FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 4, 2026) – Another Top 25 showdown headlines Week 10 of Big Sky football, as No. 3 Montana State travels to No. 22 Idaho State in one of six league matchups on Saturday. Below are news and notes for Week 10 of the football season.
Big Sky Football Weekly Notebook (Week 10)
ANOTHER TOP 25 SHOWDOWN IN THE BIG SKY
No. 3 Montana State travels to No. 22 Idaho State as both teams look to strengthen their playoff resumes in a pivotal Top 25 conference clash.
The Bobcats and Bengals have met 85 times on the football field, with Montana State holding a 51-31-3 all-time series lead. The Bobcats have won 15 of the last 16 meetings overall, with the lone blemish being a 24-17 loss in 2018 to the Bengals.
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: #22 Weber State 38, #20 UC Davis 14
Nov. 7: #3 Montana State at #22 Idaho State
EVERY POINT COUNTS IN THE BIG SKY
Through 40 Big Sky Conference games this season, 27 have been decided by 14 points or fewer, with an average margin of victory of just 6.9 points. Of those, 18 games have been decided by seven points or fewer, with an average margin of just 4.8 points.
Average Point Difference for Conference Games
Team (Conf. Rec.) // Point Diff. // Average Margin
Montana State (5-1) // +162 // +27.0
Montana (4-2) // +66 // +11.0
Weber State (5-2) // +43 // +6.1
Idaho State (3-3) // +26 // +4.3
Northern Arizona (5-1) // +25 // +4.2
Idaho (4-2) // +20 // +3.3
Southern Utah (2-4) // +13 // +2.2
Northern Colorado (2-4) // -25 // -4.2
UC Davis (3-3) // -40 // -6.7
Portland State (2-4) // -55 // -9.2
Eastern Washington (1-5) // -58 // -9.7
Cal Poly (3-4) // -80 // -11.4
Utah Tech (1-5) // -97 // -16.2
SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS IN THE BIG SKY
The Big Sky Conference has had 14 return touchdowns on special teams this year, with seven scores on kickoffs and seven on punts. That total tops the FCS this year, with the next closest being the PFL who has 11.
The 14 return touchdowns are the most in the Big Sky since the league had 19 in 2022.
BIG SKY TEAMS DOMINATE FCS TEAM OFFENSIVE RANKINGS
The Big Sky features some of the best offenses in the nation, with five of the Top 20 for total yards per game in the FCS hailing from the league. The next closest conference is the SWAC with three teams ranking in the Top 20 for total offense per game.
Big Sky Top Offenses
School (FCS Rank) // YPG
1. Montana (6th) // 471.7
2. Montana State (11th) // 454.3
3. Southern Utah (14th) // 439.8
4. UC Davis (15th) // 435.4
5. Weber State (16th) // 434.3
MONTANA’S GILLMAN EYES COOPER KUPP’S ALL-TIME TD 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 64 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 during his career.
Most Career Rushing TDs in Big Sky History
1. Eli Gillman, UM (2022-26) – 64
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) – 74
T3. Charles Dunn, PSU (1997-00) – 61
T3. Sherriden May, UI (1991-94) – 61
BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOREES FOR WEEK 9
Offensive Player of the Week
Brooks Davis, Montana (WR, Jr., Brentwood, Calif.)
Brooks Davis caught nine passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns, helping lead Montana past Eastern Washington on the road, 42-33. Davis had TD catches of 75, 51, and 61 yards on the day, with his 75-yarder coming on the first play from scrimmage, the 51-yarder on a Hail Mary before halftime, and the 61-yarder to ice the game with 1:54 remaining. The 231 receiving yards were the fifth-most in a single game in Montana history, while marking the highest total in the Big Sky and third-highest in the FCS this season. Brooks has tallied a pair of 200-yard receiving performances this season, the most in the FCS. Davis also earned national honors for his performance in Week 9.
Others Nominated: Ryan Jezioro (UI), Tommy Poe (ISU), Justin Lamson (MSU), Ty Pennington (NAU), Terence Loville (PSU), Nate Dahle (WSU)
Defensive Player of the Week
Trehsyn Fesili, Idaho State (DL, Fr., Honolulu, Hawaii)
Trehsyn Fesili recorded six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and 43-yard interception return for a touchdown to lead Idaho State past Utah Tech on the road, 34-27. Fesili helped spark the Bengals’ comeback from a 14-0 deficit with a strip-sack in the second quarter, before picking off a pass and returning it for the go-ahead score with just 55 seconds remaining in the game. The pick-six was Fesili’s second of the season, while the freshman has now recorded a strip-sack in back-to-back games. The weekly honor is the third of the season for the Honolulu native, while also garnering national honors.
Others Nominated: Bryce Smith (EWU), Clay Oven (UM), Caden Dowler (MSU), Isaac Redford (PSU), Will Alovao (UTU), Da’Veon Ross (WSU)
Co-Special Teams Players of the Week
#13 Carter Dahlke, Montana State (WR, Fr., Bozeman, Mont.)
Freshman Carter Dahlke returned the opening kickoff 98 yards, bouncing off multiple would-be tacklers to spark Montana State’s 61-7 victory over Cal Poly. The score marked Montana State’s second kickoff return touchdown of the season and an FCS-leading seventh overall for the Big Sky Conference. Dahlke also contributed offensively, catching six passes for 103 yards and another touchdown to raise his total to two on the day.
David Dellenbach, Weber State (K, Jr., Park City, Utah)
David Dellenbach connected on all three field goal attempts and all three PATs to help No. 22 Weber State defeat No. 20 UC Davis at home, 38-14. Dellenbach made field goals from 21, 31, and 42 yards, accounting for 12 points in the Wildcats’ second ranked victory of the season. He also handled eight kickoffs, booming five touchbacks overall.
Others Nominated: Soren McKee (EWU), Mason Lindberg (ISU), Everett O’Donnell (UM), Shelton Zui (PSU)
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 LINEAR GAMES FOR 2026
The Big Sky has five scheduled ESPN linear games for regular-season conference games this season, with four of those already in the books. The final regular-season game left on the slate is the Nov. 14 matchup between Idaho State and Montana in Missoula, airing on ESPN2.
Big Sky ESPN Linear Games for 2026
8/28: Idaho at Cal Poly – 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN)
9/26: NAU at Montana State – 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN2)
10/2: Montana State at Idaho – 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN)
10/3: EWU at UC Davis – 8:30 pm MT (ESPN2)
11/14: Idaho State at Montana – 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN2)
2027 BIG SKY FOOTBALL SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED
The Big Sky Conference announced its 2027 football schedule last month, 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 10)
Saturday, Nov. 7
Portland State at #12 Montana* // 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps/RCSN)
Northern Colorado at Southern Utah* // 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Idaho* // 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
#6 Northern Arizona at Cal Poly* // 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
#3 Montana State at #22 Idaho State* // 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps)
Utah Tech at UC Davis* // 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/KMAX)
All Times Mountain
* – Big Sky Conference Game
FCS Rankings: Stats Perform FCS
Source: bigskyconf.com
