DIRECTV Sports Networks Announces 2014 Big Sky Conference Football Schedule

SEATTLE, WA (May 6, 2014) – DIRECTV SPORTS Networks and the Big Sky Conference announced its telecast schedule for the upcoming 2014 season with a total of 11 games to be televised on ROOT SPORTS. This will mark the third year of a multi-year partnership between DIRECTV Sports Networks and the Big Sky Conference.

All 11 Big Sky Conference football games will be produced and televised in high-definition, with many of the games available in both the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regions.

“We have been extremely pleased with our partnership with the Big Sky Conference and its member schools, and look forward to what is shaping up to be an exciting 2014 season,” said Patrick Crumb, President of DIRECTV Sports Networks. “The addition of the BSC football to our network over the past two years has significantly enhanced our collegiate programming.”

ROOT SPORTS’ production of Big Sky Conference Football has been nominated for a Northwest Region Emmy Award two consecutive seasons.

This year’s schedule opens with a special non-conference matchup between league rivals the Eastern Washington Eagles and Montana State Bobcats on Sept. 20 in Bozeman, Mont. Eastern Washington is the two-time defending Big Sky Champion. The Eagles have advanced to the national semifinals each of the past two seasons.

Big Sky Conference action continues each week with a single game, until the final weekend of the season. Rivals Eastern Washington and Portland State will battle in the “Dam Cup” from Providence Park in Portland, Ore., in a special Friday night game on Nov. 21. Treasure State rivals Montana State and Montana square off in the 114th “Brawl of the Wild” on Saturday, Nov. 22 in Missoula to cap the 11- game slate.

“Through the first two seasons of our partnership with DIRECTV Sports Networks, we’ve heard extremely positive feedback from our fans and alumni in regards to the first-class production, and overall excitement surrounding our ROOT SPORTS games,’’ said Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton. “We’re excited for this year’s schedule of games on ROOT SPORTS.’’

Game times will be announced at a later date.

2014 Big Sky Conference Football Schedule*
Saturday, Sept. 20    Eastern Washington at Montana State
Saturday, Sept. 27     Northern Colorado at Montana
Saturday, Oct. 4         UC Davis at Portland State
Saturday, Oct. 11        Montana State at UC Davis
Saturday, Oct. 18       Northern Arizona at Portland State
Saturday, Oct. 25       Eastern Washington at Northern Arizona
Saturday, Nov. 1         Sacramento State at Montana
Saturday, Nov. 8        Montana at Eastern Washington
Saturday, Nov. 15       Idaho State at Montana State
Friday, Nov. 21            Eastern Washington at Portland State
Saturday, Nov. 22      Montana State at Montana

*Schedule subject to change. Territorial restrictions may apply.

About the Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference enters its 51st year in 2014-15, and currently consists of 11 schools in nine states (Eastern Washington University, Idaho State University, The University of Montana, Montana State University, the University of North Dakota, Northern Arizona University, the University of Northern Colorado, Sacramento State, Portland State University, Southern Utah University and Weber State University). Cal Poly and UC Davis are football affiliate members. The University of Idaho will return to the Big Sky on July 1, 2014, as a non-football member.

The Big Sky Conference is one of the premier leagues at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. It advanced teams to the Division I National Championship three straight seasons from 2008-2010. Eastern Washington won the national championship in 2010.

Multiple Big Sky Conference teams have qualified for the FCS postseason in fifteen consecutive seasons. In recent seasons, league teams have upset squads from the Big 12, Mountain West, WAC, Sun Belt and Pac-12 Conferences, including Eastern Washington’s upset victory over nationally-ranked Oregon State in 2013.

About DIRECTV Sports Networks
Seattle-based DIRECTV Sports Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of DIRECTV and operates three regional sports networks branded as ROOT SPORTS. The three networks (based in Bellevue WA, Denver CO, and Pittsburgh, PA) are distributed in 18 states and hold exclusive regional telecast rights to over two dozen professional and collegiate teams, including the Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Penguins, Utah Jazz, Seattle Sounders FC, Portland Timbers and Gonzaga University basketball. The ROOT SPORTS networks also distribute Big 12, Conference USA and other collegiate football and basketball games.