Notes: Due to COVID-19, the Big Sky suspended the fall 2020 football season. Montana State, Northern Colorado, and Sacramento State opted out of the spring season. † – Montana and Portland State opted out of the conference season, but scheduled non-conference games. ‡ – Cal Poly opted out of the remainder of the spring season on March 29, 2021.
On July 23, 2020, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Eagles were predicted to finish fourth in the Big Sky by both the coaches and media.[1]
Coaches poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Weber State
135 (7)
2
Montana
128 (3)
3
Montana State
121 (1)
4
Eastern Washington
118 (1)
5
Sacramento State
99 (1)
6
UC Davis
83
7
Northern Arizona
68
8
Portland State
67
9
Idaho
66
10
Cal Poly
46
11
Idaho State
37
12
Southern Utah
33
13
Northern Colorado
13
Media poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Weber State
546 (28)
2
Montana
496 (8)
3
Montana State
493 (6)
4
Eastern Washington
438 (1)
5
Sacramento State
389
6
UC Davis
325 (1)
7
Portland State
274
8
Idaho
273
9
Northern Arizona
238
10
Cal Poly
206
11
Idaho State
133
12
Southern Utah
105
13
Northern Colorado
88
Preseason All-Conference Team
The Eagles had two players selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Senior quarterback Eric Barriere was also selected as the Big Sky Preseason Most Valuable Player.[2]
Eastern Washington released their initial full schedule on January 11, 2019.[3]
The Eagles were scheduled to play against Florida on September 5 in Gainesville, but this game was canceled on July 30 after the Southeastern Conference moved to a ten-game, conference-only schedule for its teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
On August 13, the Big Sky Conference canceled all fall sports, including football, and announced that these sports would begin competition in the spring of 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
On November 4, the Big Sky Conference announced a six game, conference-only football schedule for participating programs that will begin in February. Due to this shortened season, previously scheduled games against Western Illinois, Northern Arizona, Southern Utah, Northern Colorado, and Weber State will not be rescheduled.[6]
On January 15, 2021, Montana, Montana State, Northern Colorado, Portland State, and Sacramento State all opted out of the 2020 spring conference season.[7] The Big Sky Conference announced on the same day that they will move forward with a six game conference season with the remaining eight teams that have not opted out of the spring season.[8] On January 25, 2021, the Big Sky Conference announced its final spring football schedule.[9]
Ranking movements
Ranking movements Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking