Idaho State’s Nov. 14 game at Montana will kick off at 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time and air nationally on ESPN2. The broadcast gives the Bengals their first national ESPN Network appearance under coach Cody Hawkins, with two ranked teams facing off in Missoula.

By the Numbers
  • Montana is No. 12 and Idaho State is No. 22 in the latest FCS Stats Perform Top 25.
  • The Big Sky has five nationally televised games on ESPN or ESPN2 in 2026; home teams have won the first four.
Yes, But

Montana is pursuing its 30th FCS playoff appearance, while Idaho State is aiming for its first postseason berth since 1983.

State of Play
  • The game will be played at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula.
  • It is the third Big Sky football game on ESPN2 this season.
What's Next

The teams meet Saturday, Nov. 14, with national exposure—and playoff ambitions—on the line.

Bottom Line

A late-season matchup between two ranked Big Sky teams now has a national stage, and Idaho State will look to break the home-team winning trend in the conference’s televised games.