FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 24, 2025) – Conference play kicks off for the Big Sky this Saturday, with the Little Brown Stein's Top 10 showdown highlighting the slate of games. Below are news and notes for Week 5 of the 2025 football season.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (Week 5)
Montana-Idaho Featured Game on “This Week in Big Sky Football”
The Top 10 showdown in Missoula between No. 8 Idaho and No. 5 Montana will be the Big Sky “Game of the Week” as the two teams battle for the Little Brown Stein for the first time since 2023. Saturday’s game is slated for 8:15 p.m. MT, with the contest getting a national audience on ESPN2.
The matchup will mark the 90th meeting between the two football programs, with Montana winning eight of the last nine meetings overall in the series.
Idaho-Montana Series History Since 2000
Year: Result (Location)
2023: Montana 23, Idaho 21 (Moscow)
2022: Idaho 30, Montana 23 (Missoula)
2021: Montana 34, Idaho 14 (Moscow)
2019: Montana 42, Idaho 17 (Missoula)
2018: Montana 46, Idaho 27 (Moscow)
2003: Montana 41, Idaho 28 (Missoula)
2002: Montana 38, Idaho 31 (Moscow)
2001: Montana 33, Idaho 27 (2OT) (Missoula)
2000: Montana 45, Idaho 38 (Moscow)
Four Big Sky Conference Games to be Nationally Televised by ESPN Linear Networks This Fall
For the first time in league history, four regular-season Big Sky football conference games have been selected for national linear distribution by ESPN’s family of networks. The four matchups selected by ESPN will feature Idaho, Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Sacramento State, and UC Davis.
The full national TV schedule Includes:
Saturday, Sept. 27: Idaho at Montana (8:15 p.m. MT // ESPN2)
Friday, Oct. 24: Montana at Sac State (8:30 p.m. MT // ESPN2)
Friday, Oct. 31: Idaho at Northern Arizona (8:30 p.m. MT // ESPN2)
Saturday, Nov. 15: UC Davis at Montana State (8:15 p.m. MT // ESPN2)
The ESPN network designations are part of its new deal with the Big Sky Conference, which begins in the 2025-26 athletic year and goes through 2029-30. The new contract doubles the Big Sky’s exposure for nationally televised football games, with a minimum of four regular-season contests televised on a Friday or Saturday. A minimum of two of those games will air on ESPN or ESPN2.
Since the Big Sky’s latest partnership with ESPN began in 2021, the league has had eight of its football teams (more than half of the league) featured on linear network conference games on ESPN2 or ESPNU.
Numerous Big Sky Players Rank in Top 15 Nationally for Multiple Categories
Entering Week 5 of the football season the Big Sky has numerous players in the Top 15 of stat rankings, with Montana’s Keali’i Ah Yat and Eli Gillman ranking fourth in the nation for passing yards per game and rushing yards per game, respectively.
Big Sky Leaders in Passing Yards Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Keali’i Ah Yat, Montana (287.7/4th)
Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona (271.3/6th)
Jordan Cooke, Idaho State (252.3/12th)
Big Sky Leaders in Rush Yards Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Eli Gillman, Montana (133.3/4th)
Jordan Fisher, UC Davis (95.7/15th)
Big Sky Leaders in Receiving Yards Per Game
Name, School (YPG/National Rank)
Michael Briscoe, Cal Poly (107.0/7th)
Kolbe Katsis, Northern Arizona (97.0/11th)
Big Sky Leaders in Tackles Per Game
Name, School (TPG/National Rank)
Rex Connors, UC Davis (12.0/T5th)
Big Sky Leaders in Sacks Per Game
Name, School (SPG/National Rank)
Jayland McGlothen, Sac State (1.25/T8th)
Travis Arena, Northern Arizona (1.25/T8th)
Big Sky Football Players of the Week (Sept. 22, 2025)
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona (QB, Jr., Sand Springs, Okla.)
