Montana State's defensive line graduated all of its starters after the 2025 season, which has left room for younger players to step up in fall camp.

Defensive end Zac Crews spoke on the group's youth movement.

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"We're pretty young, so losing four guys up front is a challenge," Crews said. "But I think we've got the dudes with the right mindset (and) right competitive spirit in our room to get the job done.

"It's going to be a battle all fall to find out who our starting four is going to be," Crews said. "But I think we'll have a good lineup when we get out there (in) late August."

Defensive tackle Talon Marsh said there wasn't a lot of doubt about the defensive line after the loss of the four starters.

"For us it's just one play at a time, one day at a time," Marsh said. "I feel very confident in our group, especially in (coaches Nick Jean-Baptiste) and (Nolan) Askelson. I think we have a very good opportunity ahead of us, and we've got to prove it to ourselves and the team."

Defensive coordinator Bobby Daly says it's next man up at every position.

"But these guys, even though they weren't 'starters,' they've played a lot of football for us," Daly said. "Not only last year, (but also) a lot of football for us in '24 (and even) Zac Crews in '23."

Crews enters this season as a preseason All-Big Sky selection after finishing last season with 38 tackles, including 8.5 for loss and six sacks.

Marsh finished with 22 tackles and one sack, and Dominic Solano logged 23 tackles (13 of them solo) and three sacks.

Marsh says the defensive line also includes some under-the-radar players who have worked hard in this camp.

"Hudson Wiens (has) been putting in a lot of work," Marsh said. "AJ Tanupo, he's been really consistent right now in camp. He looks really good. Jaren Perkins, he's always here. He's what holds the D-line together. He's the glue for sure."

Daly says the time is now for the players to prove themselves.

"We're looking for the next wave of guys," Daly said. "We'd love to be able to rotate eight guys up front and getting to that point will be how they execute during camp. I've told them if there's a big drop off between the 1s and the 2s, that 2 is not going to see a lot of time.

"But if we can close the distance between the 1s and the 2s and build that trust, that's when we're going to be at our best," Daly said.

BILLINGS In five full seasons as Montana State's head football coach, Brent Vigen has crafted a rsum that, frankly, few of his non-Power 4 contemporaries can match.

The numbers speak for themselves:

Clearly, Vigen has taken something that was already good at Montana State and made it great. And entering 2026, the Bobcats are picked to win the Big Sky again and are ranked No. 1 in the national FCS poll, the odds-on favorite to repeat as national champs.

"We've gotten our program to a point where our expectations are to be a team that's in contention for the national championship and win it," Vigen said last month during the Big Sky Kickoff in Spokane, Wash. "It's really that simple."

No question. But with that comes the chance for upward mobility.

In each of the past two years Vigen was reportedly in the mix for more lucrative jobs in the FBS, first at Washington State in 2024 and then at Oregon State near the end of last season, both of the now-reconstituted Pac-12.

No one on the outside truly knows why he wasn't hired, but perhaps spitballing here those schools weren't willing to allow Vigen to coach the remainder of the playoffs with the Bobcats the way his mentor, Craig Bohl, was able to do before leaving North Dakota State for Wyoming in 2014.

Or perhaps Vigen recognized that jumping to a post-alignment Pac-12 wasn't the right springboard. But that's only speculation. Nevertheless, in both instances Vigen stayed in Bozeman.

Granted, the WSU and OSU jobs might not have seemed entirely appealing outside of a financial windfall, and, as a native of rural North Dakota, Vigen's football DNA isn't exactly rooted on the West Coast.

But it should also be noted that Jimmy Rogers, who guided South Dakota State to the 2023 FCS title, ended up filling the Washington State vacancy last year before quickly landing the head coaching gig at Iowa State in the Big 12.

Rogers leveraged his success at SDSU into a rapid climb at the FBS level.

It's not that straightforward for Vigen. The 51-year-old seems much more calculated in his pursuit of a bigger job to whatever extent the desire may be. Though it could be only a matter of time before he departs for more "gainful" employment, Vigen said he is firmly planted at Montana State with several factors to consider when it comes to his career trajectory.

Right now, the idea of advancement is the furthest thing from his mind.

