The Big Sky Conference looks to continue proving it’s the deepest league in the FCS. But it is still searching for the ultimate goal of winning a national championship for the first time since the 2010 season.
Six teams are ranked in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Media Poll.
RELATED: FCS Preseason Preview Central
Here’s a look at the upcoming Big Sky season, including names to know and our predicted order of finish.
Preseason All-Americans
Montana (4) — AP Junior Bergen (1st Team), TE Cole Grossman (2nd Team), LB Riley Wilson (2nd Team), CB Trevin Gradney (2nd Team)
Montana State (4) — OL Marcus Wehr (1st Team), DE Brody Grebe (1st Team), OL Justus Perkins (2nd Team), AP Tommy Mellott (2nd Team)
Idaho (2) — KR Abraham Williams (1st Team), DT Dallas Afalava (2nd Team)
Cal Poly (1) — DE Elijah Ponder (2nd Team)
Eastern Washington (1) — WR Efton Chism III (1st Team)
Sac State (1) — OL Jackson Slater (1st Team)
UC Davis (1) — RB Lan Larison (1st Team)
Teams Bringing In The Most D1 Transfers
FBS-to-FCS Transfers & FCS-to-FCS Transfers
Northern Arizona — 19 (14 FBS, 5 FCS)
Montana — 17 (13 FBS, 4 FCS)
Idaho State — 13 (8 FBS, 5 FCS)
Northern Colorado — 13 (10 FBS, 3 FCS)
Portland State — 12 (9 FBS, 3 FCS)
Sac State — 11 (8 FBS, 3 FCS)
Weber State — 10 (8 FBS, 2 FCS)
Eastern Washington — 9 (8 FBS, 1 FCS)
UC Davis — 9 (6 FBS, 3 FCS)
Idaho — 8 (3 FBS, 5 FCS)
Names To Know
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Lan Larison, UC Davis RB — In only eight games last year, Larison rushed 178 times for 1,101 yards (6.2 YPC) and 13 touchdowns, plus recorded 21 catches for 198 yards and two scores. He was named the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year, while PFF graded Larison as the No. 7 overall FCS running back.
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Brody Grebe, Montana State DE — Grebe is a two-year All-American and First Team All-Conference selection. In 2023, he totaled 50 tackles, 13 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, six QB hurries, and three forced fumbles.
TOP NFL PROSPECT: Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly DE — Ponder could be a mid-round draft pick next spring. An edge player at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Ponder went off for 52 tackles, 13 TFLs, 10 sacks, and 17 QB hurries last season. He graded out as PFF’s No. 7 FCS edge defender.
HERO Sports’ Predicted Order of Finish
t1. Montana
t1. Montana State
3. Idaho
4. Sac State
5. UC Davis
6. Weber State
7. Eastern Washington
8. Idaho State
9. Portland State
10. Northern Arizona
11. Northern Colorado
12. Cal Poly
Call it sitting on the fence, but I think Montana and Montana State are finishing 7-1 in Big Sky play, sharing the conference title. The Big Sky has had co-champs in five of the last eight years.
The two are loaded for a serious run at a national title.
Montana brings back a bulk of its offense and traditionally reloads defensively. If the Griz can find solid quarterback play, they have a chance to be special with an overall experienced offensive line and some of the best skilled talent in the FCS.
Montana State also returns a veteran offense and seven of its top 11 tacklers. MSU could own the best offense in the Big Sky and the FCS, returning its starting quarterback, five offensive linemen with significant starting experience, its top wide receiver, and its top four running backs.
Idaho could be a top defense in the conference, returning eight starters and 13 of its 18 players who tallied at least 250 snaps last year. But its offense has big-time question marks, losing its star quarterback, running back, and two receivers. Sac State is the opposite, returning an intact offensive unit that brings back its starting quarterback, All-Conference wide receiver, No. 2/3/4 running backs, and five offensive linemen who started at least six 2023 games. But only one of Sac State’s top 11 tacklers returns.
UC Davis is a team to watch out for after being left on the playoff bubble the last two seasons. The Aggies return their starting quarterback, All-American running back, top four wide receivers, top tight end, and three starting offensive linemen. Defensively, they bring back seven of their top 11 tacklers.
Weber State looks to be in the mix as well after finishing 2023 strong. Weber returns its starting quarterback from the end of the year, No. 2 and 3 running backs, and No. 2 wide receiver. But the offensive line loses four starters, and the defense loses its top six leaders in snaps.
Those six teams are ranked in the preseason polls, putting a divide between them and the bottom six teams. But Eastern Washington will be a scary out with a dynamic offense. Idaho State was decently competitive last fall. And Portland State will have an offense that will give defenses trouble.
