Awards

Bobcats consensus pick in preseason polls to repeat as Big Sky champions

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FARMINGTON, Utah (July 17, 2025) – The Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches’ and Media Polls have been released, with Montana State tabbed as the league favorites in both heading into the 2025 football season. 

Thursday’s news comes in advance of the 2025 Big Sky Kickoff Weekend, sponsored by the Northern Quest Resort & Casino and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, which is slated for July 18-21 in Spokane, Washington. 

The Bobcats, who received 30 first-place votes from the media and seven from the league’s head coaches, won the Big Sky title last season after a perfect 8-0 mark in conference play. Big Sky Freshman of the Year Adam Jones leads a Bobcat roster that looks to win its third conference title since 2022. 

Montana and UC Davis round out the top-three spots in both polls. In the media poll, Montana edged out the Aggies with six first-place votes to the Aggies’ four to claim the two and three spots respectively. In the coaches’ poll, UC Davis claims the two spot by a tight four-point margin over the Grizzlies.

Big Sky Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Montana State (7) – 117
2. UC Davis (1) – 100
3. Montana (2) – 96
4. Northern Arizona (1) – 94
5. Idaho – 81
6. Sacramento State (1) – 73 
7. Idaho State – 56
8. Weber State – 55
9. Eastern Washington – 48 
10. Portland State – 32
11. Cal Poly – 25 
12. Northern Colorado – 15

*Parentheses denotes first-place vote // Coaches could not vote for their own team


Big Sky Preseason Media Poll
1. Montana State (30) – 488
2. Montana (6) – 434
3. UC Davis (4) – 399
4. Idaho (1) – 364
5. Northern Arizona – 354
6. Sacramento State (1) – 282
7. Idaho State – 247
8. Eastern Washington – 225
9. Weber State – 192
10. Portland State – 140
11. Cal Poly – 94
12. Northern Colorado – 57

*Parentheses denotes first-place vote

About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

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