Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
Bobcats Defend Title Under Glare of Lights, National TV Exposure in 2026
7/7/2026 11:51:00 AM | Football
Montana State plays six of its first seven games under the lights in 2026
BOZEMAN, Mont. (July 7, 2026) – Reigning national champion Montana State plays three nationally-televised games in the season's first six weeks with plenty of prime time exposure, the Big Sky Conference announced on Tuesday.
The Bobcats, coming off the program's 2025 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) title, play nationally-televised games at Nevada (on The CW) on Sept. 12, against Northern Arizona at home (ESPN2) on Sept. 26, and at Idaho (ESPN) on Oct. 2, all beginning at 8:30 pm MT. MSU opens its season on Aug. 29 at Big Sky newcomer Utah Tech in the Trailblazers' first conference contest in its new league, and launches its home schedule a week later against Butler in the annual Gold Rush game on Sept. 5, kicking off at 6:30 pm.
Montana State closes the regular season with the annual Cat-Griz showdown on Nov. 21, with the traditional noon kickoff. MSU's game at Northern Colorado the week before is also scheduled for 12 noon. The team's other home games – Sept. 19 for Pack the Place in Pink against Central Connecticut State, Oct. 24 against Weber State for Parent/Family Weekend and Native American Heritage Day, and Oct. 31 against Cal Poly for Ag/Military Appreciation – kick off at 1 pm.
The Cats play a pair of league games in the late-afternoon window. Montana State visits Eastern Washington on Oct. 17 for a 5 pm MT kickoff, and Idaho State on Nov. 7 for a 4 pm kickoff.
MONTANA STATE IN 2026
8/29 *at Utah Tech, 8:00 pm, Scripps Sports/ESPN+
9/5 Butler, 6:30 pm (GOLD RUSH) , TBA
9/12 at Nevada, 8:30 pm MT, The CW
9/19 Central Connecticut State, 1:00 pm (PACK THE PLACE IN PINK), TBA
9/26 *Northern Arizona, 8:30 pm (HOMECOMING), ESPN2
10/2 *at Idaho, 8:30 pm MT, ESPN
10/17 *at Eastern Washington, 5:00 pm MT, Scripps Sports/ESPN+
10/24 *Weber State, 1:00 pm (PARENT/FAMILY WEEKEND, NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY) , Scripps Sports/ESPN+
10/31 *Cal Poly, 1:00 pm (AG/MILITARY APPRECIATION) , Scripps Sports/ESPN+
11/7 *at Idaho State, 4:00 pm, Scripps Sports/ESPN+
11/14 *at Northern Colorado, 12:00 pm, Scripps Sports/ESPN+
11/21 *Montana, 12:00 pm (SENIOR DAY) , Scripps Sports/ESPN+
FULL BIG SKY CONFERENCE SCHEDULE (LEAGUE GAMES ONLY)
Friday, Aug. 28
Weber State at Northern Colorado | 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho at Cal Poly | 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN)
Saturday, Aug. 29
UC Davis at Portland State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Northern Arizona | 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Southern Utah at Montana | 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Montana State at Utah Tech | 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Saturday, Sept. 26
Cal Poly at Eastern Washington | 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Utah Tech at Northern Colorado | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State at Southern Utah | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Portland State at Weber State | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana at UC Davis | 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
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
Northern Colorado at Montana | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Weber State at Cal Poly | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Arizona at Idaho State | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Southern Utah at Utah Tech | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at UC Davis | 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN2)
Saturday, Oct. 10
Idaho at Weber State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Utah Tech at Portland State | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana at Northern Arizona | 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Cal Poly at Idaho State | 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Colorado at Eastern Washington | 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Saturday, Oct. 17
Idaho at Montana | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Idaho State at Weber State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana State at Eastern Washington | 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Portland State at Northern Arizona | 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Cal Poly at Northern Colorado | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
UC Davis at Southern Utah | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Saturday, Oct. 24
Weber State at Montana State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Utah Tech at Cal Poly | 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Southern Utah at Idaho | 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Portland State at Idaho State | 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Colorado at UC Davis | 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/KQCA My 58)
Saturday, Oct. 31
Cal Poly at Montana State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Northern Arizona at Southern Utah | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State at Utah Tech | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
UC Davis at Weber State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana at Eastern Washington | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Idaho at Portland State | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Saturday, Nov. 7
Portland State at Montana | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Northern Colorado at Southern Utah | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Arizona at Cal Poly | 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Idaho | 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Montana State at Idaho State | 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Utah Tech at UC Davis | 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/KQCA My 58)
Friday, Nov. 13
Southern Utah at Portland State | 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Saturday, Nov. 14
Montana State at Northern Colorado | 12:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
UC Davis at Idaho | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Weber State at Northern Arizona | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Utah Tech | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State at Montana | 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN Network TBD)
Saturday, Nov. 21
Montana at Montana State | 12:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Utah Tech at Weber State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Portland State at Eastern Washington | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Northern Colorado at Northern Arizona | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Cal Poly at UC Davis | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/KQCA My 58)
Idaho at Idaho State | 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
#GoCatsGo
The Bobcats, coming off the program's 2025 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) title, play nationally-televised games at Nevada (on The CW) on Sept. 12, against Northern Arizona at home (ESPN2) on Sept. 26, and at Idaho (ESPN) on Oct. 2, all beginning at 8:30 pm MT. MSU opens its season on Aug. 29 at Big Sky newcomer Utah Tech in the Trailblazers' first conference contest in its new league, and launches its home schedule a week later against Butler in the annual Gold Rush game on Sept. 5, kicking off at 6:30 pm.
