Big Sky Now

It was one of the biggest weekends of the season, and Week 13 delivered shakeups across the Big Sky. On this episode of Big Sky Now, host Luke Schmit is joined by Fritz Neighbor, Jon Allen, Mark Nelke, and Mike Maynard to break down Montana State’s Brawl of the Wild victory, playoff positioning, and the final regular-season outcomes across the conference. The crew dives into Eastern Washington’s close to the season, Northern Colora...

The Brawl of the Wild is more than Montana’s biggest football rivalry — it’s a lifelong experience that shapes every player who steps onto the field. This week on Big Sky Now, host Luke Schmit sits down with former Montana linebacker Ryan Tirrell and former Montana State safety Rylan Ortt to talk about what it’s really like to compete in this historic matchup.

From childhood friendships in Missoula to battling on opposite ...

Week 12 brought major momentum shifts across the Big Sky as teams fight for playoff position. On this episode of Big Sky Now, host Luke Schmit and the Daily Inter Lake sports panel recap Montana’s strong finish to conference play, Montana State’s statement win at home, Idaho’s tough loss on the road, and key performances from Eastern Washington, Sacramento State, and Northern Arizona.

Then the crew turns the focus to one o...

It’s crunch time in the Big Sky Conference, and the playoff picture is starting to take shape. On this week’s Big Sky Now podcast, the panel breaks down how Montana squeaked past Eastern Washington, how Montana State continues its dominance over Weber State, and Idaho’s tough home loss to UC Davis.

We dig into the key takeaways from Week 11 and what’s at stake heading into the final weekend of the regular season. From FCS ...

The Big Sky Conference race is tightening — and the Montana Grizzlies continue to roll. Host Luke Schmit of the Daily Inter Lake is joined by the Big Sky Now panel to break down Week 9’s biggest matchups and preview the storylines shaping Week 10. From Montana’s dominant win over Sacramento State and Montana State’s ground game resurgence, to Eastern Washington’s midseason turnaround and UC Davis’ depth — the crew covers every team...

This week on Big Sky Now, host Luke Schmit and the BSN panel break down all the action from Week 8 and preview a full slate of games in Week 9 across the Big Sky Conference. From Montana’s gritty win over Sacred Heart and Eastern Washington’s statement upset over Idaho, to Sacramento State’s late-game heroics and Northern Colorado’s near miss — we’ve got analysis, reactions, and predictions on every matchup. Plus, a look ahead to k...

Montana rallies in a dramatic homecoming comeback, Idaho suffers a shocking home loss, and Northern Colorado stuns the Big Sky with a historic upset. Host Luke Schmit of the Daily Inter Lake and the Hagadone Sports Network crew breaks down Week 7’s biggest moments — from standout performances by Montana’s Eli Gillman and UC Davis’s Caden Pinnick to Sacramento State’s dominant ground game — and preview the key Week 8 matchups that c...

Week 6 of Big Sky football didn’t disappoint — from Montana’s thrilling rally in Pocatello to Montana State’s dominant ground game and Idaho’s push for playoff positioning. Host Luke Schmit of the Daily Inter Lake and the panel breaks down every highlight, stat, and standout player, plus NFL updates from former Big Sky stars like Cooper Kupp, Ty Okada, and Rashid Shaheed.

Then, the crew previews Week 7 — including Montana ...

This week on Big Sky Now, host Luke Schmit and the panel break down everything from Week 5 of Big Sky Conference football and look ahead to Week 6. We kick things off highlighting NFL players making their mark from Big Sky programs, including Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington) and Rashid Shaheed (Weber State). Then we dive into Montana’s huge rivalry win over Idaho for the Little Brown Stein, Cal Poly’s shocking upset over Sacramento...

Week 4 brought drama across the Big Sky Conference — Montana rolled past Indiana State, Montana State stalled in the second half, and Idaho let a huge one slip away against San Jose State. Our panel breaks it all down, from Idaho State’s 90-point explosion to Eastern Washington’s first win of the season. We spotlight Big Sky standouts making noise in the NFL, including Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, Ty Okada, and Alex Singleton. Plus...

