FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (May 26, 2026) – For the second consecutive season, Northern Arizona football will play in front of a national television audience following an announcement by the Big Sky Conference, in partnership with ESPN, on Wednesday. The Lumberjacks' trip to Bozeman, Mont. to face Montana State on Saturday, Sept. 26, will be televised on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. MST.
NAU's matchup against the defending FCS national champions at Bobcat Stadium is one of five Big Sky games to be featured on ESPN linear networks, the most for the league in one season.
"Our football program is extremely excited for our matchup against the defending FCS national champions, Montana State, on ESPN2," said head coach
Brian Wright. "This will be an incredible opportunity for our players to compete against the best while gaining exposure on a national stage."
The Lumberjacks were featured on ESPN2 last season when they hosted Idaho at Findlay Toyota Field at the Walkup Skydome on Halloween. Prior to last season, NAU's most recent game on ESPN's linear networks was 1988. This season will be their fourth all-time ESPN linear television game.
NAU will have a big opportunity to make a statement on national television taking on Montana State, who is coming off its first national title since 1984. The Bobcats will take a 14-game winning streak into the 2026 season, having won their final 14 games following an 0-2 start last season.
Due to the annual unbalanced conference schedule, the teams' matchup on Sept. 26 will be only the third in Bozeman since 2016. Montana State has won the previous two meetings at home in 2019 and 2023 and the last four overall since NAU won three consecutive head-to-head from 2015-17.
Season tickets and miniplans for NAU's six-game home schedule in the Walkup Skydome, kicking off on Saturday, Aug. 29 versus Eastern Washington, are available for purchase at this
link. Fans can also get more ticket information by emailing
LumberjackTicketOffice@nau.edu.
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