football”
No. 5 Montana hosts No. 16 North Dakota in a Top 20 showdown this Saturday, as the Griz seek the Big Sky’s first win over a MVFC foe this season.
The two teams met last season in Grand Forks, with North Dakota scoring 20 unanswered points in the second half to upend Montana, 27-24. Overall, Montana leads the all-time series 15-10-1, with a 7-2 mark in games held in Missoula.
Montana Series History vs. UND Since 2010
2024: UND 27, UM 24 (Grand Forks)
2018: UND 41, UM 14 (Grand Forks)
2017: UM 41, UND 17 (Missoula)
2015: UM 42, UND 16 (Missoula)
2014: UND 18, UM 15 (Grand Forks)
2013: UM 55, UND 17 (Grand Forks)
2012: UND 40, UM 30 (Grand Forks)
2010: UM 27, UND 17 (Missoula)
Two More MVFC Matchups on the Week 3 Slate
In addition to Montana hosting North Dakota on Saturday, the Eastern Washington Eagles and Northern Colorado Bears will hit the road and take on MVFC foes to round out the Week 3 schedule. EWU will travel to Northern Iowa, while UNC will visit 12th ranked South Dakota. So far this season, the Big Sky is 0-3 against MVFC foes with three more games left to play. Following this Saturday’s pair of games against the MVFC, Montana will face its second opponent from the conference when they host Indiana State in Week 4.
2025 Big Sky-MVFC Challenge
8/30: South Dakota State 20, Sac State 3
9/6: South Dakota State 30, Montana State 24
9/6: North Dakota 50, Portland State 20
9/13: Northern Colorado at South Dakota
9/13: Eastern Washington at Northern Iowa
9/20: Indiana State at Montana
Big Sky Has One More Chance at FBS Upset in 2025
The Big Sky will face one FBS foe in Week 3, with another chance to add to its growing total of upsets over the past few years. Since 2021, Big Sky teams have earned 10 upsets over FBS foes, which is the most of any other FCS conference during that same timespan.
Week 3 vs. FBS Games
Portland State at Hawaii
Big Sky Wins Over FBS Foes Since 2021
2024
Idaho 17, Wyoming 13 (Mountain West)
Montana State 35, New Mexico 31 (Mountain West)
2023
Sacramento State 30, Stanford 23 (Pac-12)
Idaho 33, Nevada 6 (Mountain West)
2022
Sacramento State 41, Colorado State 10 (Mountain West)
Weber State 35, Utah State 7 (Mountain West)
2021
Northern Arizona 21, Arizona 19 (Pac-12)
Montana 13, #20 Washington 7 (Pac-12)
UC Davis 19, Tulsa 17 (American)
Eastern Washington 35, UNLV 33 (Mountain West)
Big Sky Present vs. Big Sky Future
Effective July 1, 2026, Southern Utah and Utah Tech will join the league as full members and compete in the Big Sky starting with the 2026-27 academic year, the conference office announced this past June.
Overall, both Southern Utah and Utah Tech will face three Big Sky foes each during the 2025 regular season, as the two gear up to join the league in 2026.
Southern Utah vs. Big Sky Foes in 2025
8/30: vs. Idaho State (W/46-24)
9/13: vs. Northern Arizona
9/20: at UC Davis
Utah Tech vs. Big Sky Foes in 2025
8/30: vs. UC Davis (L/24-31)
9/6: at Northern Arizona (L/31-38)
9/13: at Idaho
Big Sky Football Players of the Week (Sept. 8, 2025)
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Eli Gillman, Montana (RB, R-Jr., Dassel, Minn.)
Eli Gillman broke free for a 55-yard touchdown run on his first touch of the game and didn’t look back, rushing for a career-high 198 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries in Montana’s win over Central Washington. Gillman's 198 is a Big Sky high and the third-best rushing game in, not only the FCS, but in all of D-I football so far this season. The three rushing TDs for Gillman is also the most of any rusher in the Big Sky so far this season, and his 13.2 yards per carry average is also a new single game career high and leads the league among backs with six-plus carries.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Joshua Wood, Idaho (QB, R-So., Graham, Wash.)
