FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 30, 2026) – Another ranked matchup and a pair of nationally televised games highlight the Week 5 slate, as Big Sky football enters the first weekend of October. Below are news and notes for Week 5 of the football season.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (Week 5)
PAIR OF ESPN/ESPN2 GAMES HIGHLIGHT WEEK 5
No. 1 Montana State travels to Idaho for a Friday night clash on ESPN, while No. 16 UC Davis hosts Eastern Washington on Saturday for the program’s first ever home regular-season game on ESPN2. The two linear ESPN games are part of the Big Sky’s five-game package with the network in 2026. Following Week 5, the Big Sky will have one more of those games remaining on the slate as Montana hosts Idaho State on national TV in Week 11.
Big Sky ESPN Linear Games for 2026
Saturday, Aug. 28: Idaho at Cal Poly // 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN) (Cal Poly 38, Idaho 34)
Saturday, Sept. 26: NAU at Montana State // 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN2) (MSU 28, NAU 14)
Friday, Oct. 2: Montana State at Idaho // 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)
Saturday, Oct. 3: EWU at UC Davis // 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN2)
Saturday, Nov. 14: Idaho State at Montana // 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN Network TBD)
NAU-IDAHO STATE FEATURED GAME ON "THIS WEEK IN BIG SKY FOOTBALL"
The Top 20 showdown between No. 19 Northern Arizona and No. 12 Idaho State in Pocatello 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 on Scripps Sports.
NAU has had Idaho State's number recently, winning four straight meetings and 14 of the last 15 overall going back to 2005. The last win for the Bengals over the Lumberjacks came in 2018.
IDAHO STATE ON BEST START SINCE 1995
Idaho State has opened the season 4-0, which is the best start for the football program since 1995. The 1995 Bengal football team had a 5-0 start to the season. Overall, Idaho State is on a seven-game winning streak which is the program’s longest since the 1981 team won seven straight en route to a national title.
TEN BIG SKY QBS RANK IN TOP 50 FOR PASS YARDS PER GAME
The Big Sky has some of the best passers in the nation this season, as evident of 10 quarterbacks ranking in the Top 50 for passing yards per game in 2026. The Big Sky’s 10 QBs in the Top 50 outnumbers any other FCS conference, with the next closest having seven in the Top 50.
Big Sky QBs Ranking in Top 50 for Pass YPG
Rk. Name, School // YPG
14. Joshua Wood, Idaho // 251.3
15. Keali’i Ah Yat, Montana // 249.8
22. Treynor Cleeland, UC Davis // 237.8
23. Nate Bell, Eastern Washington // 236.8
24. Jordan Cooke, Idaho State // 236.3
26. Justin Lamson, Montana State // 230.8
27. Anthony Grigsby Jr., Cal Poly // 229.2
32. Nate Dahle, Weber State // 219.2
41. Will Burns, Southern Utah // 209.8
42. Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona // 209.4
NORTHERN ARIZONA LEADS FCS WITH 14 TAKEAWAYS
The Northern Arizona defense has been on an impressive run to start the 2026 season, with the Lumberjacks topping the FCS in takeaways after forcing 14 turnovers. NAU has earned seven interceptions and seven fumble recoveries to total their 14 takeaways this year.
MONTANA’S GILLMAN BREAKS BIG SKY RUSHING RECORD
Eli Gillman scored four touchdowns on the ground in the Week 4 win at UC Davis, becoming the Big Sky’s all-time leader in rushing TDs. Gillman now sits at 60 career rushing TDs, which officially surpasses the previous record of 56 set by Charles Roberts of Sacramento State in 2000.
Gillman now has his sights set on a record thought impossible to break, the Big Sky record for most total TDs, set by Cooper Kupp after he scored 77.
Most Career Rushing TDs in Big Sky History
1. Eli Gillman, UM (2022-26) – 60
2. Charles Roberts, SAC (1997-00) – 56
3. Charles Dunn, PSU (1997-00) – 54
T-4. Charvez Foger, NEV (1985-88) – 52
T-4. Chase Reynolds, UM (2007-10) – 52
Most Career Total TDs in Big Sky History
1. Cooper Kupp, EWU (2013-16) – 77
2. Eli Gillman, UM (2022-26) – 66
T3. Charles Dunn, PSU (1997-00) – 61
T3. Sherriden May, UI (1991-94) – 61
FOUR BIG SKY HONOREES NAMED AS CAMPBELL TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced its semifinalists for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award. The Big Sky had four semifinalists make the cut for the Campbell Trophy, which recognized an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership. There were 206 semifinalists overall, representing every NCAA division and the NAIA. The group is the largest in the history of the award, while collectively boasting a 3.64 average GPA and includes 130 team captains, 24 All-Americans, and 98 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees.
