COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Rice named to All-Big Sky Conference list

MOSCOW -- Idaho senior safety Brayden Rice was named to the Big Sky Conference Preseason all-conference team, the school announced on Sunday at the conference's Football Kickoff celebration in Spokane.

Rice was voted to the list as a special teams player.

Rice had a career year in the third phase of the game and as a member of the Vandals’ safety rotation in 2025. The Lewiston native appeared in 11 games for the black and gold, notching all 23 of his career tackles, including his first college TFL. He was twice named Idaho’s special teams player of the week by the coaching staff and was named to the All-Big Sky Second Team at the end of the season. He is UI’s sole returning all-conference player from 2025 and has now received back-to-back honors for his special teams work.

“It’s awesome to see Brayden be recognized after the season he had in 2025”, Idaho coach Thomas Ford Jr. said. “He’s a guy that has truly bought into playing at a high level on special teams and can’t wait to see him flying around this fall.”

Montana running back Eli Gillman and Montana State defensive back Caden Dowler were named the conference co-MVP.

2026 BIG SKY PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

* -- 2025 Big Sky Preseason honoree

% -- 2025 Big Sky Postseason honoree

Offense

Quarterback: Justin Lamson, Montana State%. Running backs -- Eli Gillman, Montana%; Adam Jones, Montana State #. Wide receivers -- Sam Gbatu, jr.,UC Davis; Taco Dowler, Montana State%; Chedon James, Idaho State. Tight ends -- Winston Williams, UC Davis*; Jeter Purdy, Northern Arizona. Offensive lline: Titan Fleischmann, Montana State*%; Stryker Rashid, Idaho State*% Offensive line: Titan Fleischmann, Montana State*#; Stryker Rashid, Idaho State*%; Zaire Coller, UC Davis%; Jack Ziebell, Northern Colorado%; Braden Zimmer, Montana State; Burke Mastel, Montana State%.

Defense

Defensive line: Zac Crews, Montana State; Isaiah Perez, Eastern Washington%; Bronson Childs, Idaho State; Jake Mason, Montana%; Ezra Ekuban, Northern Colorado; Rayne Mayo, Jr., UC Davis. Linebackers: Mikey D'Amato, Cal Poy%; Peyton Wing, Montana%; Kenny Olson, Cal Poly%; Cole Taylor, Montana State%; Porter Connors, UC Davis*. Defensive backs: Rex Connors, UC Davis*; Caden Dowler, Montana State%; Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern Washington%; Tayden Gray, Montana State%; Drew Cofield, UC Davis%; Shoes Brinkley, Northern Arizona.

Special teams

Placekicker: Myles Sansted, Montana State. Punter: Ryan Marks, Utah Tech. Kick returner: Jabez Woods, Montana State. Punt returner: Taco Dowler, Montana State*%. Long snapper: Maddox Broughton, Northern Colorado%. Special teams: Brayden Rice, Idaho%. AP: Taco Dowler, Montana State.