Eastern Washington
Cal Poly Resumes Big Sky Play Saturday at Eastern Washington
9/23/2026 1:56:00 PM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO – A month after opening Big Sky play with a 38-34 home victory versus Idaho, the Cal Poly football program resumes conference action when visiting Eastern Washington on Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff from Roos Field on ESPN+ is 4 p.m. for Cal Poly (2-2, 1-0), which looks to snap a two-game slide following setbacks at San Jose State (Sept. 12) and against San Diego (Sept. 19) while also seeking the program’s first 2-0 Big Sky start since 2013. Featuring three of the Big Sky’s top five tacklers – including national FCS leader Mikey D’Amato – Cal Poly also attempts its first all-time victory at Eastern Washington in the eighth attempt. Eastern Washington (1-3, 0-1), meanwhile, has faced ranked opponents in three of its initial four matchups, including a 34-27 Big Sky-opening setback at Northern Arizona (Aug. 29). Here’s the complete rundown for Cal Poly’s fifth week of action.
THE D IN D’AMATO
An All-Big Sky first team honoree last year and Buck Buchanan Award Watch List selection this season for most outstanding FCS defensive player, senior linebacker Mikey D’Amato leads the nation with 48 tackles and 12.0 tackles per game and ranks seventh with 22 solo tackles. The Big Sky’s leading tackler last season, D’Amato – with a season best 14 tackles against Idaho (Aug. 28) – ranks 18th in program history with 230 during his career.
GRIGSBY CEMENTS PLACE UNDER CENTER
Named Mustang starting quarterback the day of Cal Poly’s 38-34, season-opening victory against Idaho (Aug. 28), Anthony Grigsby, Jr., accounted for all five of Cal Poly’s touchdowns and 319 passing yards versus the Vandals to earn Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week praise. He then averaged 221 passing yards per Cal Poly’s next three matchups – including a 249-yard effort at FBS San Jose State (Sept. 12). Having emerged as one of the top FCS offensive threats, Grigsby ranks fourth nationally with 11 passing touchdowns, 16th with 983 passing yards (already exceeding last year’s total), 18th with 79 completions and 25th with 19.6 completions per game. Responsible for 75 of Cal Poly’s 120 points this season (62.5 percent), Grigsby has thrown just two interceptions in 125 attempts thus year.
THE GREEN ZONE
Now the Big Sky’s third leading rusher at 85.8 yards per game after compiling a Mustang best 126 against San Diego (Sept. 19), junior running back Jaden Green – an offseason transfer from Lehigh and Cal Poly’s primary kick returner – is also 13th among FCS performers with 134.0 all-purpose yards per outing. Green’s first Cal Poly touchdown came, ironically, on a six-yard receiving effort at San Jose State (Sept. 12) while his second was an eight-yard rush versus San Diego.
MILLER TIME
Backed by a career high 12-tackle performance at San Jose State (Sept. 12) and 11 versus San Diego (Sept. 19), senior defensive back RL Miller now ranks 15th among FCS performers with 39 total tackles and 18th with 9.8 per game. The Big Sky’s solo tackling leader, Miller – an offseason transfer from Fresno State – is also third nationally with 27.
OLSON BACK IN BUSINESS
The Big Sky’s second leading tackler last fall, Kenny Olson provides Cal Poly three of the conference’s top five tacklers with the fifth-year linebacker ranked 38th nationally with 36 total tackles. Fueled by a season high 12-tackle performance against Central Washington (Sept. 5), Olson requires just eight more tackles to become the 21st player in program history with 200.
BIG PLAY TAY
Junior wide receiver Tayvion McCoy’s Cal Poly debut against Idaho included 10 catches for 170 yards and the game-winning reception with nine seconds to play. The Ventura College transfer enters Saturday’s matchup at Eastern Washington ranked 13th among FCS players with 354 receiving yards and 16th with 88.5 yards per game.
DUAL THREATS
Senior wide receiver Fidel Pitts and junior running back Misa Paiau became the first Mustangs with both a receiving and rushing touchdown this season after both ran for scores at San Jose State (Sept. 12). Cal Poly’s leader with four total touchdowns, Pitts ranks 36th among FCS players with 75.5 receiving yards per game. Paiau, transitioning to running back in 2026 after spending the past two years at linebacker, is second in Cal Poly’s lineup with three touchdowns.
CAL POLY VERSUS EASTERN WASHINGTON
The Mustangs snapped a nine-game, 20-year series slide against Eastern Washington with a 43-34 home victory to close the 2025 season. The Eagles lead the all-time series, 11-3.
LOOKING AHEAD (SATURDAY, OCT. 3)
Cal Poly returns home to Mustang Memorial Field to host Weber State for first time in three seasons on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. Having dropped seven straight in the series, Cal Poly seeks its first victory against Weber state since a 30-24 road win on Oct. 11, 2014. The Wildcats (2-2, 1-0), who host Portland State on Saturday, lead the all-time series, 12-6.
- The game is set for 4 p.m., streaming live on SWX to area-accessible markets HERE on NBC Sports Bay Area and everywhere else on ESPN+ HERE.
- For local San Luis Obispo County listeners, ESPN 1280 AM will be covering the game with Ryan Giacomini on the call.
- Stay locked in with live digital updates by downloading the Cal Poly Athletics app HERE or follow Mustang Football on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok.
- Click HERE to follow along with the live stats!
- Still need tickets? Snag yours HERE before they’re gone.
- Learn more about how and where to park at Eastern Washington HERE.
- General single car day-of parking on football game days is first-come, first-served with unassigned spots available in lots P-3, P-18 and others around campus as needed. Parking in P-3 and P-18 is $20. Consult posted signage for street parking.
- A free shuttle is available on game days, serving a loop around campus two hours prior to kickoff and up to one hour after the end of the game. Notify the parking attendant upon arrival.
- ADA parking is available in each parking lot on a first-come, first-served basis, at no charge.
