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Bobcats Land at Top of Big Sky Coaches, Media Preseason Polls
7/20/2026 1:58:00 PM | Football
MSU looks to capture third straight league championship
BOZEMAN, Mont. (July 20, 2026) – Big Sky Conference coaches and media members each tabbed Montana State to win the 2026 conference championship in preseason polls, the league announced on Monday.
MSU out-distanced second-place Montana and UC Davis (third) in both polls. UCD and the Grizzlies joined the Cats as the only teams receiving first place votes in the new-look Big Sky, which welcomes Southern Utah back for the first time since 2019 and adds Utah Tech to the loop.
While consensus reigns at the top and bottom (both groups pick Portland State 12th and Utah Tech 13th), eight in between are less defined. Northern Arizona, Idaho, Idaho State and Southern Utah occupy the next tier in both polls. Eastern Washington, Weber State, Northern Colorado and Cal Poly all stand between eight and 11th in the two polls.
Montana State has won the last two Big Sky titles, and captured the FCS Championship in 2025. The Cats own three Big Sky titles in Brent Vigen's five seasons at the program's helm.
Big Sky Football Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Montana State (11) – 143
2. Montana – 130
3. UC Davis (2) – 121
4. Northern Arizona – 108
5. Idaho State - 99
6. Southern Utah – 82
7. Idaho – 77
8. Eastern Washington – 70
9. Weber State – 48
10. Northern Colorado – 47
11. Cal Poly – 46
12. Portland State – 24
13. Utah Tech – 19
Big Sky Football Preseason Media Poll
1. Montana State (35) – 490
2. Montana (1) – 448
3. UC Davis (2) – 421
4. Idaho State – 349
5. Northern Arizona – 339
6. Idaho – 283
7. Southern Utah – 273
8. Eastern Washington – 246
9. Cal Poly – 168
10. Weber State – 155
11. Northern Colorado – 153
12. Portland State – 68
13 Utah Tech – 65
*Parentheses denotes first-place vote
#GoCatsGo
MSU out-distanced second-place Montana and UC Davis (third) in both polls. UCD and the Grizzlies joined the Cats as the only teams receiving first place votes in the new-look Big Sky, which welcomes Southern Utah back for the first time since 2019 and adds Utah Tech to the loop.
While consensus reigns at the top and bottom (both groups pick Portland State 12th and Utah Tech 13th), eight in between are less defined. Northern Arizona, Idaho, Idaho State and Southern Utah occupy the next tier in both polls. Eastern Washington, Weber State, Northern Colorado and Cal Poly all stand between eight and 11th in the two polls.
Montana State has won the last two Big Sky titles, and captured the FCS Championship in 2025. The Cats own three Big Sky titles in Brent Vigen's five seasons at the program's helm.
Big Sky Football Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Montana State (11) – 143
2. Montana – 130
3. UC Davis (2) – 121
4. Northern Arizona – 108
5. Idaho State - 99
6. Southern Utah – 82
7. Idaho – 77
8. Eastern Washington – 70
9. Weber State – 48
10. Northern Colorado – 47
11. Cal Poly – 46
12. Portland State – 24
13. Utah Tech – 19
Big Sky Football Preseason Media Poll
1. Montana State (35) – 490
2. Montana (1) – 448
3. UC Davis (2) – 421
4. Idaho State – 349
5. Northern Arizona – 339
6. Idaho – 283
7. Southern Utah – 273
8. Eastern Washington – 246
9. Cal Poly – 168
10. Weber State – 155
11. Northern Colorado – 153
12. Portland State – 68
13 Utah Tech – 65
*Parentheses denotes first-place vote
#GoCatsGo
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