FARMINGTON, Utah (Oct. 28, 2026) – All six ranked teams will be in action in Week 9 of the Big Sky football season, as No. 20 UC Davis clashes with No. 22 Weber State in Ogden. Below are news and notes for Week 9 of the football season.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (Week 9)
ANOTHER TOP 25 SHOWDOWN IN THE BIG SKY
No. 20 UC Davis travels to No. 22 Weber State as both teams look to strengthen their playoff resumes in a pivotal Top 25 conference clash.
The meeting on Saturday will mark the 13th overall in the all-time series, with Weber State owning a 7-5 edge. UC Davis has won the last two matchups in the series, with a 34-12 victory last season in Davis and a 17-16 win in Ogden in 2023.
The Top 25 showdown will serve as the Game of the Week for “This Week in Big Sky Football” which airs each Thursday on @BigSkyConf’s YouTube and every Saturday on select Scripps Sports stations.
Top 25 Ranked Big Sky Matchups in 2026
Sept. 26: #5 Montana 62, #10 UC Davis 22
Sept. 26: #1 Montana State 28, #18 NAU 14
Oct. 3: #19 NAU 38, #12 Idaho State 31
Oct. 10: #13 NAU 49, #2 Montana 44
Oct. 24: #3 Montana State 38, #22 Weber State 33
Oct. 31: #20 UC Davis at #22 Weber State
EVERY POINT COUNTS IN THE BIG SKY
The Big Sky has featured exciting play this year in conference games, with 24 of 34 league games (70.6%) being decided by 14 points or fewer, with an average margin of victory of just 6.75 points. A total of 16 games (47.1%) have been decided by seven points or less this year.
Average Point Difference for Conference Games
Team (Conf. Rec.) // Point Diff. // Average Margin
Montana State (4-1) // +108 // +21.6
Montana (3-2) // +57 // +11.4
Southern Utah (2-3) // +20 // +4.0
Idaho State (2-3) // +19 // +3.8
Weber State (4-2) // +19 // +3.2
Northern Arizona (4-1) // +18 // +3.6
Idaho (3-2) // -4 // -0.8
UC Davis (3-2) // -16 // -3.2
Northern Colorado (2-4) // -25 // -4.2
Cal Poly (3-3) // -26 // -4.3
Portland State (2-3) // -31 // -6.2
Eastern Washington (1-4) // -49 // -9.8
Utah Tech (1-4) // -90 // -18.0
SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS IN THE BIG SKY
The Big Sky Conference has had 13 return touchdowns on special teams this year, with six scores on kickoffs and seven on punts. That leads the FCS, followed by the PFL with 11. No other FCS conference has reached double digits so far this season.
The 13 return touchdowns are the most in the Big Sky since the league had 13 in 2024.
BIG SKY TEAMS DOMINATE FCS TEAM OFFENSIVE RANKINGS
The Big Sky features some of the best offenses in the nation, with six of the Top 20 for total yards per game in the FCS hailing from the league. The next closest conference is the MVFC with three teams ranking in the Top 20 for total offense per game.
Big Sky Top Offenses
School (FCS Rank) // YPG
1. Montana (6th) // 469.5
2. Southern Utah (11th) // 454.4
3. Montana State (12th) // 446.4
4. UC Davis (15th) // 441.6
5. Idaho State (18th) // 427.8
6. Weber State (20th) // 427.0
BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOREES FOR WEEK 8
Offensive Player of the Week
Jordan Cooke, Idaho State (QB, 5th Year, Santa Rosa, Calif.)
Jordan Cooke threw for 334 yards and accounted for three touchdowns to lead Idaho State past Portland State at home, 38-8, as the Bengals ended a three-game losing skid. Cooke tossed a 38-yard touchdown pass, while scoring on runs of one and four yards. Cooke finished with 371 yards of total offense on the day. The weekly honor is the first of the season for the fifth-year quarterback.
Others Nominated: Marcus Mozer (UNC), Gabe Downing (PSU), Will Burns (SUU), Samuel Gbatu Jr. (UCD), Deacon Hill (UTU), Noah Kjar (WSU)
Co-Defensive Players of the Week
Trehsyn Fesili, Idaho State (DL, Fr., Honolulu, Hawaii)
Trehsyn Fesili recorded seven tackles, 2.5 TFLs, two sacks, three quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble to lead Idaho State past Portland State at home, 38-8. Fesili sacked Tyrese Smith on the Vikings’ first snap and later stripped Smith on a third-down sack that Jackson Irwin recovered at the Portland State 45, and the Bengals scored four plays later to go up 24-0. The Bengals held the Vikings to just 56 rushing yards and one third-down conversion in 12 tries. The weekly honor is the second of the season for the freshman.
Luke Hansen, Utah Tech (LB, Fr., Farmington, Utah)
Luke Hansen had six tackles, two TFLs, a sack, quarterback hurry, and interception in Utah Tech’s 43-26 road win at Cal Poly on Saturday night. Hansen’s interception came in the third quarter, which he returned 19 yards to the Mustang 4-yard line, leading to a Trailblazer touchdown one play later. Overall, Utah Tech held Cal Poly to 42 yards rushing and picked off four Mustang passes. The victory was the first for the Trailblazers since Nov. 1, 2025, and the program’s first-ever as a Big Sky member.
Others Nominated: Mason Krahn (UI), Dominic Butts (UNC), Jaxton Helmstetler (PSU), Myles Amey (SUU), Jackson Sievers (UCD), Trevian Tribble (WSU)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Owen Forsman, Idaho (K, Jr., Rathdrum, Idaho)
Owen Forsman kicked a 53-yard game-winning field goal as time expired to lift Idaho past Southern Utah, 31-28. The lefty hit all three of his field goal attempts on the day, coming from 35, 25, and the eventual 53-yard game winner. Forsman was also 2-for-2 on PATs to net 11 points on the afternoon for the Vandals. The effort led to Forsman being named the Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week as well, becoming the fifth Big Sky player this season to earn a national honor.
Others Nominated: Mason Lindberg (ISU), Jordan Herron (UNC), Emiliano Rodriguez (PSU), Daniel Valencia (SUU), Max Shepherd (UTU), Dyson Parker (WSU)
NON-CONFERENCE GAMES FOR BIG SKY FOES
New members Southern Utah and Utah Tech will both play Big Sky foes in non-conference action this season, due to previously contracted games dating back to previous years. The final non-conference game between Big Sky foes for the regular season concluded in Week 3, as Northern Arizona defeated Utah Tech, 35-23.
Non-Conference Games Featuring Big Sky Foes
9/5 Weber State at Southern Utah (SUU 47, WSU 42)
9/12 Utah Tech at Montana (UM 35, UTU 14)
9/19 Northern Arizona at Utah Tech (NAU 35, UTU 23)
2027 BIG SKY FOOTBALL SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED
The Big Sky Conference announced its 2027 football schedule on Tuesday, featuring 58 league games highlighted by marquee matchups, longstanding rivalries, and several clashes between programs currently ranked in the Top 25. For the full release and 2027 schedule, click here.
Follow the Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) on X, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, YouTube and TikTok for all the latest news around the league.
2026 Big Sky Football Schedule (Week 9)
Saturday, Oct. 31
Cal Poly at #3 Montana State* // 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps)
#20 UC Davis at #22 Weber State* // 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/KJZZ/KMYU)
#23 Idaho State at Utah Tech* // 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
#7 Northern Arizona at Southern Utah* // 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho at Portland State* // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/RCSN)
#14 Montana at Eastern Washington* // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps/SWX)
All Times Mountain
* - Big Sky Conference Game
FCS Rankings: Stats Perform FCS