SPOKANE, Wash. Eli Gillman and Caden Dowler have been here before.Last year's Big Sky football MVPs Montana's Gillman and Montana State's Dowler have again been tabbed as the league's top players entering the 2026 campaign.Gi llman, a senior running back, was named preseason offensive MVP while Dowler, a senior safety, was picked as defensive MVP on Sunday at the Big Sky Kickoff media days at the Northern Quest Resort Casino.WATCH the story: MVPs Eli Gillman, Caden Dowler headline preseason All-Big Sky teamThe Big Sky's preseason all-conference team was also unveiled Sunday, which was voted on by select members of the media.Gillman was named Big Sky offensive player of the year following a 2025 season in which he led the league with 1,540 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, the third-most TDs in a season in program history. Entering 2026 he is on the brink of the Grizzlies' rushing record, needing just 394 more yards to eclipse UM hall of famer Yohance Humphrey (4,070 career yards) for the top position.Gillman achieved All-America status across several organizations last year, including first-team recognition from Sports Illustrated/FCS Central and second-team from the American Football Coaches Association, Stats Perform and the Associated Press. Related: Montana State again tops Big Sky Conference preseason football polls; Montana 2ndDowler vaulted to the defensive MVP honor in 2025 thanks to a stretch in which he intercepted at least one pass in five late-season contests including one he returned for a touchdown to help the Bobcats beat the Grizzlies 31-28 in the regular-season finale in Missoula on the way to the program's first national championship in 41 years.He finished with six total interceptions to lead the league (returning two for scores) and also ranked second on the Bobcats with 91 tackles. Dowler was named to several All-America lists spanning the AP, AFCA, Stats Perform, SI/FCS Central and Walter Camp Football Foundation.Gillman and Dowler headlined the Big Sky preseason all-conference team, which boasts several Cats and Griz players.Montana State put a league-high 12 players on the team, including six of the 14 players on offense. Justin Lamson was picked at quarterback, and Adam Jones joins UM's Gillman as the Big Sky's two running back choices.Taco Dowler was picked as one of three wide receivers but also appears on the team two more times at punt returner and the all-purpose position.The Cats placed three offensive linemen on the offensive list: Titan Fleischmann, Braden Zimmer and Burke Mastel.Gillman was the Grizzlies' only representative on offense. Montana had two players voted to the defensive side: lineman Jake Mason and linebacker Peyton Wing.The Bobcats' defensive representatives on the all-conference team are lineman Zac Crews, linebacker Cole Taylor and defensive backs Caden Dowler and Tayden Gray.Placekicker Myles Sansted and kickoff returner Jabez Woods were selected from Montana State for special teams, joining teammate Taco Dowler.UC Davis put seven players on the all-conference list, the second-most in the league. Along with Montana, Idaho State and Northern Colorado each have three players represented, tied for the third-highest total.2026 Big Sky preseason all-conference teamOffensive MVP: Eli Gillman, RB, MontanaDefensive MVP: Caden Dowler, S, Montana StateOFFENSEQB: Justin Lamson, Montana StateRB: Eli Gillman, MontanaRB: Adam Jones, Montana StateWR: Sam Gbatu, Jr., UC DavisWR: Taco Dowler, Montana StateWR: Chedon James, Idaho StateTE: Winston Williams, UC DavisTE: Jeter Purdy, Northern ArizonaOL: Titan Fleischmann, Montana StateOL: Stryker Rashid, Idaho StateOL: Zaire Collier, UC DavisOL: Jack Ziebell, Northern ColoradoOL: Braden Zimmer, Montana StateOL: Burke Mastel, Montana StateDEFENSEDL: Zac Crews, Montana StateDL: Isaiah Perez, Eastern WashingtonDL: Bronson Childs, Idaho StateDL: Jake Mason, MontanaDL: Ezra Ekuban, Northern ColoradoDL: Rayne Mayo Jr., UC DavisLB: Mikey DAmato, Cal PolyLB: Peyton Wing, MontanaLB: Kenny Olson, Cal PolyLB: Cole Taylor, Montana StateLB: Porter Connors, UC DavisDB: Rex Connors, UC DavisDB: Caden Dowler, Montana StateDB: Jaylon Jenkins, Eastern WashingtonDB: Tayden Gray, Montana StateDB: Drew Cofield, UC DavisDB: Shoes Brinkley, Northern ArizonaSPECIAL TEAMSPK: Myles Sansted, Montana StateP: Ryan Marks, Utah TechKR: Jabez Woods, Montana StatePR: Taco Dowler, Montana StateLS: Maddox Broughton, Northern ColoradoST: Brayden Rice, IdahoAP: Taco Dowler, Montana State ...read more read less