Montana State and Montana enter 2026 as the favorites in another loaded Big Sky race, but challengers like UC Davis, Sacramento State, Idaho and Northern Arizona are aiming to shake up the standings.
The conference once again features some of the FCS's top quarterbacks and running backs, with stars like Montana's Eli Gillman and Montana State's Justin Lamson leading explosive offenses.
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Every conference game will carry postseason implications, as the Big Sky is expected to earn multiple at-large bids to the FCS Playoffs in addition to its automatic qualifier.
The season is expected to build toward another dramatic finish, with rivalry games and late-November showdowns likely determining the conference champion and national playoff seeding.
When Does The Big Sky Season Start
The Big Sky season starts on July 25 from Big Sky Media Day live from Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Spokane, Washington.
Week 0 is the start of the Big Sky Conference play, with Weber State vs. Northern Colorado will play the first Big Sky game of the season on Friday, August 28.
Multiple games will be played throughout the weekend, including defending FCS national champion Montana State starting their season on the road against Utah Tech.
There are multiple intriguing conference games throughout the season, with August 28 just scratching the surface of what should be an incredible season of football.
Two New Teams Join The Big Sky Conference, One Leaves
The Big Sky has a new look this season.
Southern Utah and Utah Tech join the Big Sky Conference after departing from the WAC.
Southern Utah was a member of the Big Sky from 2012-2021, while Utah Tech joins for the first time.
Sacramento State left for the MAC at the FBS level after multiple seasons at the FCS level with the Big Sky. They joined North Dakota State as the two teams to depart for the FBS level this season in a growing trend of conference realignment.
When Is The Big Sky Championship Game?
The 2026 Big Sky football championship will be decided during the conference's final weekend of regular-season play on Saturday, Nov. 21.
The Big Sky does not hold a separate conference championship game. Instead, the team with the best conference record at the end of the regular season claims the Big Sky title and earns the league's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.
Rivalry games, including the annual Brawl of the Wild between Montana and Montana State, could determine the conference champion.
Out Of Conference Games to Know
These three out of conference games for Big Sky teams could be major upsets. Here’s three key games to know:
- Week 1: Idaho State vs. Utah State
- Week 2: Montana State vs. Nevada
- Week 3: Montana vs. Oregon State
Big Sky Offensive Player Of The Year Candidates
These three players are coming off of dynamic 2025 seasons where they led their teams to success. These are the top three candidates for Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year.
- Eli Gillman, Montana RB
- Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona QB
- Justin Lamson, Montana State QB
Who Won Each Football National Championship For The 2025-2026 Season?
- Division I FBS – Indiana def. Miami, 27-21
- Division I FCS – Montana State def. Illinois State 35-34 (OT)
- Division II – Ferris State def. Harding, 42-21
- Division III – University of Wisconsin-River Falls def. North Central (Ill.), 24-14
Archived Footage On FloCollege
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Watch The 2026 College Football Season On FloCollege
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