DIRECTV SPORTS NETWORKS ANNOUNCES 2015 BIG SKY CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

SEATTLE, WA (April 23, 2015) – DIRECTV SPORTS Networks and the Big Sky Conference announced its telecast schedule for the upcoming 2015 season with a total of 10 games to be televised on ROOT SPORTS™. This will mark the fourth year of a multi-year partnership between DIRECTV Sports Networks and the Big Sky Conference.

All 10 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 are extremely pleased to continue our strong partnership with the Big Sky Conference, and we look forward to another entertaining and exciting 2015 season,” said Mark Jorgensen, SVP/General Manager of ROOT SPORTS. “Big Sky football has enriched our collegiate programming and given our viewers the games they desire.”

This year’s schedule opens with a special non-conference matchup between league rivals the Eastern Washington Eagles and Montana State Bobcats on Sept. 19 in Cheney, WA. Eastern Washington is the three-time defending Big Sky Champion. After advancing to the national semifinals for two straight seasons, the Eagles failed to accomplish the same feat last year losing in the quarterfinals, but they look to redeem themselves and make another run at the playoffs this season.

Big Sky Conference action continues each week with a single game throughout the season concluding on Saturday, November 21st. This game features Treasure State rivals Montana State and Montana who will square off in the 115th “Brawl of the Wild” in Bozeman, MT to cap the 10-game slate.

“Our television partnership with ROOT SPORTS and DIRECTV has increased our exposure not only in our footprint, but nationally,” said Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton. “ROOT SPORTS does a first-class production every week of its Big Sky football games, as evidence by the Emmy Award the network won. We’re excited for to see our games showcased once again in the fall of 2015.”

Game times will be announced at a later date.

Date:Game:
Saturday, September 24Montana at Cal Poly
Saturday, October 1UC Davis at Eastern Washington
Saturday, October 8Northern Arizona at Montana State
Saturday, October 15Montana State at Weber State
Saturday, October 22Eastern Washington at Montana State
Saturday, October 29Montana at Eastern Washington
Saturday, November 5Idaho State at Montana
Saturday, November 12UC Davis at Montana State
Friday, November 18Eastern Washington at Portland State
Saturday, November 19Montana State at Montana

*Schedule subject to change. Territorial restrictions may apply.


About the Big Sky Conference

The Big Sky Conference enters its 52nd year in 2015-16, 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 returned 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. Multiple Big Sky Conference teams have qualified for the FCS postseason in 16 consecutive seasons. Six times, Big Sky teams have won the Division I National Championship, including Eastern Washington in 2010.

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. Last year six players from the Big Sky Conference were named to the Walter Camp FCS All-America Team.


About DIRECTV Sports Networks

ROOT SPORTS is the home of the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC, Portland Timbers, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Big Sky Conference and Mountain West. The network reaches 3.4 million households across five states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, and delivers more than 350 live events each year – all of which are available in high definition.

ROOT SPORTS regional sports networks are operated by DIRECTV Sports Networks LLC in the Northwest, Pittsburgh, Rocky Mountain, and Southwest regions. The four networks combined reach 13 million households across 22 states and own exclusive programming and distribution partnerships with more than 25 teams and conferences. DIRECTV Sports Networks is a subsidiary of DIRECTV, the world’s most popular television service.