Joshua Wood threw for a career-high 281 yards and three touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 96 yards and a game-sealing 59-yard touchdown rush. The Vandal quarterback threw an interception on his first play of the game, but rebounded with 377 total yards and four touchdowns as Idaho put up 37 points in its home opening win over St. Thomas.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Ezra Ekuban, Northern Colorado (DL, R-Jr., Parker, Colo.)
Northern Colorado's Ezra Ekuban recorded nine total tackles, three solo and six assisted, including two tackles for a loss for 19 yards and one sack in the near upset against Colorado State on Saturday. Ekuban also forced one fumble, adding to the five forced turnovers for Northern Colorado against Colorado State on the night as the Bears fell 21-17 on the road.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Koa Akui, Sacramento State (DB, Jr., Hilo, Hawaii)
Koa Akui recorded a pair of interceptions in Sacramento State's near upset of Nevada. Akui's first interception came on the Wolf Pack's opening drive of the game as he stepped in front of a pass to at the Hornet 23-yard line to preserve an early 7-0 lead. In the third quarter, Akui gathered in a deflected pass and returned it 27 yards. Through two games this season, the junior has been a part of four takeaways as he has two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Trajan Sinatra, Idaho State (K, Sr., San Diego, Calif.)
Trajan Sinatra went a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals in Idaho State’s game at New Mexico, highlighted by a 56-yard make in the third quarter. The kick ties for the third-longest in Bengal history, matches the University Stadium record in Albuquerque, and is the 10th field goal of 55 yards or longer in program history. Sinatra added field goals of 27 and 33 yards, plus an extra point, to finish with 10 points in the near loss to UNM, 32-22.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Football Player of the Week
Offense: Davis Harsin (ISU), Carver Cheeks (UNC)
Defense: Drew Carter (EWU), Teilor Tuioti (UI), Kyon Loud (UM), Jaxton Helmstetler (PSU)
Special Teams: Drew Deck, Jacob Willig (UNC), Cal McGough (SAC)
Six Big Sky Teams Ranked in FCS Top 25 Polls
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, Sacramento State, 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 State
No. 5: Montana
No. 8: Idaho
No. 9: UC Davis
No. 18: Northern Arizona
No. 21: Sacramento State
AFCA FCS Top 25 (Big Sky Teams)
No. 6: Montana State
No. 7: Montana
No. 9: UC Davis
No. 10: Idaho
No. 19: Northern Arizona
No. 21: Sacramento State
Six Big Sky Standouts Named to Preseason Award Watchlists
Six Big Sky standouts were named to the preseason watchlists for the Walter Payton Award and Buck Buchanan Award, as the league garners more national recognitions.
2025 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List
Big Sky honors only // Full List Here
RB – Adam Jones, Montana State
RB – Eli Gillman, Montana
RB – Jamar Curtis, Sacramento State
2025 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List
Big Sky honors only // Full List Here
DL – Paul Brott, Montana State
LB – Peyton Wing, Montana
DB – Rex Connors, UC Davis
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, and Idaho are tied for the most former players on NFL rosters with four each. Sacramento State, UC Davis, Weber State are not far behind with three each on NFL rosters.
Big Sky in the NFL (as of Sept. 10, 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)
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 3)
Saturday, Sept. 13
Northern Colorado at #12/20 South Dakota // ESPN+ // 12:00 p.m. MT
#16/17 North Dakota at #5/7 Montana // ESPN+ & Scripps Sports // 1:00 p.m. MT
San Diego at #4/6 Montana State // ESPN+ & Scripps Sports // 1:00 p.m. MT
Utah Tech at #8/10 Idaho // ESPN+ & SWX // 2:00 p.m. MT
Eastern Washington at NR/RV Northern Iowa // ESPN+ // 3:00 p.m. MT
Weber State at McNeese // ESPN+ // 5:00 p.m. MT
Western Oregon at Cal Poly // ESPN+ // 6:00 p.m. MT
#18/19 Northern Arizona at RV/NR Southern Utah // ESPN+ // 6:30 p.m. MT
Mercyhurst at #21/21 Sac State // ESPN+ & Scripps Sports // 7:00 p.m. MT
Portland State at Hawaii // MW Network // 10:00 p.m. MT
FCS Rankings: Stats Perform FCS/AFCA Coaches Poll