Eleven Big Sky football teams will officially open their 2024 football seasons this week, as Montana State looks to follow-up Week 0’s victory at FBS-foe New Mexico. Below are news and notes for Week 1 of the football season.
Upcoming Big Sky Football Games (Week 1)
Thursday, Aug. 29
Monmouth at #RV/RV Eastern Washington // ESPN+/SWX // 7:00 p.m. MT
#8/10 Sacramento State at San Jose State // TruTV // 8:00 p.m. MT
Saturday, Aug. 31
Portland State at Washington State // The CW // 1:00 p.m. MT
Lincoln (CA) at #NR/RV Northern Arizona // ESPN+ // 2:00 p.m. MT
#18/17 UC Davis at Cal // ACC Network // 3:00 p.m. MT
Idaho State at Oregon State // The CW // 4:30 p.m. MT
Northern Colorado at #14/15 Incarnate Word // ESPN+ // 5:00 p.m. MT
#7/7 Idaho at Oregon // Big10 Network // 5:30 p.m. MT
Cal Poly at San Diego // ESPN+ // 6:00 p.m. MT
Missouri State at #3/3 Montana // ESPN+/Scripps // 7:00 p.m. MT
#4/4 Montana State at Utah Tech // ESPN+ // 8:00 p.m. MT
#22/RV Weber State at Washington // Big Ten Network // 9:00 p.m. MT
Montana State Opens 2024 With FBS Win
Montana State opened the 2024 season with a Week 0 victory over New Mexico after a 35-31 come-from-behind win. The game featured two 17-point deficits for the Bobcats as MSU scored 21 unanswered to close out the game. The FBS win for Montana State was the program’s first since defeating Colorado 19-10 in 2006.
Big Sky Seeks More Mountain West Wins
Following Montana State’s 35-31 victory over New Mexico, the Big Sky has earned five wins over Mountain West foes since the start of the 2021 season. The five wins over the Mountain West are the most for the Big Sky against any other FBS conference during that time period, with the next closest being three wins over former Pac-12 foes.
2024: Montana State 35, New Mexico 31
2023: Idaho 33, Nevada 6
2022: Sacramento State 41, Colorado State 7
2022: Weber State 35, Utah State 7
2021: Eastern Washington 35, UNLV 33
Wide Range of Watch Options this Week
After starting last week on FS1, the Big Sky will have games featured on a wide-range of networks in Week 1, with some being slightly different than what most football fans are used to.
Sacramento State will get a TruTV spotlight on Thursday night against San Jose State, while The CW will host Portland State and Idaho State on Saturday as the pair faces Pac-2 schools Washington State and Oregon State, respectively.
NFL Rosters Feature 22 Big Sky Players
With the 2024 NFL season gearing up to officially start, the Big Sky will have 22 former players on rosters at the start of the year.
Big Sky Players on NFL Rosters
(Finished Careers at Big Sky Schools)
Eastern Washington: Kendrick Bourne, WR, Patriots
Eastern Washington: Samson Ebukam, DL, Colts
Eastern Washington: Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams
Eastern Washington: Nsimba Webster, WR, Bears
Idaho: Christian Elliss, LB, Patriots
Idaho: Kaden Elliss, LB, Falcons
Idaho: Hogan Hatten, LS, Lions
Idaho State: Tanner Conner, TE, Dolphins
Montana: Dylan Cook, OL, Steelers
Montana State: Troy Andersen, LB, Falcons
Montana State: Daniel Hardy, DL, Bears
Montana State: Alex Singleton, LB, Broncos
Northern Arizona: Khalil Dorsey, DB, Lions
Northern Colorado: Jacob Bobenmoyer, LS, Raiders
Sacramento State: DeAndre Carter, WR, Bears
Sacramento State: Marte Mapu, DB, Patriots
Southern Utah: Braxton Jones, OL, Bears
Southern Utah: Miles Killebrew, DB, Steelers
UC Davis: Daniel Whelan, P, Packers
Weber State: Taron Johnson, DB, Bills
Weber State: Sua Opeta, OL, Buccaneers
Weber State: Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Saints
Big Sky Opens 2024 Season With Four Top 10 Teams
Three major preseason rankings (Stats Perform, AFCA and Hero Sports) feature four Big Sky teams consistently in the Top 10 prior to the 2024 season, with Montana, Montana State, Idaho and Sacramento State all slotted amongst the best in the FCS. All four of those teams made last season’s playoffs and three of the four will be featured on ESPN2 games this year for the Big Sky.
Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 (Big Sky Teams)
3. Montana
4. Montana State
7. Idaho
8. Sacramento State
18. UC Davis
22. Weber State
RV: Eastern Washington
AFCA FCS Preseason Top 25 (Big Sky Teams)
3. Montana
4. Montana State
7. Idaho
10. Sacramento State
17. UC Davis
RV: Weber State, Northern Arizona, Eastern Washington
Hero Sports FCS Preseason Top 25 (Big Sky Teams)
3. Montana
4. Montana State
7. Idaho
8. Sacramento State
21. UC Davis
22. Weber State
Nine Big Sky Standouts Named to Preseason Award Watchlists
Nine 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.
The Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List featured five standouts from the Big Sky, with 2023 Big Sky Offensive MVP and 2024 Preseason Offensive MVP Lan Larison of UC Davis highlighting the list. Montana State garnered two selections on the watch list after quarterback Tommy Mellott and offensive lineman Marcus Wehr were tabbed. Rounding out the list was Montana’s Junior Bergen and Eastern Washington’s Efton Chism III.
The Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List featured four honorees from the Big Sky, with 2024 Preseason Defensive MVP Brody Grebe of Montana State leading the way. Cal Poly’s Elijah Ponder, Montana’s Riley Wilson and UC Davis’ Rex Connors joined Grebe as Big Sky representatives on the watch list.
2024 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List
Big Sky honors only
QB – Tommy Mellott, Montana State, Sr.
RB – Lan Larison, UC Davis, Sr.
WR/PR – Junior Bergen, Montana, Sr.
WR – Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington, Sr.
OL – Marcus Wehr, Montana State, Sr.
2024 Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List
Big Sky honors only
DL – Brody Grebe, Montana State, Sr.
DL – Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly, R-Sr.
LB – Riley Wilson, Montana, Jr.
DB – Rex Connors, UC Davis, Jr.
Montana Picked by Coaches and Media to Win Big Sky
Defending Big Sky champion Montana was picked by coaches and media to win the league once again, as the Grizzlies were voted first in both preseason polls. The Grizzlies, who received 26 first-place votes from the media and 10 from the league’s head coaches, won the Big Sky title last season after a 7-1 mark in conference play. The Grizzlies return a roster that is looking to have another deep run in the FCS Playoffs after concluding last season as the national runner-up. Preseason Media Poll
1. Montana (26) – 442
2. Montana State (9) – 414
3. Idaho (2) – 342
4. UC Davis (1) – 332
5. Sacramento State – 324
6. Eastern Washington – 240
7. Weber State – 234
8. Idaho State – 174
9. Northern Arizona – 172
10. Portland State – 169
11. Cal Poly – 74
12. Northern Colorado – 47
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Montana (10) – 120
2. Montana State (1) – 110
3. Idaho – 95
4. UC Davis (1) – 88
5. Sacramento State – 82
6. Weber State – 74
7. Northern Arizona – 55
8. Eastern Washington – 47
9. Portland State – 45
10. Idaho State – 31
11. Northern Colorado – 23
12. Cal Poly – 22
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