Northwest Notes July 20, 2024

Idaho-Montana State football game to air on ESPN2

FARMINGTON, Utah — For the second-straight year, Big Sky football will have a pair of conference games televised on ESPN2 — Idaho at Montana State (Oct. 12) and UC Davis at Montana (Nov. 9).

Both are scheduled for 7:15 p.m. PT kickoff times later this fall. 

Last season, Idaho beat Montana State 24-21 at the Kibbie Dome. UC Davis will seek its second straight victory in Missoula after winning against Montana for the first time ever back in 2018.  

Montana, Montana State and Idaho all earned national (top-8) seeds for last year’s FCS playoffs.

As far as 2024 preseason rankings go, HeroSports had Montana (No. 3), Montana State (No. 4), Idaho (No. 7) and UC Davis (No. 21) all in its Top 25 earlier this month. 

Since the Big Sky’s latest partnership with ESPN began in 2021, the conference has had seven of its football teams (more than half of the league) featured in linear network games on ESPN. 

WSU to begin preseason football practice July 31

PULLMAN — Washington State Football will begin its preseason football practice schedule Wednesday, July 31, with a morning practice at Rogers Practice Field, WSU coach Jake Dickert announced Friday. 

The first of 25 practices will lead into WSU’s season opener Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Portland State at Gesa Field (noon, CW Network).

The Cougars begin with helmets-only practices the first two days of fall camp, and will add shoulder pads day three. The first practice in full pads is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 6. 

Scrimmages are scheduled for Aug. 10 and 17.