The Montana State University-Northern Lights opened the 2026-27 rodeo season Sept. 11-12 at the Northwest College rodeo, earning 40 points in the opening Big Sky Region competition.

Northern finished seventh in the men's team standings with 40 points. The Lights' team points came from team roping, with Caleb Daniel Gun Shows and Curtis Slim Pretty On Top each earning 40 points in their respective events.

Gun Shows finished sixth in the team roping header standings with a time of 9.0 seconds, earning 40 points for Northern. Pretty On Top also placed sixth in the team roping heeler standings with a 9.0-second time, adding another 40 points.

The pair's performances gave the Lights their 40 team points for the weekend and placed Northern seventh among the seven men's teams competing in the opening Big Sky Region rodeo. Montana State won the men's team competition with 1,125 points, followed by Dickinson State with 465, Montana Western with 370, Northwest College with 230, Montana with 185 and Miles Community College with 70.