William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalists (Big Sky Only)
Ben Voigtlaender, Eastern Washington
Titan Fleischmann, Montana State
Ezra Ekuban, Northern Colorado
Terence Loville, Portland State
BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOREES FOR WEEK 4
Offensive Player of the Week
Eli Gillman, Montana (RB, 5th Year, Dassel, Minn.)
Eli Gillman had a career night for the Griz, as No. 5 Montana dominated No. 10 UC Davis on the road, 62-22. Gillman rushed for a personal best 275 yards and four touchdowns, coming on 26 carries to average 10.5 yards per carry. Gillman’s 275 yards on the ground broke Montana’s single-game rushing record, surpassing Yohance Humphrey’s previous mark of 265 yards set against Weber State in 2001, who had 38 carries in that game. Gillman also moved into sole possession for most career rushing touchdowns in the Big Sky, moving past Sacramento State’s Charles Roberts who had 56 in 1997-2000, with Gillman now owning 60 career rushing scores.
Others Nominated: Jaden Green (CP), Chedon James (ISU), Justin Guin (UNC), Delon Thompson (PSU), Marvin Session (WSU)
Defensive Player of the Week
Jackson Irwin, Idaho State (LB, Sr., Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Jackson Irwin led a strong defensive effort in Idaho State’s road win at Southern Utah, as the Bengal linebacker had nine tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, and a quarterback hurry in the 28-24 win in Cedar City. Overall, the Bengal defense forced three turnovers, with all three turnovers coming inside Idaho State territory. The win also secured Idaho State’s first 4-0 start to a season since 1995.
Others Nominated: Kenny Olson (CP), Dishawn Misa (EWU), Tyler King (UM), Mikhail Benner (UNC), Terahiti Wolfe (PSU)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Joshua Hossmann Lees, Portland State (K/KO, Jr., La Mesa, Calif.)
Joshua Hossmann Lees delivered Portland State’s first win under head coach Chris Fisk with a 41-yard field goal as time expired to cap a 44-41 road victory over Weber State. Hossmann Lees finished 3-for-3 on field goals in the game, while going 5-for-5 on extra point attempts. The Viking kicker also had six of his eight kickoffs go for touchbacks. The victory was the first win for the Vikings on a last-second play in 21 years, going back to a 44-41 victory over No. 9 Montana State on Oct. 15, 2005.
Others Nominated: Jordan Rucker (ISU), Jo Silver (UM), Landon Richardson (UNC)
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)
BIG SKY ADDS TWO MORE FBS WINS FOR 2026
Montana State downed FBS foe Nevada 20-7 in Week 2, leading for nearly 57 minutes of the game. The win for MSU was its second over an FBS foe in the last three years, with its last coming in 2024 against New Mexico, also from the Mountain West.
Idaho State defeated FBS foe and PAC-12 member Utah State, 29-17, in Week 1, as the Bengals picked off four passes and led for the majority of Saturday’s game in Logan. The victory for Idaho State was its first over an FBS foe since 2017 and the Big Sky’s eighth overall against Utah State.
The Big Sky has defeated 12 FBS foes since 2021, which is the most of any FCS conference during that same timespan.
FBS Wins for FCS Conferences Since 2021
Big Sky: 12
CAA, UAC: 6
MVFC: 4
NEC, Patriot, Southland: 3
OVC: 1
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2026 Big Sky Football Schedule (Week 5)
Friday, Oct. 2
#1 Montana State at Idaho* // 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)
Saturday, Oct. 3
Northern Colorado at #3 Montana* // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps)
Weber State at Cal Poly* // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Southern Utah at Utah Tech* // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
#19 Northern Arizona at #12 Idaho State* // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at #16 UC Davis* // 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN2)
All Times Mountain
* - Big Sky Conference Game
FCS Rankings: Stats Perform FCS