After the Big Sky Conference notched another victory over an FBS foe last weekend, Saturday’s matchups are crucial for showcasing the conference’s ability to compete against teams of their own caliber.
Out of the 11 games this week, 10 for the Big Sky will be against fellow FCS teams. This includes Eastern Washington’s visit to Southeastern Louisiana (0-2), which is coming off losses to FBS opponents Southern Miss and Tulane.
Adding to the challenge, the Lions, who fell to the Eagles 40-29 in Cheney last season, are contending with Tropical Storm Francine, which is causing campus closures until midday Thursday.
The storm has also affected the Eagles’ travel plans, although it shouldn’t impact Saturday’s game. “When you’re traveling across two time zones, we prefer to leave on Thursday,” EWU head coach Aaron Best mentioned during a media session on Tuesday. “I’m not sure if that will happen this time.”
The Eagles are eager for their second win, which would bolster the Big Sky’s reputation among FCS conferences. A successful Saturday could reinforce the Big Sky’s standing as one of the top conferences in the FCS, which could be significant when the postseason committee selects at-large bids for the 24-team playoff bracket.
Currently, Montana State is the only unbeaten team in the Big Sky, boasting one of the conference’s two wins over FBS squads—Idaho, which recently defeated Wyoming, has the other. The Bobcats, who also won against Maine last week, remain at No. 3 in this week’s Stats Perform Top 25 despite being idle on Saturday. Idaho (1-1) follows closely behind.
The Big Sky holds a 5-4 record against other FCS conferences, with two losses to teams from the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League, including Eastern’s 35-32 overtime setback to Drake and Cal Poly’s 27-21 loss to San Diego.
This week, Morehead State (2-0) will travel to Montana, aiming to hand the Pioneer League a perfect 3-0 record against Big Sky teams this season. “Their league has been performing well early, and I expect them to come in believing they can win,” said Montana head coach Bobby Hauck at a Monday press conference. “We have a big week ahead in preparation. We need to secure a win this weekend.”
No. 8 Montana (1-1) is coming off a narrow 27-24 defeat at North Dakota (1-1), which has now climbed to No. 10 in the Stats Perform poll. Montana will face Eastern Washington on Sept. 28.
This week, Idaho State (1-1) will visit Grand Forks, North Dakota, hoping to secure a win against the Fighting Hawks. The Bengals are looking for back-to-back victories there following a 25-21 triumph in 2018, when North Dakota was part of the Big Sky.
“Winning road games is tough at any level,” noted ISU head coach Cody Hawkins after his team’s 50-10 victory over Western Oregon. “I have great respect for the Fighting Hawks. I’ve had some tough battles with them, both at their place and ours. They’re well-coached, and their fans are passionate—it’s a solid football team.”
The Big Sky also features three other teams ranked in the Top 25, including No. 11 Sacramento State (0-2), which has lost twice to FBS teams, and UC Davis, ranked 15th after defeating Texas A&M-Commerce. Weber State (1-1), fresh off a 43-16 victory over Portland State in the Big Sky’s first conference game, is currently ranked 20th.
The win for UC Davis marked the first for head coach Tim Plough, a former quarterback and assistant who stepped in for Dan Hawkins over the offseason. The clinching play in UC Davis’ 36-22 victory was a 60-yard interception return touchdown by linebacker David Meyer, who earned co-Defensive Player of the Week honors in the Big Sky.
“I’ll certainly remember David Meyer’s interception for years to come,” Plough said during his weekly media availability. “It was a special moment to share with family and friends. I’m receiving a lot more texts now that I’m leading a team they all care about.”
Since the beginning of the 2021 season, the Big Sky has claimed six victories over Mountain West Conference teams, with two more games set against that conference this season. Portland State will visit Boise State on Sept. 21, the same day Eastern Washington will play at Nevada.
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