Four Griz games to be broadcast on ROOT Sports in 2016

Griz fans around the country will be able to watch four Montana football games in 2016 in high-definition on ROOT Sports as part of the Big Sky Conference's partnership with DirectTV Sports Networks.

ROOT Sports will broadcast 10 consecutive weeks of conference coverage, kicking off when Montana visits Cal Poly on September 24 in San Louis Obispo, California.

This will mark the fifth year of the multi-year partnership between ROOT Sports and the Big Sky. DirecTV also operates a Root Sports Rocky Mountain regional network out of Denver.

"We are pleased to continue our strong partnership with the Big Sky Conference, and we look forward to another entertaining and exciting football season in 2016," said Mark Jorgensen, SVP/General Manager of ROOT Sports. "Big Sky football continues to be programming that our viewers desire."

Two of Montana's biggest rivalry games will be broadcast on ROOT Sports this year when the Griz play Eastern Washington on October 29 in Cheney, Wash., and when UM hosts cross-state rivals Montana State in the 116^th "Brawl of the Wild".

ROOT will also broadcast the rematch of last season's thrilling Montana/Idaho State game that ended in overtime on a fumbled field goal that was returned for a touchdown by JR Nelson and Eric Johnson.

WATCH: #GrizFootball game winning play vs ISU in OT. Gotta see it to believe it! #GoGriz #BigSkyFB #SCTopTen pic.twitter.com/QaJIMPY0JX
— Montana Grizzlies (@UMGRIZZLIES) November 8, 2015

Start times for all 10 games on Root Sports, which can be seen in 22 states nation wide, will be announced at a later date. Broadcast details for Montana's seven other 2016 games will also be announced at a later date.

"Our television partnership with ROOT Sports and DIRECTV has increased our exposure and brand recognition not only regionally, but nationally," said Big Sky Conference commissioner Doug Fullerton. "ROOT Sports does a first-class, award-winning production every week of its Big Sky football games, as evidenced by the Emmy Award the network won. We're excited for this 2016 season, which will hopefully be another great season for the Big Sky Conference."

The conference and ROOT Sports were nominated for another Sports Emmy last weekend, with the nomination recognizing the 2015 production of Big Sky football.

Montana opens its season on September 3 in Missoula against the Saint Francis Red Flash of the Northeast Conference before heading to Cedar Falls, Iowa to face Northern Iowa on September 10.

The 2016 Montana spring game is scheduled for April 23 at 2 p.m. in Washington-Grizzly Stadium, and is once again sponsored by Steve and Roxane Bryant.

A pregame tailgate party hosted by the Grizzly Scholarship Association begins at noon that day. Tickets are $5, and can be purchased at the GSA office, the Adams Center Box Office, the Press Box, Stockman's and Red's Bar.

2016 Big Sky Conference Football on ROOT Sports*

Sept. 24 - Montana at Cal Poly
Oct. 1 - UC Davis at Eastern Washington
Oct. 8 - Northern Arizona at Montana State
Oct. 15 - Montana State at Weber State
Oct. 22 - Eastern Washington at Montana State
Oct. 29 - Montana at Eastern Washington
Nov. 5 - Idaho State at Montana
Nov. 12 - UC Davis at Montana State
Friday, Nov. 18 - Eastern Washington at Portland State
Nov. 19 - Montana State at Montana
*Schedule subject to change. Territorial restriction may apply.

2016 Montana schedule

9/3/2016      Saint Francis
9/10/2016    at Northern Iowa
9/24/2016    at Cal Poly * (ROOT Sports)
10/1/2016    Southern Utah *
10/8/2016    Mississippi Valley State
10/15/2016 Sacramento State *
10/22/2016 at Northern Arizona *
10/29/2016 at Eastern Washington* (ROOT Sports)
11/5/2016    Idaho State * (ROOT Sports)
11/12/2016 at Northern Colorado *
11/19/2016 Montana State * (ROOT Sports)
*Conference game

About DIRECTV Sports Networks

ROOT Sports is the television home of the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC, Portland Timbers, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Big Sky Conference and Mountain West. The network reaches 3.4 million households across five states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, and delivers more than 350 live events each year – all of which are available in high definition.

ROOT Sports Northwest is operated by DIRECTV Sports Networks LLC. It operates regional sports networks in the Northwest, Pittsburgh, Rocky Mountain, and Southwest regions. The four networks are distributed in 22 states and have exclusive programming and distribution partnerships with more than 25 teams and conferences.

University of Montana Athletics

Four Griz games to be broadcast on ROOT Sports in 2016

Related News

Players Mentioned

Eric Johnson

JR Nelson

Related Videos