Big Sky Announces 9 Game Conference Schedule for 2026
  • BlueGoldAg
    1.7k
    FARMINGTON, Utah – The Big Sky Conference announced, on Tues., Oct. 28, the 2026 conference schedule and a move to a nine-game conference slate with UC Davis football set to play five games at home as part of its 2026 lineup. It's the first time the Big Sky Conference will have a nine-game slate and it came apart thanks to the NCAA extending the Football Championship Subdivision's length of games from 11 to 12.

    "I'm a huge proponent of the nine-game conference schedule," said head coach Tim Plough. "We have the best conference in the country and the best competition we can create for our teams are to play each other week in and week out. It also helps scheduling non-conference opponents because it's difficult for teams in conference to find other teams willing to play us.

    "I am excited for the future of UC Davis football. We will continue to find joy in our process of working to being the best we can possibly be when our best is needed."

    https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2025/10/28/football-big-sky-announces-nine-game-2026-conference-schedule.aspx

    2026 Schedule:

    8/29 @ Portland State
    9/05 @ San Diego
    9/12 @ Southern Methodist
    9/19 vs Stetson
    9/26 vs Montana
    10/03 vs Eastern Washington
    10/17 @ Southern Utah
    10/24 vs Northern Colorado
    10/31 @ Weber State
    11/07 vs Utah Tech
    11/14 @ Idaho
    11/21 vs Cal Poly

    Big Sky Week by Week Schedule here:

    https://bigskyconf.com/news/2025/10/28/big-sky-conference-announces-2026-football-schedule.aspx
    BlueGoldAg Options
  • Jdur
    541
    Okay. I think the Big Sky is one of 2 of the best conferences in the FCS but the additions of Utah Tech and SUU dont really add anything. I for one would be much happier if this was an announcement moving to the MW. Now, being in the Big Sky does have its perks though. I am excited for the griz to come here and have cal poly at home. Stetson is a lame ass game.
    Jdur Options
  • davisguy52
    137
    Looks favorable for the ags. SMU is a wild matchup. Weird we play Idaho in Moscow two years in a row
    davisguy52 Options
  • eastbayaggie
    182
    No Sacramento State
    eastbayaggie Options
  • BaseballAtDobbins
    209
    ↪BlueGoldAg
    Sad to not see Sac but ending with CP is good. I'm glad that with this schedule reshuffle we'll see the Ags at UI again next year instead of Cheney.

    A nice thing about this is that other than maybe Weber, no cold weather games.
    BaseballAtDobbins Options
  • BaseballAtDobbins
    209
    ↪davisguy52
    its honestly more weird that they play up here at the very end of the season. This season and the previous visit were all around Veterans Day. I considered going to Cheney in October next yr but UI is closer to me. The only downside is I don't like buying tickets this late until a week before due to snow. Forecast looks good so will probably buy this weekend.

    Someone at my church who is an alum of Davis was surprised that the schedules are announced over three years in advance. I told him it's common for football esp FBS. I told him about the game next weekend and he's going on his own to it. Told him about wazzu match-up too.
    BaseballAtDobbins Options
  • Pacifico2
    306
    Two road scrimmages to start the season.
    SMU is a wild matchup
    JDur is correct, Stetson is a lame ass game
    Schedule the Montana game for a noon or 1pm kickoff in September
    The rest is very favorable
    Sorry to see Sac State go but like Poly at the end

    Go Ags!
    Pacifico2 Options
  • SochorField
    666
    I'm glad the Big Sky saw the importance of Davis/Poly on the last weekend. Hopefully now that Sac ditched, Big Sky will schedule Davis/Poly like this every year.
    SochorField Options
  • DavisAggie
    73
    ↪Pacifico2
    "Schedule the Montana game for a noon or 1pm kickoff in September"

    I still have PTSD from the 2007 opener
    DavisAggie Options
  • SochorField
    666
    The 8/29 conference games are weird. Great that we open with PSU though.
    SochorField Options
  • eastbayaggie
    182
    I don't know anything about Stetson, and apparently Massey ratings have Stetson as the worst of all FCS football teams.
    eastbayaggie Options
  • fugawe09
    388
    ↪eastbayaggie
    Stetson is a small private college located in DeLand, FL, a kind of artsy town out in the swamps between Orlando and Daytona. Locally, they are better known for their law school in Tampa and graduate business school in Celebration (the wealthy Disney community). It’s easy to forget they have an undergraduate campus and athletics. They dropped football in the 1950s and rebooted in the 2010s.
    fugawe09 Options
  • BlueGoldAg
    1.7k
    I still have PTSD from the 2007 opener — DavisAggie

    ...as do I! That was the hottest, most miserable game I ever attended. It could still be a cooker even with a 7 pm kickoff vs Montana on September 26.
    BlueGoldAg Options
  • DrMike
    1.3k
    SMU will be our first ACC opponent. Washington was our first BIG10, TCU, long ago, was BIg12…so I think we’re down to the SEC for a major conference opponent!
    DrMike Options
  • davisguy52
    137
    ↪DrMike
    wasn't Cal in the ACC when we played them last yr?
    davisguy52 Options
  • BaseballAtDobbins
    209
    ↪Pacifico2
    I know afternoon games could be an advantage but having it at night after school starts they will have it be something like a 6 or 7pm start to maximize attendance.
    BaseballAtDobbins Options
  • BaseballAtDobbins
    209
    ↪davisguy52
    they were. First season in the ACC.
    BaseballAtDobbins Options
  • SochorField
    666
    Two of the worst teams in the country on the schedule: Portland State and Stetson.
    SochorField Options
  • BaseballAtDobbins
    209
    ↪SochorField
    it's a chance to play a Grizz like schedule for D1 wins. I prefer this strategy to series with NDSU or SDSU or two buy games at FBS.
    BaseballAtDobbins Options
  • DrMike
    1.3k
    ↪davisguy52
    you are correct - I was thinking Cal was 2 seasons ago.
    DrMike Options
  • SochorField
    666
    MSU gets Montana
    Montana gets MSU and Davis
    Davis gets Montana

    At first glance the Big Sky title is between potential 1 loss teams- MSU and Davis.

    Having Brawl every year can make it harder for MSU and UM to win the title as they play eachother every year.
    As Cal Poly improves to the BSC top-tier, this could be a thing for Davis as well.
    SochorField Options
  • cmt
    253
    ↪eastbayaggie
    Yeah, that's definitely weird to see.
    cmt Options
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