The Big Sky Conference announced a transformative 2026 football schedule featuring a new nine-game format and the addition of Utah Tech and Southern Utah to its 13-team league. The new scheduling structure includes an unprecedented start to conference play in Week 0, marking a significant shift for the mid-major conference.
New League Structure and Expansion
The Big Sky Conference confirmed the 2026 schedule will feature 58 total games, driven by the arrival of Southern Utah and Utah Tech. According to the conference, the league will move to a nine-game annual conference schedule, though one team will play only eight games due to the odd number of member institutions. This new format allows for 12 teams to engage in conference action during Week 0, a first for the league, providing flexibility for schools to fulfill non-conference obligations throughout the season.
Membership Changes and Scheduling Shifts
The expansion into a 13-team league includes a significant departure, as Sacramento State will leave the Big Sky. The conference will feature an unbalanced schedule where teams alternate between five and four home games each season. Because of the odd number of conference games, at least one team will remain without a conference opponent during any given week of the season.
Weber State 2026 Matchups
Weber State's 2026 football schedule includes a diverse array of opponents across the conference. The Wildcats are scheduled to host Portland State on September 26, a matchup that coincides with the league's first-ever Week 0 conference play. Other notable conference matchups for Weber State include a game against Idaho on October 10, Idaho State on October 17, and a contest against UC Davis on October 31. The Wildcats will also face Montana State on October 24 and Northern Arizona on November 14, with a final conference game against Utah Tech on November 21.
Portland State Schedule Details
Portland State, which will face Weber State in September, will play a 12-game schedule consisting of five home games and seven road games spanning seven different states. The Vikings' schedule includes matchups against San Diego State on September 5, North Dakota on September 12, and Oregon on September 19. The team will also host Utah Tech on October 10 and face Idaho on October 31, before concluding the season against Eastern Washington on November 21.
Big Sky Kickoff Weekend Highlights
The conference's expansion and scheduling changes were preceded by significant administrative and community events. The Big Sky Kickoff Weekend, held from July 24-27, 2026, in Airways Heights, Washington, hosted student-athletes, coaches, and media. This event included the eighth iteration of the kickoff weekend since 2018 and featured the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Summer Meeting, which brought together representatives from all 11 current full member institutions to discuss national issues and participate in media training.
Honors and Community Engagement
The kickoff weekend also featured the Big Sky Hall of Fame Gala, which honored eight inductees from the 2026 class. The ceremony, which aired live on ESPN+, included inductees such as Dennis Erickson, Frank Hawkins, Eric Heins, Amber Henry, Pam Parks, Michael Ray Richardson, Jackie Ross Mattox, and Willie Sojourner. The event also included a youth football clinic at North Central High School, where student-athletes from the 13 football teams provided instruction to local children.
Coaching and NIL Development
To prepare for the evolving collegiate landscape, the conference held educational sessions focused on maximizing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities. The programming also included 'Big Sky U,' which provided training, mock interviews, and roundtable discussions for 13 assistant coaches identified as emerging head coaching candidates. The week concluded with the Commissioner's State of the Conference Address, which was broadcast live on social media and ESPN+.
