Cal Poly Falls to Northern Arizona 38-10
The Mustangs lost their final home game of the 2026 season, dropping to 4-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Football
Cal Poly Football lost to Northern Arizona University 38-10 on November 7, 2026, in its final home game of the season. Northern Arizona, ranked No. 6 in FCS, improved to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the Big Sky.
Why it matters
The loss leaves Cal Poly with a losing record as it closes its conference schedule, and Head Coach Tim Skipper attributes the game's momentum shift to a blocked punt. Northern Arizona's win strengthens its position among the top FCS teams.
Cal Poly's 3-5 Big Sky record trails Northern Arizona's 6-1 mark, and Bo Kelly threw for 146 yards in his first start of the 2026 season. Cal Poly's first points came on a touchdown in the opening ten seconds of the second quarter, but the extraction does not say whether that opening drive was a factor in the final margin.
The players
Cal Poly Football
The San Luis Obispo program competes in the Big Sky Conference and finished the 2026 home slate with a 4-7 overall record.
Northern Arizona University
The Flagstaff-based university's football team is ranked No. 6 in FCS and posted an 8-2 record this season.
Tim Skipper
Cal Poly's head football coach attributed the game's momentum shift to Northern Arizona's blocked punt.
Bo Kelly
Cal Poly's quarterback threw for 146 yards in his first start of the 2026 season after serving as a backup in prior seasons.
The details
Northern Arizona blocked a punt in the second quarter, which shifted momentum for the rest of the game. Bo Kelly played the entire game at quarterback after backing up Ty Dieffenbach and Anthony Grigsby Jr. in 2025 and 2026.
Timeline
November 7, 2026: Cal Poly lost its final home game to Northern Arizona 38-10.
November 21, 2026, 1 p.m.: Cal Poly plays its final game of the season against UC Davis.
Season Trajectory
With a 3-5 mark in the Big Sky, Cal Poly's season now depends on its November 21 finale against UC Davis to finish above .500 in conference play. Northern Arizona's 6-1 conference record places it among the leaders in the Big Sky race as the schedule nears its close.
Fantasy and betting readers tracking Cal Poly's remaining games now know the Mustangs enter their finale with a 4-7 record and need a win to end the regular season above .500 in the Big Sky. Quarterback Bo Kelly's first start of the year gives the Mustangs a new starter to watch in the final game.
The takeaway
Cal Poly's final game against UC Davis will determine whether its 2026 season ends with a winning record in conference play. Readers following the Big Sky should watch how Northern Arizona's late-season schedule affects its standing among FCS teams.
What happens next
Cal Poly closes its 2026 season against UC Davis at 1 p.m. on November 21, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the program's season, explore Football coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mustang News.
