Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
Three Bobcat Football Games Air on National Television in 2026
5/27/2026 1:21:00 PM | Football
Defending FCS Champions play three TV games at 8:30 pm MT
BOZEMAN, Mont. (May 27, 2026) – Three Montana State football games land on national television this fall, ESPN and The CW announced on Wednesday.
The Bobcat play at Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 12 in a game slated for The CW. The Cats play two conference games on ESPN linear networks, hosting Northern Arizona on Saturday, Sept. 26 in a game slated for ESPN2 and visiting Idaho six days later on Friday, Oct. 2. That game is tabbed for ESPN. Each of those games is scheduled for 8:30 pm MT.
The two Big Sky games are part of a five-game league package that marks the most to air on ESPN linear networks since the league's partnership with that network began in 2021. This marks the third time during that package's span the Cats have played two nationally-televised league games and raises MSU's total to seven national games in that time.
The Big Sky Conference plans to announce the remainder of the league's television designations and kickoff times later in the summer.
MONTANA STATE NATIONALLY-TELEVISED GAMES
Saturday, Sept. 12 at Nevada – 8:30 pm MT // The CW
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Northern Arizona – 8:30 pm // ESPN2
Friday, Oct. 2 at Idaho – 8:30 pm MT //ESPN
BIG SKY CONFERENCE ESPN NETWORK PACKAGE
Friday, Aug. 28 – Idaho at Cal Poly – 8:00 p.m. MT // ESPN)
Saturday, Sept. 26 – Northern Arizona at Montana State – 8:30 p.m. MT // ESPN2
Friday, Oct. 2 – Montana State at Idaho – 8:30 p.m. MT // ESPN
Saturday, Oct. 3 – Eastern Washington at UC Davis – 8:30 p.m. MT // ESPN2
Saturday, Nov. 14 – Idaho State at Montana – 8:30 p.m. MT // ESPN Network TBD
BIG SKY FOOTBALL ESPN LINEAR CONFERENCE GAMES SINCE 2021
10/2/21 – Montana at Eastern Washington (ESPN2)
10/15/21 – Montana State at Weber State (ESPNU)
10/1/22 – UC Davis at Montana State (ESPNU)
10/22/22 – Montana at Sacramento State (ESPN2)
10/14/23 – Montana at Idaho (ESPN2)
10/21/23 – Montana State at Sacramento State (ESPN2)
10/12/24 – Idaho at Montana State (ESPN2)
11/9/24 – UC Davis at Montana (ESPN2)
9/27/25 – Idaho at Montana (ESPN2)
10/24/25 – Montana at Sacramento State (ESPN2)
10/31/25 – Idaho at Northern Arizona (ESPN2)
11/15/25 – UC Davis at Montana State (ESPN2)
8/28/26 – Idaho at Cal Poly (ESPN)
9/26/26 – Northern Arizona at Montana State (ESPN2)
10/2/26 – Montana State at Idaho (ESPN)
10/3/26 – Eastern Washington at UC Davis (ESPN2)
11/14/26 – Idaho State at Montana (TBD)
#GoCatsGo
The Bobcat play at Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 12 in a game slated for The CW. The Cats play two conference games on ESPN linear networks, hosting Northern Arizona on Saturday, Sept. 26 in a game slated for ESPN2 and visiting Idaho six days later on Friday, Oct. 2. That game is tabbed for ESPN. Each of those games is scheduled for 8:30 pm MT.
The two Big Sky games are part of a five-game league package that marks the most to air on ESPN linear networks since the league's partnership with that network began in 2021. This marks the third time during that package's span the Cats have played two nationally-televised league games and raises MSU's total to seven national games in that time.
The Big Sky Conference plans to announce the remainder of the league's television designations and kickoff times later in the summer.
MONTANA STATE NATIONALLY-TELEVISED GAMES
Saturday, Sept. 12 at Nevada – 8:30 pm MT // The CW
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Northern Arizona – 8:30 pm // ESPN2
Friday, Oct. 2 at Idaho – 8:30 pm MT //ESPN
BIG SKY CONFERENCE ESPN NETWORK PACKAGE
Friday, Aug. 28 – Idaho at Cal Poly – 8:00 p.m. MT // ESPN)
Saturday, Sept. 26 – Northern Arizona at Montana State – 8:30 p.m. MT // ESPN2
Friday, Oct. 2 – Montana State at Idaho – 8:30 p.m. MT // ESPN
Saturday, Oct. 3 – Eastern Washington at UC Davis – 8:30 p.m. MT // ESPN2
Saturday, Nov. 14 – Idaho State at Montana – 8:30 p.m. MT // ESPN Network TBD
BIG SKY FOOTBALL ESPN LINEAR CONFERENCE GAMES SINCE 2021
10/2/21 – Montana at Eastern Washington (ESPN2)
10/15/21 – Montana State at Weber State (ESPNU)
10/1/22 – UC Davis at Montana State (ESPNU)
10/22/22 – Montana at Sacramento State (ESPN2)
10/14/23 – Montana at Idaho (ESPN2)
10/21/23 – Montana State at Sacramento State (ESPN2)
10/12/24 – Idaho at Montana State (ESPN2)
11/9/24 – UC Davis at Montana (ESPN2)
9/27/25 – Idaho at Montana (ESPN2)
10/24/25 – Montana at Sacramento State (ESPN2)
10/31/25 – Idaho at Northern Arizona (ESPN2)
11/15/25 – UC Davis at Montana State (ESPN2)
8/28/26 – Idaho at Cal Poly (ESPN)
9/26/26 – Northern Arizona at Montana State (ESPN2)
10/2/26 – Montana State at Idaho (ESPN)
10/3/26 – Eastern Washington at UC Davis (ESPN2)
11/14/26 – Idaho State at Montana (TBD)
#GoCatsGo
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