ST. LOUIS – In an effort to publicize current matchups and promote future nonconference scheduling between two of the premier FCS conferences, the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the Big Sky Conference have announced a Challenge Series between the two leagues.

“The Big Sky and Missouri Valley Football Conferences have a great history of football success," said Andrea Williams, Commissioner of the Big Sky Conference. "It was important to both leagues to highlight and promote the outstanding achievements of our players, coaches and programs. This year will be no different, with top teams in the country meeting in great nonconference matchups.”

Added Patty Viverito, Commissioner of the MVFC, “The history of games between these two great FCS conferences is long and strong and it's wonderful to give these games even more significance with this Big Sky/MVFC Challenge Series. Interconference FCS matchups featuring nationally ranked teams make the football season more interesting and meaningful for teams and fans alike."

The Challenge Series kicks off Sept. 9 with five matchups, including South Dakota State traveling to Montana State for a 7 p.m. game. The Jackrabbits and Bobcats also are scheduled to play Sept. 8, 2018, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings to complete their home-and-home agreement.

Over the past four seasons, institutions in the two conferences have played one another 35 times. The MVFC has the advantage in that span, although the Big Sky and MVFC split last year's eight meetings. This year, institutions in the two leagues will play one another eight times, including six times at Big Sky sites.

Since being founded in 1985, the MVFC has an all-time edge of 50-33 in games played between their institutions, which includes 30 playoff meetings. Notably, the Big Sky and the MVFC make up two of only three leagues to have two or more playoff teams every year since 1999. In each of the past three seasons, the MVFC and Big Sky, meanwhile, have combined to produce eight of the 24 teams in the FCS Playoffs field. Since the FCS Playoffs began in 1978, the two leagues have combined to produce 13 national champions.

This year, a total of nine teams representing the two leagues highlight the STATS FCS top-25 preseason rankings. All eight matchups will feature at least one team that is a preseason top-25 squad, and in two of those matchups both teams are ranked.

Sept. 9

• No. 2 North Dakota State at No. 5 Eastern Washington, 3 p.m. [ESPN3]

• No. 23 Cal Poly at No. 18 Northern Iowa, 4 p.m. [ESPN3]

• No. 4 South Dakota State at Montana State, 7 p.m. [Altitude 2]

• No. 25 Western Illinois at Northern Arizona, TBD

• Missouri State at No. 8 North Dakota, 4 p.m. [Midco Sports Network]

Sept. 16

• No. 8 North Dakota at South Dakota, 2 p.m. [Midco Sports Network/ESPN3]

• No. 18 Northern Iowa at Southern Utah, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7

• No. 20 Illinois State at Northern Arizona, TBD

Television rights for each Challenge Series contest are controlled by the home team’s conference television agreement, which will dictate the distribution of the game and all related matters, including kick times.

About the Big Sky Conference

The Big Sky Conference has 11 full members (Eastern Washington, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, North Dakota, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Sacramento State, Southern Utah and Weber State), two affiliate institutions (Cal Poly and UC Davis) and two men’s golf affiliates (Binghampton and Hartford). Idaho is a member in all sports, and will begin playing Big Sky football in the 2018 season after dropping down from the FBS level.

About the Missouri Valley Football Conference

Founded in 1985, the Missouri Valley Football Conference has shaped itself into the nation’s premier NCAA FCS conference. During the 2016 season, the league demonstrated its superiority as four MVFC teams earned selection to the FCS Playoffs, with league member Youngstown State reaching the title game. Members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (and initial year of membership) include Illinois State (1985), Indiana State (1986), Missouri State (1985), North Dakota State (2008), Northern Iowa (1985), South Dakota (2012), South Dakota State (2008), Southern Illinois (1985), Western Illinois (1985), and Youngstown State (1997). Current Big Sky member North Dakota is scheduled to join the MVFC for the 2020 season. MVFC teams have combined to win seven FCS national titles – North Dakota State won five in a row from 2011-15, former member Western Kentucky triumphed in 2002 and Youngstown State was tops in 1997. The Penguins (1999 and 2016), Panthers (2005) and Redbirds (2014 – all MVFC final) have championship game appearances as league members.