FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (August 25, 2026) – A Week 0 game already presents challenges in itself. Add in a Week 0 game that also serves as a conference opener and that is what lies ahead for No. 25/24 Northern Arizona on Saturday when Eastern Washington visits Findlay Toyota Field at the Walkup Skydome. Kickoff from Flagstaff is 2 p.m. MST.
James Malamas and Kevin Stephens will be in the booth with Adriana Sparks on the sideline for the broadcast on the Northern Arizona Healthcare NAU Lumberjack Radio Network and ESPN+. The radio pregame show begins at 1 p.m. MST.
Fans can purchase tickets at this
link.
"I'm proud of how hard our guys worked through the offseason and into preseason camp," said head coach
Brian Wright. "We have a competitive and hungry football team. This is a meaningful and impactful football game off the bat in Week 0 and we're excited for that and getting this new season started."
Stakes will be high right from the start with a Week 0 game also serving as the conference opener for both teams. With the additions of Southern Utah and Utah Tech to the Big Sky Conference in 2026, the league moved to a nine-game conference schedule this season, prompting the conference to open play in Week 0. This week's Week 0 game will mark the first time ever – in a full season – that the Lumberjacks open with a Big Sky Conference game. The only other time NAU started a season with a Big Sky game was the COVID-19 impacted Spring 2021 season when the league played an abbreviated conference-only schedule.
NAU begins the season nationally-ranked for the second consecutive season, ranked No. 25 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 and No. 24 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. Voted fourth in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll and fifth in the Preseason Media Poll, NAU looks to bounceback from what it deems was a disappointing season in 2025. The Lumberjacks narrowly missed the FCS Playoffs despite posting a 7-5 record, their second straight winning season under Wright.
"We spent a lot of time after last season in self-reflection," Wright said. "We were so disappointed with how last season ended. We had to get back to the roots and the foundation and we focused on how we could strengthen those things. We talked about being authentic and real. We wanted to be honest with each other. We took all of those things from a year ago and dialed in on our process to focus on where we're at."
The Lumberjacks, who are 9-2 at home in the Walkup Skydome over the last two seasons, welcome the Eagles to Flagstaff after both teams finished in a tie for sixth in the Big Sky standings last season. NAU (7-5 overall) and Eastern Washington (5-7) both posted identical 4-4 conference records.
NAU's roster is headlined by
Ty Pennington, who returns as one of the top quarterbacks in the FCS. The third-year Lumberjack ranked 10th in the FCS in passing yards per game (259.7) and total offense (275.6) last season, and in the top 30 overall in passing yards (3,116), passing touchdowns (19), passing efficiency (148.5), completions per game (20.9), completion percentage (.657) and yards per pass attempt (8.2).
Pennington was named to the preseason watch lists for the Walter Payton Award and the Shriners Children's East-West Bowl this summer, and last week, received his highest honor yet with his inclusion in the Panini Senior Bowl Top 300. Pennington was the only FCS quarterback and one of two FCS players across all positions included on the preseason watch list for the Senior Bowl, the preeminent college football all-star game.
The return of Pennington solidifies an NAU offense that lost its top rusher, three of its top four pass catchers, including
Kolbe Katsis to the NFL, and all five starting offensive linemen. However, the 'Jacks do return
Quran Gossett in the backfield and
Jeter Purdy at tight end. Gossett was particularly impressive in conference play last year, averaging 48.5 yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry with team-leading seven rushing touchdowns.
Purdy was one of two Lumberjacks, along with
Shoes Brinkley, who were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Purdy is NAU's leading returning pass catcher having compiled 29 receptions for 415 yards and two touchdowns last season as a redshirt freshman. Meanwhile, Brinkley is expected to anchor a defense that lost nine starters. Brinkley, a transfer from McNeese, posted a team-high 81 tackles last season, which would've led the Lumberjacks as well, and recorded three interceptions.
Eastern Washington enters 2026 looking to continue to climb the Big Sky standings after posting its best finish since 2021 a year ago. The Eagles, voted eighth in both the Big Sky Preseason Coaches and Media Polls, have posted four consecutive losing seasons since going 10-3 in 2021 and reaching the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
The Eagles will be led into the season by a pair of preseason All-Americans, Jaylon Jenkins and Isaiah Perez, on the defensive side of the ball. Jenkins, an All-Big Sky First Team selection last season, tied for fifth in the FCS with five interceptions and totaled 13 passes defended, which ranked 16th in the nation. Perez tallied 51 tackles and 4.0 sacks, and impressively set a school record with four blocked kicks that led the FCS.
Nate Bell returns as the Eagles' leading passer and rusher. Bell recorded 1,003 passing yards and seven touchdowns in addition to rushing for 663 yards and seven scores while averaging 5.6 yards per rush.
The Eagles lead the all-time series, 23-14, although the 'Jacks have won the last two meetings, including a 30-18 victory in the Skydome in 2024. Pennington threw for 312 yards in the victory two seasons ago, a victory that clinched the Lumberjacks' at-large berth to the FCS Playoffs.
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