Northern Arizona’s Ty Pennington threw for a career-high three touchdowns in the 31-23 win over ranked Incarnate Word, passing for 286 yards on the day. Pennington had touchdown passes of 33, 46, and 30 yards on the day, with his 46-yarder being a Hail Mary at the end of the half to put NAU up 21-10 going into the break.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Keali'i Ah Yat, Montana (QB, R-So., Kaneohe, Hawaii)
In just two and a half quarters of play, Montana’s Keali’i Ah Yat scored three total touchdowns in the 63-20 win over Indiana State, with the sophomore quarterback connecting on 22-of-27 passes for a career-high 313 yards on the day. Two scores came through the air and one on the ground as Montana’s 63-point, 647-yard offensive day ranked as one of the top seven games in program history.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Dylan Hampsten, Sacramento State (DL, So., Santa Clarita, Calif.)
Sacramento State’s Dylan Hampsten had five tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks in an impressive defensive effort for the Hornet defense in the 45-16 win over Central Arkansas on Saturday night. Hampsten’s efforts were part of a 13 TFL, eight sack effort by the team, with it being the highest team effort for the Hornets since 2011.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Jacob Psyk, UC Davis (DL, Gr., Sugarland, TX.)
Jacob Psyk spent most of his night in the backfield for UC Davis, totaling seven tackles, two sacks, three tackles-for-loss and forced two fumbles in the 50-34 win over Southern Utah on Saturday night. Psyk’s efforts were part of a five-sack game for the Aggies, which were the most for the defense since 2023.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Ty Morrison, Montana (K/P, Jr., Valencia, Calif.)
Montana’s Ty Morrison filled up the stat sheet with another impressive day in the kicking game in the 63-20 win over Indiana State. The senior K/P went a perfect 7-for-7 on PAT attempts before being subbed out partway through the third quarter to stay perfect on the year. He added 4 punts for 180 yards, averaging 45 per attempt with 2 inside the 20 and a long of 49. He also logged 8 kickoffs for 510 yards and 6 touchbacks.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Football Player of the Week
Offense: Nate Bell (EWU), Joshua Wood (UI), Davis Harsin (ISU), Mathias Price (UNC), Cardell Williams (SAC), Jordan Fisher (UCD), Davion Godley (WSU)
Defense: Dre Greeley (EWU), Isaiah Cook (ISU), Solomon Tuliaupupu (UM), Paul Brott (MSU), Travis Arena (NAU), Ezra Ekuban (UNC)
Special Teams: Noah Cronquist (EWU), Trajan Sinatra (ISU), Ben D'Aquila (NAU), Leo Blumentritt (UNC), Sloan Calder (WSU)
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. Eastern Washington is receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll for the first time since the start of September.
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 (Big Sky Teams)
No. 4: Montana State
No. 5: Montana
No. 8: Idaho
No. 9: UC Davis
No. 15: Northern Arizona
No. 21: Sacramento State
AFCA FCS Top 25 (Big Sky Teams)
No. 4: Montana
No. 6: Montana State
No. 8: UC Davis
No. 10: Idaho
No. T15: Northern Arizona
No. 21: Sacramento State
RV: Eastern Washington
Four Big Sky Standouts Named Semifinalists for the NFF William V. Campbell Trophy
The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced a list of 177 semifinalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, which is college football’s premier scholar-athlete award. Eastern Washington’s Nolan Ulm, Montana’s Dillon Botner, Montana State’s Kenneth Eiden IV, and UC Davis’ Eli Simonson were named semifinalists for the award this past week.
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 22, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 67th NFF
Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 9, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. One member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 36th Campbell Trophy during the event, and have their postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
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, 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 Sept. 24, 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 5)
Saturday, Sept. 27
Idaho State at Northern Colorado // ESPN+ (1:00 p.m. MT)
NR/RV Eastern Washington at #4/6 Montana State // ESPN+/Scripps Sports (2:00 p.m. MT)
#15/T15 Northern Arizona at Portland State // ESPN+ (3:00 p.m. MT)
Cal Poly at #21/21 Sac State // ESPN+/KMAX31 (7:00 p.m. MT)
Weber State at #9/8 UC Davis // ESPN+/KCRA (8:00 p.m. MT)
#8/10 Idaho at #5/4 Montana // ESPN2 (8:15 p.m. MT)
FCS Rankings: Stats Perform FCS/AFCA Coaches Poll