Coaches voted Weber State eighth and media voted the Wildcats ninth in the 12-team league. Montana State was a heavy favorite in both polls to take the No. 1 spot.

In the coaches poll, voted upon by the league’s 12 head coaches, Montana State pulled in seven first-place votes. Montana had two, and UC Davis, Northern Arizona and Sacramento State each had one first-place vote.

The media poll had 42 ballots cast. Montana State had 30 of those first-place votes while Montana had six, UC Davis four, Idaho one and Sacramento State one.

Montana State is the defending champ after going 8-0 in the Big Sky last season.

The two polls are the appetizer of the Big Sky’s Kickoff Weekend coming Saturday through Monday in Spokane, Washington. The league says preseason MVP and all-conference votes will be revealed Sunday.

Monday is considered media day, starting at 10 a.m. MDT and streaming on ESPN+. The Big Sky says it plans to air four hours of live coverage featuring interviews with all 12 football teams, commissioner Tom Wistrcill and other “special guests.”

Weber State tries to bounce back from a 4-8 season and opens the 2025 slate with four of its first five games on the road, beginning Aug. 30 at James Madison.

BIG SKY COACHES POLL

1. Montana State (7) – 117

2. UC Davis (1) – 100

3. Montana (2) – 96

4. Northern Arizona (1) – 94

5. Idaho – 81

6. Sacramento State (1) – 73

7. Idaho State – 56

8. Weber State – 55

9. Eastern Washington – 48

10. Portland State – 32

11. Cal Poly – 25

12. Northern Colorado – 15

BIG SKY MEDIA POLL

1. Montana State (30) – 488

2. Montana (6) – 434

3. UC Davis (4) – 399

4. Idaho (1) – 364

5. Northern Arizona – 354

6. Sacramento State (1) – 282

7. Idaho State – 247

8. Eastern Washington – 225

9. Weber State – 192

10. Portland State – 140

11. Cal Poly – 94

12. Northern Colorado – 57