MOSCOW, Idaho—The 2025 Big Sky Football Kickoff Weekend has been announced and is scheduled for July 19-21 at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Spokane, Washington. Representing Idaho at this year's kickoff will be first-year head coach Thomas Ford Jr., offensive lineman Nate Azzopardi, and defensive lineman Sam Brown.
 
This event marks the official launch of the conference football season and brings together, coaches, student-athletes, media, and fans for a weekend of festivities. Coach Ford, entering his inaugural season at the helm, looks forward to setting the tone for the upcoming year and engaging with the broader Big Sky community.
 
Azzopardi and Brown are each entering their fifth seasons for the Vandals. Azzopardi started all 14 games for Idaho in the 2024 season. He anchored the offensive line that allowed just 1.58 sacks per game—second best in the Big Sky—and helped the offense average 384.9 total yards per game. He was recognized as a 2024 Honorable Mention All-Big Sky and brings veteran leadership into the 2025 season. On the defensive side, Brown registered 18 total tackles, including 1.5 for loss and one sack for the 2024 season. Across his 14 starts, he also recorded one pass breakup, a quarterback hit and forced a fumble.
 
The weekend's events will commence on Saturday, July 19th, with a free youth football clinic followed by the Big Sky Hall of Fame Gala that evening. The gala will honor the 2025 Hall of Fame class, including former Vandal quarterback and 1993 Big Sky champion Doug Nussmeier, as well as track and field Olympic gold medalist Dan O'Brien. Tickets for the gala are available for $85, plus additional fees, and can be purchased HERE.
 
Monday will feature over four hours of live coverage from the Northern Quest Resort & Casino beginning at 9:00 a.m. PT on ESPN+ and Scripps Sports. The coverage will feature interviews from all 12 teams, Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill, and other guests throughout the day. Watch times for all interviews on Monday will be released at a later date.
 
More details about the entire Kickoff Weekend will be announced in the coming weeks.
 
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TICKETS: Season tickets can be purchased here or by calling the Idaho ticket office at (208)-885-6466.