FRANK GOGOLA 406 MT Sports

MISSOULA — Conference realignment around the nation has been driven primarily by lucrative media rights, particularly multi-billion-dollar deals signed by the largest conferences in recent years.

As the demand for live sports has been increasing, the Big Sky Conference has been boosting its media rights portfolio. The league signed a deal with ESPN in 2021 to nationally televise a handful of games across football and basketball while streaming hundreds more contests on ESPN+.

The deal was extended for five years in 2025, giving the Big Sky an increase to four nationally televised football games. The first of those is No. 5 Montana hosting No. 8 Idaho at 8:15 p.m. Saturday in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

With more nationally televised games and easier, more rel

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