Big Sky Now

Host Luke Schmit went to the 2026 Big Sky Conference Football Media Day in Spokane, Washington. Luke got a chance to sit down with Bobcat standouts Caden and Taco Dowler and head coach Brent Vigen fresh off Montana State's national championship season, talking legacy, loyalty and what it takes to defend a title.

Caden and Taco Dowler talk about what it means to represent the state that raised them, and why the in-state pipel...

While at Big Sky Conference's 2026 Media Day in Spokane, host Luke Schmit got a chance to sit down with the University of Montana's new football coach and standout players. New head coach Bobby Kennedy, running back Eli Gilman and linebacker Peyton Wing talk about the transition to a new era of Grizzly football, in-state recruiting, and life in Missoula.

Montana's new head coach opens up about stepping into the top job after years a...

The Big Sky football season is almost here, and our crew is breaking down everything they learned from the 2026 Big Sky Conference Football Media Day in Spokane, Washington.

Host Luke Schmit is joined by Daily Inter Lake Sports Editor Fritz Neighbor, Coeur d'Alene Press Sports Editor Mark Nelke and Columbia Basin Herald Sports Reporter Mike Maynard after a full day of interviews with coaches and players from across the confe...

Bobby Hauck has officially retired as head coach of Montana football, and on this episode of Big Sky Now, the Daily Inter Lake panel breaks down what it means for the Griz, the Big Sky Conference, and the future of FCS football.

Host Luke Schmit is joined by Daily Inter Lake's sports editor Fritz Neighbor and reporter Jon Allen to unpack the timing and nuance behind Hauck’s decision — from his growing frustration...

Montana State is your FCS National Champion! On this episode of Big Sky Now, Luke Schmit is joined by Fritz Neighbor, Jon Allen, and Mark Nelke to break down an unforgettable overtime victory over Illinois State in Nashville — the Bobcats’ first national title in 41 years.

The panel dives into the turning points that defined the game, including Illinois State’s second-half control, the blocked field goal th...

Montana State is back on top of the FCS!

Host Luke Schmit is joined by Daily Inter Lake sports reporter Jon Allen to immediately break down Montana State’s FCS National Championship victory over Illinois State in Nashville on Monday night. The Bobcats captured their second national title in program history, surviving a dramatic overtime battle that tested their discipline, depth, and resilience.

Luke and Jon ana...

Montana State is one win away from an FCS national championship, and Big Sky Now is on the ground in Nashville. Host Luke Schmit is joined by Daily Inter Lake sports editor Fritz Neighbor, who joins from Tennessee ahead of the title matchup between the Bobcats and Illinois State.

Fritz breaks down Montana State’s preparation, the fan presence taking over Broadway, and what he learned from media day interviews with Bobc...

The FCS National Championship is finally here, and the Big Sky Now panel breaks down everything surrounding Montana State vs Illinois State in Nashville. Host Luke Schmit is joined by Fritz Neighbor, Jon Allen, Mike Maynard, and Mark Nelke to analyze the key matchups, coaching storylines, and historical stakes facing both programs.

The discussion centers on Montana State’s dominant rushing attack, elite line play, and champion...

On this episode of Big Sky Now, Luke Schmit sits down with Ortt to break down Montana State’s dominant postseason run - including the Cat–Griz showdown in Bozeman, the Bobcats’ continued 13-game winning streak, and what separates this year’s team from last season’s national championship squad. Ortt shares what it was like watching the rivalry game as a fan, how MSU responded after losing key leaders fr...

The Big Sky Now panel breaks down a pivotal weekend of Big Sky Conference playoff football, including Montana’s road loss to Montana State in Bozeman and Illinois State’s postseason win that sends the Redbirds deeper into the bracket. The crew reacts to what went wrong for the Griz against the Cats, how Montana State controlled the matchup at home, and what Illinois State’s advancement means for the conference on ...

This week on Big Sky Now, host Luke Schmit and the panel break down a massive quarterfinal weekend in the 2025 FCS Playoffs for Big Sky Conference teams. The Montana Grizzlies knocked off the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 50–29 behind big performances from their offense, while Montana State topped Stephen F. Austin 44–28. In a surprise upset, Illinois State knocked off UC Davis 42–31.

In a first-ever playo...

This week on Big Sky Now, host Luke Schmit brings together Fritz Neighbor, Jon Allen, and Mark Nelke for a full breakdown of the second round of the FCS playoffs and a deep dive into the biggest headlines shaping the Big Sky Conference. The panel analyzes Montana’s statement win over South Dakota State, Montana State’s matchup with Yale and the sideline confrontation involving Julius Davis, UC Davis’ huge offensiv...

The Big Sky Now panel breaks down everything you need to know heading into Round 2 of the FCS Playoffs — starting with the most dramatic moments from Round 1. Yale’s stunning comeback, South Dakota State’s snow-storm domination, North Dakota’s statement win, and Rhode Island’s fast start all set the tone for a wild postseason.

Luke Schmit, Fritz Neighbor, Mark Nelke, and Mike Maynard also revisi...

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, Nor...

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...

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 th...

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 reg...

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&rsquo...

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 ev...