BIG SKY FOOTBALL: Spring schedule set; Teams to play six games starting Feb. 27
FARMINGTON, Utah — The Big Sky’s spring 2021 football schedule will feature 12 teams playing six conference games over an eight-week period, the Presidents’ Council approved earlier this week.
The 58th season of Big Sky football will kick off on Saturday, February 27, and conclude on Saturday, April 10. Two open dates are placed inside the schedule — March 20 and April 17 — to provide opportunities if needed for rescheduling games postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re excited,” said Idaho football coach Paul Petrino, whose teams opens the season against Northern Colorado on Feb. 27 in Moscow. “It’s great to know who we’re playing. Anytime you get to play your rivals, so we get to play our in-state rivals Idaho State, Eastern Washington and Montana. So I think that’s exciting and our guys will be excited for it. I think it will give our guys some momentum when we start planning everything. Our guys can’t wait to get going.”
Every team will play at least one home game and one away game in both the first three weeks and the last three weeks, and no team has three consecutive road games. The schedule maintains key rivalry matchups and bus trips to help reduce travel while each team faces at least three opponents from its original Fall 2020 schedule.
"Albeit this is an abbreviated version of the fall schedule, this opportunity allowed to us in spring by EWU President David May, our administrators, and the Big Sky Conference is truly something we are looking forward to," Eastern Washington head football coach Aaron Best said. "Preparations have been underway for quite some time now. Having the ability to put those preparations on display in a competitive manner is certainly something we have coveted and will do so in a safe and responsible manner."
“This spring football season certainly will be unique, and I am confident that all who care about our conference share in the sentiment that we cannot wait to watch our student-athletes and coaches compete for a Big Sky title and contend for the FCS championship,” Commissioner Tom Wistrcill said. “This schedule provides consistency by utilizing much of the original fall 2020 slate, flexibility by allowing space for games to be rescheduled, and sensibility by prioritizing regional matchups that minimize travel and expenses.”
Big Sky teams will not be permitted to play non-conference games in the spring. Twelve Big Sky teams will take the field in the spring of 2021, as Sacramento State announced on October 15 that it would not compete this season.
Game times and broadcast clearances will be announced at a later date. Each member institution will determine stadium capacities in accordance with local and/or state health ordinances and government officials.
The NCAA Board of Directors approved 2020 NCAA Division I fall championships to be played in the spring as outlined by the Division I Council. The FCS Playoffs will feature 16 teams with 11 automatic qualifiers and five at-large berths. The bracket will be announced on Sunday, April 18, with a champion being crowned in Frisco, Texas, on May 14, 15 or 16.
Home dates in CAPS
IDAHO
FEBRUARY
27 — NORTHERN COLORADO.
MARCH
6 — at Idaho State. 13 — PORTLAND STATE. 20 — Open. 27 — at Eastern Washington.
APRIL
3 — MONTANA. 10 — at Southern Utah. 17 — Open.
EASTERN WASHINGTON
FEBRUARY
27 — at Portland State.
MARCH
6 — MONTANA. 13 — at UC Davis. 20 — Open. 27 — IDAHO
APRIL
3 — at Montana State. 10 — CAL POLY. 17 — Open.
MONTANA
FEBRUARY
27 — at Northern Arizona.
MARCH
6 — at Eastern Washington. 13 — CAL POLY. 20 — Open. 27 — MONTANA STATE
APRIL
3 — at Idaho. 10 — PORTLAND STATE. 17 — Open.
MONTANA STATE
FEBRUARY
27 — at UC Davis
MARCH
6 — at Weber State. 13 — NORTHERN COLORADO. 20 — Open. 27 — at Montana State.
APRIL
3 — EASTERN WASHINGTON. 10 — IDAHO STATE. 17 — Open.