FARMINGTON, Utah (Aug. 26, 2026) – Following one of the best football seasons in league history, the Big Sky returns to the gridiron in 2026 fielding 13 teams and a slew of conference games in Week 0 to officially kickoff the year. Below are news and notes for Week 0 of the football season.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (Week 0)
FULL SPEED AHEAD FOR WEEK 0 IN THE BIG SKY
The 2026 schedule features 12 teams in conference action during Week 0 to open the season, marking the first time ever in league history that has happened.
NINE CONFERENCE GAMES FOR 2026
With the addition of Southern Utah and Utah Tech to the Big Sky in 2026, the league moves to nine conference games annually, the most ever for its history.
The odd number of teams and conference games means one Big Sky team will play eight league games each year. Southern Utah will be that team in 2026, as they have eight conference games on their schedule for this season.
Southern Utah and Utah Tech both play Big Sky foes in non-conference action, due to previously contracted games dating back to previous years.
Non-Conference Games Featuring Big Sky Foes
9/5 Weber State at Southern Utah
9/12 Utah Tech at Montana
9/19 Northern Arizona at Utah Tech
MONTANA STATE-UTAH TECH FEATURED GAME ON "THIS WEEK IN BIG SKY FOOTBALL"
Defending national champions Montana State travels to St. George on Saturday, as the Bobcats face off against the Big Sky’s newest conference member to highlight Week 0 action. Saturday’s game will be the fifth meeting overall between the two football programs, but first as conference foes. The game will also mark the first time in Utah Tech’s FCS era that a No. 1-ranked team has visited St. George.
The showdown in St. George will be the Game of the Week for “This Week in Big Sky Football” which airs each Thursday on @BigSkyConf’s YouTube and every Saturday Scripps Sports.
B0BCATS PICKED AS PRESEASON FAVORITES AND NO. 1 TEAM NATIONALLY
After winning its first national title since 1984 this past January, Montana State was picked to win the Big Sky by league voters and was tabbed as the No. 1 team in both Top 25 preseason polls on the national stage ahead of the 2026 season.
Montana State will be seeking its third-straight Big Sky championship, a feat that hasn’t been done since Weber State won at least a share of the title in 2018, 2019, and the spring season of 2021. The last team to win three-straight outright Big Sky titles was Montana who reeled off four-straight championships from 1998-2001.
If the Bobcats should go 8-0 again to win the Big Sky, it will mark the first time in league history a team has won all of its scheduled conference games in three-straight seasons.
SEVEN TEAMS RECEIVE VOTES FOR NATIONAL TOP 25 PRESEASON POLLS
The Big Sky was well-represented once again in the Stats Perform and AFCA Coaches polls heading into the 2026 season, as four teams were ranked in the Top 25 with another three teams receiving votes.
Montana State and Montana were picked No. 1 and No. 2 in both polls, while UC Davis was slotted at No. 6 to round out the Big Sky’s Top 10 teams. Northern Arizona was ranked 24th and 25th nationally, while Idaho State, Northern Colorado, and Southern Utah received votes but finished outside of the Top 25.
FCS Stats Perform Top 25
1. Montana State (14-2, 8-0)
2. Montana (13-2, 7-1)
6. UC Davis (9-4, 6-2)
25. Northern Arizona (7-5, 4-4)
RV: Idaho State (6-6, 5-3), Southern Utah (7-5, 6-2)
AFCA Coaches Top 25
1. Montana State (14-2, 8-0)
2. Montana (13-2, 7-1)
6. UC Davis (9-4, 6-2)
24. Northern Arizona (7-5, 4-4)
RV: Idaho State (6-6, 5-3), Northern Colorado (4-8, 2-6)
BOBCATS, BIG SKY CONFERENCE LOOKS TO REPEAT AS NATIONAL CHAMPS IN 2026
Montana State will have a tall task in 2026 as the defending national champions will be attempting to accomplish a feat that has never been done by a Big Sky team and that is repeating as a national champion.
Overall, South Dakota State and North Dakota State are the only teams to repeat as champions since 2007. Overall, there have been five schools that have repeated as FCS national champions since 1978. South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, and Youngstown State.
Schools Who Have Won At Least Two-Straight FCS National Titles
South Dakota State (2022-2023)
North Dakota State (2017-2019 & 2011-2015)
Appalachian State (2005-2007)
Georgia Southern (1999-2000, 1989-90, 1985-86)
Youngstown State (1993-1994)
The Big Sky Conference has had seven FCS national champions overall, but only once did the league have a winner in back-to-back seasons, as Boise State and Idaho State marked the first and only time back in 1980 and 1981.
Big Sky FCS National Champions
2025 Montana State (W/35-34 vs. Illinois State)
2010 Eastern Washington (W/20-19 vs. Delaware)
2001 Montana (W/13-6 vs. Furman)
1995 Montana (W/22-20 vs. Marshall)
1984 Montana State (W/19-6 vs. Louisiana Tech)
1981 Idaho State (W/34-23 vs. Eastern Kentucky)
1980 Boise State (W/31-29 vs. Eastern Kentucky)
BIG SKY LANDS 13 PLAYERS ON NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LISTS
The nation’s best players reside in the Big Sky Conference, and that is evident each year with the list of standouts on national award watch lists. The league had eight players make the cut for the Walter Payton Award Watch List, while five were named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List.
The Walter Payton Award, affectionately known as the Heisman of the FCS, is named for legendary running back Walter Payton, who starred at Jackson State as part of his Hall of Fame career. The Big Sky has won the award 11 times, with the most recent winner being Tommy Mellott of Montana State following the 2024 season.
The Buck Buchanan Award, in its 32nd season, is named for legendary defensive lineman Junious “Buck” Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. The Big Sky has won the award seven times, with the most recent being Dante Olson of Montana following the 2019 season.
Walter Payton Award Watch List (July 14, 2026)
Keali’I Ah Yat, QB, Montana
Justin Lamson, QB, Montana State
Ty Pennington, QB, Northern Arizona
Dason Brooks, RB, Idaho State
Eli Gillman, RB, Montana
Adam Jones, RB, Montana State
Taco Dowler, WR, Montana State
Samuel Gbatu Jr., WR, UC Davis
Buck Buchanan Award Watch List (July 14, 2026)
Mikey D’Amato, LB, Cal Poly
Peyton Wing, LB, Montana
Rex Connors, DB, UC Davis
Caden Dowler, DB, Montana State
Jaylon Jenkins, DB, Eastern Washington
Follow the Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) on X, Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky, YouTube and TikTok for all the latest news around the league.
2026 Big Sky Football Schedule (Week 0)
Friday, Aug. 28
Weber State at #RV Northern Colorado* // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho at Cal Poly* // 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN)
Saturday, Aug. 29
#6/6 UC Davis at Portland State* // 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/RCSN)
Eastern Washington at #25/24 Northern Arizona* // 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
VMI at Idaho State // 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
#RV Southern Utah at #2/2 Montana* // 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
#1/1 Montana State at Utah Tech* // 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
* - Big Sky Conference Game
All Times Mountain
FCS Rankings: Stats Perform FCS/AFCA Coaches Poll