ESPN Events has announced Vegas Kickoff Classic matchups for the 2027 and 2029 seasons, which features some of the top Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programs.
A historic, first-time matchup between the Miami Hurricanes and the Utah Utes was previously announced for Saturday, Sept. 4, 2027. That game will now be preceded by an FCS matchup featuring the 18-time national champion North Dakota State Bison and the three-time national champion Montana State Bobcats at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A specific date for the North Dakota State-Montana State game was not revealed, but it will presumably be played on Thursday, Sept. 2 or Friday, Sept. 3.
“Labor Day, Las Vegas, College Football – it’s the perfect trifecta to celebrate the start of the season,” said 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.”
A Vegas Kickoff Classic for the 2029 season was also announced, which will feature the two-time national champion Montana Grizzlies facing the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, winners of back-to-back national titles in 2022 and 2023. The exact date was not announced, but the game will be played during Labor Day weekend (Thursday, Aug. 30 – Monday, Sept. 3).
“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,” said John Saccenti, executive 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.”
Allegiant Stadium is the home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and also the UNLV Rebels. The stadium opened in 2020 and has a seating capacity of 65,000, which is expandable to 71,835.
Future Vegas Kickoff Classic Games
2027 – Miami vs Utah
2027 – North Dakota State vs Montana State
2029 – Montana vs South Dakota State
Football Schedules
North Dakota State Football Schedule
Well this is awesome
Kevin, Kevin, Kevin.
Three time national champions? Bozeman won one in NAIA and one at D-II. Please don’t encourage the kitties further into their false sense that these are the same.
NDSU has eight D-II championships.
Not the same apple my brother.
These should be some great games all the same!
Looking forward to being there in 2029!
Sounds like someone is mad they haven’t been nationally relevant since 2001 and can’t compete with their in-state school now that they aren’t a junior college anymore.
Bison Jim, no one could have said it better. Excitement abounds. Thank you, Kevin, for helping all of us through another long dry spell. See everybody Saturday, in the Isle of Green.
A shame the MVFC vs Big Sky matchups couldn’t have been part of a home-home but glad they were even scheduled at all and possibly as a result of the 12 game schedule becoming permanent?
Vegas is a hungry sports city.