Montana State closes the regular season with the annual Cat-Griz showdown on Nov. 21, with the traditional noon kickoff. MSU's game at Northern Colorado the week before is also scheduled for 12 noon. The team's other home games – Sept. 19 for Pack the Place in Pink against Central Connecticut State, Oct. 24 against Weber State for Parent/Family Weekend and Native American Heritage Day, and Oct. 31 against Cal Poly for Ag/Military Appreciation – kick off at 1 pm.
The Cats play a pair of league games in the late-afternoon window. Montana State visits Eastern Washington on Oct. 17 for a 5 pm MT kickoff, and Idaho State on Nov. 7 for a 4 pm kickoff.
MONTANA STATE IN 2026
8/29 *at Utah Tech, 8:00 pm, Scripps Sports/ESPN+
9/5 Butler, 6:30 pm (GOLD RUSH) , TBA
9/12 at Nevada, 8:30 pm MT, The CW
9/19 Central Connecticut State, 1:00 pm (PACK THE PLACE IN PINK), TBA
9/26 *Northern Arizona, 8:30 pm (HOMECOMING), ESPN2
10/2 *at Idaho, 8:30 pm MT, ESPN
10/17 *at Eastern Washington, 5:00 pm MT, Scripps Sports/ESPN+
10/24 *Weber State, 1:00 pm (PARENT/FAMILY WEEKEND, NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY) , Scripps Sports/ESPN+
10/31 *Cal Poly, 1:00 pm (AG/MILITARY APPRECIATION) , Scripps Sports/ESPN+
11/7 *at Idaho State, 4:00 pm, Scripps Sports/ESPN+
11/14 *at Northern Colorado, 12:00 pm, Scripps Sports/ESPN+
11/21 *Montana, 12:00 pm (SENIOR DAY) , Scripps Sports/ESPN+
FULL BIG SKY CONFERENCE SCHEDULE (LEAGUE GAMES ONLY)
Friday, Aug. 28
Weber State at Northern Colorado | 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho at Cal Poly | 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN)
Saturday, Aug. 29
UC Davis at Portland State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Northern Arizona | 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Southern Utah at Montana | 7:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Montana State at Utah Tech | 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Saturday, Sept. 26
Cal Poly at Eastern Washington | 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Utah Tech at Northern Colorado | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State at Southern Utah | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Portland State at Weber State | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana at UC Davis | 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
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
Northern Colorado at Montana | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Weber State at Cal Poly | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Arizona at Idaho State | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Southern Utah at Utah Tech | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at UC Davis | 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN2)
Saturday, Oct. 10
Idaho at Weber State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Utah Tech at Portland State | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana at Northern Arizona | 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Cal Poly at Idaho State | 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Colorado at Eastern Washington | 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Saturday, Oct. 17
Idaho at Montana | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Idaho State at Weber State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana State at Eastern Washington | 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Portland State at Northern Arizona | 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Cal Poly at Northern Colorado | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
UC Davis at Southern Utah | 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Saturday, Oct. 24
Weber State at Montana State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Utah Tech at Cal Poly | 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Southern Utah at Idaho | 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Portland State at Idaho State | 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Colorado at UC Davis | 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/KQCA My 58)
Saturday, Oct. 31
Cal Poly at Montana State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Northern Arizona at Southern Utah | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State at Utah Tech | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
UC Davis at Weber State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana at Eastern Washington | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Idaho at Portland State | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Saturday, Nov. 7
Portland State at Montana | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Northern Colorado at Southern Utah | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Northern Arizona at Cal Poly | 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Idaho | 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Montana State at Idaho State | 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Utah Tech at UC Davis | 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/KQCA My 58)
Friday, Nov. 13
Southern Utah at Portland State | 8:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Saturday, Nov. 14
Montana State at Northern Colorado | 12:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
UC Davis at Idaho | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Weber State at Northern Arizona | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Utah Tech | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho State at Montana | 8:30 p.m. MT (ESPN Network TBD)
Saturday, Nov. 21
Montana at Montana State | 12:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/Scripps Sports)
Utah Tech at Weber State | 1:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Portland State at Eastern Washington | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/SWX)
Northern Colorado at Northern Arizona | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Cal Poly at UC Davis | 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+/KQCA My 58)
Idaho at Idaho State | 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
#GoCatsGo
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