Northwest Notes Jan. 7, 2025

Big Sky, ESPN announce media rights extension

A new media rights agreement between the Big Sky Conference and ESPN will begin in 2025-26 and go through the 2029-30 season.

The agreement doubles the number of nationally televised football games, with a minimum of four regular-season games televised on a Friday or Saturday, with a minimum of two of those on ESPN or ESPN2.

ESPN will continue to televise at least one men's regular season conference basketball game, as well as three men's conference tournament games and one women's conference tourney game.

For the men, at least one of the two nationally televised semifinal games will be on either ESPN or ESPN2, with the championship game on ESPN or ESPN2. The women's title game will continue to air on ESPNU.

All home and conference tournament contests in football, men's and women's basketball, soccer, volleyball and softball will continue to air on ESPN+, as well as conference championships for several other Big Sky sports.

EWU announces future nonconference football opponents

CHENEY — Eastern Washington football has its nonconference schedule for the 2025 season set and its opponents for future seasons are moving into focus. 

EWU has three non-conference matchups set for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

Eastern opens the ‘25 season with three road games as the Eagles travel to play the Incarnate Word, Boise State and Northern Iowa. 

Incarnate Word advanced to the 2024 FCS playoff quarterfinals after defeating Villanova in the second round. 

The most recent matchup between EWU and Northern Iowa came in the first round of the 2021 FCS playoffs where the Eagles advanced after a 19-9 win at Roos Field. 

To close out their 2025 nonconference slate, Eastern will host Western Illinois. The Eagles and Leathernecks met once before during the 2021 season, with EWU winning a shootout, 62-56.

In 2026, Eastern begins the season by hosting Northern Iowa to finish the home-and-home series against the Panthers. 

EWU will then go on the road to play South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D., followed by a trip to Seattle to play Washington. The Eagles fell to South Dakota 30-17 in 2011 in their only meeting.

South Dakota earned the No. 4 seed in the 2024 FCS Playoffs and made it to the semifinals before losing to No. 2 Montana State.

The Eagles open the 2027 season at Oregon. Eastern has faced off against the Ducks twice in program history, last playing in Eugene in the 2022 season.

Following the matchup against Oregon, Eastern plays two games in Cheney, completing two more home-and-home series against South Dakota and Incarnate Word. 

For the latest schedule update and team information, visit goeags.com.