North Dakota State, Montana State to Meet in 2027 Vegas Kickoff Classic

Football
8/18/2025 2:01:00 PM

LAS VEGAS – ESPN Events has introduced a pair of future Vegas Kickoff Classic video games at Allegiant Stadium that may function matchups of high FCS packages from the Missouri Valley Football Conference and Big Sky Conference.

North Dakota State will face Montana State on Labor Day weekend in 2027, and South Dakota State will face Montana in 2029. Game dates, instances and tv networks shall be introduced at a later date.

The 2027 recreation between the Bison and Bobcats falls on the identical weekend as a beforehand introduced first-ever assembly between the Miami Hurricanes and Utah Utes – billed as “Battle of the U” – which is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 4.

“Labor Day, Las Vegas, college football – it’s the perfect trifecta to celebrate the start of the season,” mentioned ESPN Vice President of Events Clint Overby. “Las Vegas continues to attract high-caliber events and ESPN is proud to work with these great programs and our local partners to kick off the upcoming seasons.”

Last 12 months noticed the biggest crowd in Allegiant Stadium historical past (63,969) handled to an exciting 27-20 USC win over LSU within the second Vegas Kickoff Classic. The inaugural Vegas Kickoff Classic in 2021 featured BYU defeating Arizona 24-16.

“After the record-breaking success of our season-opening game last year, it is exciting to announce these future matchups featuring brand-new markets for us with famously passionate fanbases,” mentioned John Saccenti, govt director of the Vegas Kickoff Classic and Las Vegas Bowl. “We look to make this an annual event and we are already working on more matchups to announce.”

Steve Hill, Chief Executive Officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, added, “Las Vegas has firmly established itself as the premier destination for the biggest moments in sports, and the Vegas Kickoff Classic builds on that reputation. These future matchups demonstrate our city’s ability to host marquee events that not only showcase top-tier athletics but also create unique experiences and lasting memories for athletes, fans, and visitors alike.”

The Vegas Kickoff Classic is owned and operated by ESPN.