Week three in the Big Sky Conference delivered drama, comebacks, and statement wins. The Montana Grizzlies edged North Dakota in a thriller, Montana State secured its first victory of the season, and Idaho powered past Utah Tech with a ground-heavy attack. We also break down Eastern Washington’s fight against Northern Iowa, preview key non-conference finales, and make our bold picks for week four—including Idaho’s shot at San Jose ...

The Big Sky Now team breaks down an action-packed Week 2 of Big Sky Conference football, including Montana State’s overtime battle with South Dakota State, Northern Colorado’s controversial near-upset of Colorado State, and Montana’s gritty home opener. We also highlight Big Sky standouts making an impact in the NFL—like Cooper Kupp, Alex Singleton, and Rashid Shaheed—before previewing a huge Week 3 slate featuring Montana vs. Nort...

The 2025 Big Sky football season is rolling, and we’re breaking down everything you need to know from Week 1 and looking ahead to Week 2. We start with Big Sky alumni making NFL practice squads—including Patrick O’Connell, Junior Bergen, and more—before diving into Montana State’s tough opener at Oregon, Sacramento State’s struggles, and Idaho’s near-upset of Washington State. Then we preview Week 2’s biggest matchups, including Mo...

Big Sky Now breaks down an action-packed Week 0 in Big Sky Conference football and looks ahead to an exciting Week 1 slate. The crew dives into Idaho State’s shootout with UNLV, Portland State’s rough 42-0 loss to Tarleton State, and UC Davis’ no-contest against Mercer after lightning struck. Our panel - Luke Schmit, Fritz Neighbor, Jon Allen, Mark Nelke, and Mike Maynard - share their takeaways, biggest storylines, and what these ...

The Northern Colorado Bears are gearing up for the 2025 Big Sky football season, and offensive coordinator Justin Walterscheid and quarterback Peter Costelli are ready to lead the charge. In reporter Luke Schmit's exclusive Big Sky Now interview, Walterscheid reflects on 17 seasons of coaching experience, lessons from Southern Utah’s championship runs, and how he’s shaping UNC’s offensive identity. Costelli shares his mindset ...

The 2025 season is here, and Big Sky Now is breaking down everything you need to know about the Big Sky Conference. Luke Schmit of the Daily Inter Lake leads the charge with sports editor Fritz Neighbor, reporter Jon Allen, Coeur d'Alene Press' sports editor Mark Nelke, and Columbia Basin Herald's Mike Maynard. We cover preseason storylines, key transfers, and players to watch, plus make our MVP picks, conference cha...

The Big Sky Now team reunites to break down everything you need to know before the 2024 Big Sky Conference football season kicks off. From MSU’s offensive line dominance to Sacramento State’s transfer shakeup and controversial preseason snubs, this episode covers the key headlines, bold predictions, and sleeper teams to watch. 

Daily Inter Lake’s Josh Amick, Fritz Neighbor, and Jon Allen break down the Big Sky preseason polls, MVP f...

This week on Big Sky Now, Daily Inter Lake's Josh Amick, Jon Allen, and Fritz Neighbor break down where the top Big Sky Conference football stars landed in the NFL and CFL drafts — and what it means for their professional futures. From Sacramento State’s Jackson Slater and Idaho’s Marcus Harris getting drafted to MSU’s Tommy Mellott and North Dakota State’s Cam Miller heading to the Raiders, we dig into the names you know and ...

The Big Sky Conference is buzzing — and this week’s episode has it all. Daily Inter Lake's Josh Amick, Fritz Neighbor and Jon Allen break down Montana’s spring game, from standout performers to incoming players who made an early impression, and what the Griz can build on heading into fall camp.

The spring transfer portal window is open, and we’re talking about which Big Sky teams might make key additions and where the biggest n...