Gillman Passes Kupp on Big Sky TD List
Montana quarterback Eli Gillman scored his 78th career touchdown to pass Cooper Kupp on the Big Sky Conference all-time list.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Football
Eli Gillman scored his 78th career touchdown on Saturday, November 7, 2026, passing Cooper Kupp on the Big Sky Conference all-time touchdown list. He scored four rushing touchdowns in the game and was honored when the conference paused play.
Why it matters
The milestone puts Gillman at the top of the Big Sky's career touchdown record book and highlights his production in Montana's football program. It also marks a notable individual achievement in a conference with a strong recent history of offensive stars.
Gillman's 196 rushing yards on 8 carries averaged 24.5 yards per attempt and produced 4 rushing touchdowns in the game. The record stands at 78 career touchdowns, with the remaining games in his career not addressed in the source.
The players
Eli Gillman
Eli Gillman is a Montana Grizzlies football player who set the Big Sky Conference career touchdown record.
Cooper Kupp
Cooper Kupp is a former Eastern Washington Eagles wide receiver who previously held the Big Sky Conference career touchdown record before becoming a Super Bowl champion with the Los Angeles Rams.
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an NCAA Division I football conference of schools in the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest regions that stopped play to honor Gillman.
The details
Gillman fell to his knees in the end zone after scoring the record-breaking touchdown. The Big Sky Conference stopped the game to honor him, and he also caught one pass for 84 yards.
Timeline
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Gillman scored the touchdown that passed Cooper Kupp on the Big Sky all-time list.
Season Trajectory
Gillman's 78 career touchdowns now stand atop the Big Sky Conference record book, ahead of Cooper Kupp's previous mark. The milestone adds to Montana's recent history of producing standout conference offensive players.
Gillman's 78 career touchdowns give him the Big Sky all-time record for fantasy and recruiting comparisons. Fans tracking the record book will see the conference leader change hands.
The takeaway
Gillman's record shows how a dual-threat player can reshape a conference record book in a single season. Readers following Montana football can watch whether he extends the mark before his career ends.
Further reading
For more Big Sky action, see our Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 96.3 The Blaze.
