Spokane Kickoff Weekend Overview
The Big Sky Conference will host its annual football kickoff weekend from July 25‑27 at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Spokane, Washington. The gathering brings together coaches, players and conference officials for a series of football‑related sessions, interviews and a Hall of Fame gala that kicks off on Saturday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Coverage of the weekend begins at 10 a.m. MT on Monday, July 27, and will be streamed on ESPN+ and Scripps Sports. Meghan Robinson of the Big Sky Conference and Kyle Hansen of Scripps Sports will co‑host the event, which will feature a lineup of coaches including new University of Montana head coach Bobby Kennedy, a 1989 graduate of UNC.
UNC’s own head coach Ed Lamb will be joined by offensive lineman Levi Johnson and defensive lineman Blake Weslin. Johnson, a senior from Colorado Springs, has been a mainstay on the offensive line for the past two seasons, while Weslin, a junior from Lakewood, appeared in all 12 games last fall and recorded 24 tackles.
The conference’s Hall of Fame class includes Dennis Erickson, a two‑time national‑title‑winning coach who previously led the University of Miami. Erickson’s induction adds a historic dimension to the weekend’s festivities.
Looking ahead, the UNC football team will open its 12‑game regular season on Friday, August 28, with a home matchup against Big Sky opponent Weber State. The game, scheduled to start at 7 p.m., will mark the first-ever night game at Nottingham Field and serve as the Bears’ first contest of the year.
This season the Bears will play nine Big Sky games — four at home and five on the road — culminating in a November 14 showdown with defending champion Montana State, the conference’s final home game of the regular schedule.
The Big Sky Conference is also expanding its membership, welcoming Utah Tech and Southern Utah as of July 1, while Sacramento State prepares to depart. The upcoming season promises new rivalries and heightened competition across the league.