The Big Sky Conference will host its annual football kickoff weekend from July 25‑27 at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Spokane, Washington, marking the official start of the 2025 season for all member schools.
The three‑day program features a slate of football‑related sessions, a Hall of Fame gala on Saturday night, and a four‑hour broadcast block that begins at 10 a.m. MT on July 27. Coverage will be streamed live on ESPN+ and through Scripps Sports.
Key Participants
University of Northern Colorado head coach Ed Lamb, entering his fourth season, will be joined by senior offensive lineman Levi Johnson and junior defensive lineman Blake Weslin. Both players have been mainstays on the Bears’ line for the past two years and are expected to play pivotal roles in the upcoming campaign.
The event will also welcome Bobby Kennedy, the newly appointed head coach at the University of Montana, a 1989 graduate of UNC, and the conference’s Hall of Fame class, which includes Dennis Erickson, a two‑time national champion coach from the University of Miami.
Season Outlook
The Bears open their 12‑game schedule on Friday, Aug. 28, with a home matchup against Big Sky rival Weber State, the first ever night game at Nottingham Field, scheduled for 7 p.m. The team will face nine conference opponents — four at home and five on the road — before concluding the regular season on Nov. 14 against defending champion Montana State.
Conference realignment remains a talking point, as Utah Tech and Southern Utah officially join the league on July 1, while Sacramento State prepares to depart. The expanded footprint sets the stage for new rivalries and travel challenges throughout the year.
Fans and media alike will use the kickoff weekend to gauge team chemistry, assess early‑season storylines, and celebrate the conference’s growing footprint across the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain regions.