FARMINGTON, Utah (July 20, 2026) – Preseason expectations, according to the Big Sky Conference head coaches and media, are once again high for the Northern Arizona football team heading into the 2026. For the second consecutive season, the Lumberjacks were slotted fourth in the Preseason Coaches Poll and fifth in the Media Poll as NAU is expected to contend for an FCS Playoff berth in the new-look Big Sky Conference.
In the Coaches Poll, in which the league's head coaches could not vote for their own team, NAU is lined up behind Montana State, Montana and UC Davis. In the Media Poll, Montana State, Montana and UC Davis occupy the top three spots in order with Idaho State flipped for NAU in the fourth spot and the Lumberjacks in fifth.
Montana State, the defending FCS national champion, was a near unanimous favorite in both polls. The Bobcats received 11 of 13 first-place votes from the coaches and 35 of 38 first-place votes from the media. NAU will travel to Bozeman, Mont. to face Montana State in a nationally-televised game on ESPN2 on Sept. 26.
The top three teams in both polls – Montana State, Montana and UC Davis – each qualified for last season's FCS Playoffs. It marked the conference's fewest playoff participants in a full season since 2017. Outside of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted spring and fall 2021 seasons, the Big Sky had placed at least four teams in the postseason from 2017-24.
NAU is coming off its second consecutive winning season, finishing 2025 with a 7-5 mark and 4-4 record in conference play. It is the first time in a decade that the Lumberjacks have posted back-to-back winning seasons. The 15 combined wins under head coach
Brian Wright over the last two seasons are the program's most since 2013-14.
The Lumberjacks will be led by Walter Payton Watch List quarterback
Ty Pennington in 2026 as they look to return to the FCS Playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
NAU kicks off the 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 29, at home on Findlay Toyota Field at the Walkup Skydome versus Eastern Washington at 2 p.m.
The full 2026 schedule is available
here. Tickets for the six-game home schedule, including season tickets, mini-plans and single-game tickets, are available for purchase now at this
link.
Stay up to date with Northern Arizona football by following the Lumberjacks on
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Instagram.
2026 Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll (First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
1. Montana State (11) – 143
2. Montana – 130
3. UC Davis (2) – 121
4. Northern Arizona – 108
5. Idaho State – 99
6. Southern Utah – 82
7. Idaho – 77
8. Eastern Washington – 70
9. Weber State – 48
10. Northern Colorado – 47
11. Cal Poly – 46
12. Portland State – 24
13. Utah Tech – 19
2026 Big Sky Preseason Media Poll (First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
1. Montana State (35) – 490
2. Montana (1) – 448
3. UC Davis (2) – 421
4. Idaho State – 349
5. Northern Arizona – 339
6. Idaho – 283
7. Southern Utah – 273
8. Eastern Washington – 246
9. Cal Poly – 168
10. Weber State – 155
11. Northern Colorado – 153
12. Portland State – 68
13. Utah Tech – 65
