The culminating contest of the Big Sky Conference football season determines the conference champion and often a coveted automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. This contest pits the top two teams from the regular season, or in some cases, teams selected based on a complex formula that considers conference record, strength of schedule, and other tie-breaking procedures, to decide the conference’s representative in the national playoff bracket. For example, if Montana State and Sacramento State have the best conference records, they would typically face off in this pivotal game.
Securing victory in this contest offers substantial advantages. Beyond the prestige of being crowned conference champion, the winner typically receives an automatic berth into the FCS playoffs, sidestepping the uncertainty of an at-large bid. This guaranteed playoff spot allows the team to prepare strategically for the national tournament and potentially host playoff games, providing a significant home-field advantage. Historically, success in this competition has been a strong indicator of future success in the FCS playoffs, with many victors advancing deep into the national tournament bracket.