"I think the conversation has maybe been able to be built year after year upon itself," Vigen told MTN Sports. "I know the biggest thing for me is that everyone in our organization is entirely committed to the '26 effort. That's got to be the first thing, that no one's looking ahead.

"But for myself, (wife) Molly and our boys, the opportunity to be in Bozeman, to work at Montana State, has been everything we could have dreamed of. So, understanding that and knowing that there's a lot that goes into the decisions that we make moving forward ... we really appreciate entirely where we're at, and we want to continue to have success as a program."

Two of Vigen's sons, quarterback Grant and defensive end Jake, are on the MSU team. Another son, Luke, will be a sophomore this year at Gallatin High School in Bozeman.

In late November and early December of last year, when the Vigen-to-Oregon State speculation reached a crescendo, the coach eventually took to social media to announce that he wasn't leaving Montana State. Folks breathed easy.

During a subsequent phone interview, MSU athletic director Leon Costello sounded completely relieved that he wasn't tasked with an impending coaching search and not having to turn the operation over to an assistant coach in the midst of what became a run to a national championship.

But Costello doesn't have any illusions about the kind of domino effect national success for a football coach at a place like Montana State can produce.

"All I can do is support all of our coaches in a way that they feel that they can accomplish their goals while they're here," he once said.

"I understand that there's (a dollar amount) that we're probably not going to be able to go past. And if that happens for any of our coaches, that's outstanding, because I really feel that if that happens, they've taken our program to a place that we've never been before."

Vigen took the Bobcats to a place they hadn't been in more than four decades.

To that end, Vigen understands that the powerhouse he's grown in Bozeman means he'll likely have more chances to move on. And up. Continued success at MSU will only keep his name in circulation during the next hiring cycle.

But inside the circle of Montana States football, Vigen said that reality isn't avoided whether it pertains to him, his coaches or his players on the field.

"We're fairly open about what success can lead to within our program, not only for maybe me as a coach, our assistants, but then also our players," said Vigen, who with 10 more victories will surpass Rob Ash as the Bobcats' all-time winningest coach.

"I guess I'm hopeful that there's going to be opportunities simply because it means we're having the same amount of success. Ultimately, to be as transparent within our team and our organization is my biggest goal with it.

"College football is quite a profession. And I think far too many coaches or players now don't appreciate where they're at, and I know we do. With that appreciation, I think being where your feet are is the most important thing."

Vigen's name will inevitably remain hot, but his focus is on the here and now: a looming wins record, a national title defense and a Montana State coaching legacy that is becoming untouchable.

When looking at this year's Montana football team, running back is as solid a position room as the Grizzlies have, led by Eli Gillman, who is knocking on the door of a number of records, and some more talent to back him up and round out their arsenal.

The start of the season could be a memorable run of milestones for Gillman, who has a chance to rewrite the history books out of the gates. Gillman needs just 394 more yards to break UM's career rushing mark, and four rushing touchdowns to sit alone atop that category, as well.

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It could come just two or three games in, but for Gillman, the focus and work remains the same.

"I still approach it the same way," Gillman said. "Like, every opportunity I'm going to try to get better as much as I can. So whether that's 20 carries or 12, like, each one I think is an opportunity to get better. I'm going to improve for myself and my team, as well."

Gillman has received a laundry list of preseason accolades as he enters his final college season with 3,677 rushing yards and 49 rushing touchdowns to his name along with 561 receiving yards and four more scores. And for the reigning Big Sky offensive player of the year, resting on his laurels is not an option.

"I see some really positive things out of him in terms of leadership, in terms of how he's working, how he's finishing runs," UM head coach Bobby Kennedy said. "I really like where he is. But once again, if he thinks that's good enough, then he's not going to be as good as we know he can be."

There's plenty of help in UM's running back room to aid Gillman and, at times, take the load off of his shoulders to avoid wear and tear.

Washington State transfer Dylan Paine has proved to be a talented and physical player who can fill that role this fall. Paine, who missed all of last season because of injury for the Cougars, appeared in 25 games for Washington State and ran for 254 yards and three touchdowns.

"It's really exciting. I've never been more excited for a season," Paine said. "You know, it's my last one for real this time, so I'm really excited. It's a new place, new fans, new people. I cannot wait to experience it for the first time."

Second-year back Hashim Jones flashed last year as a true freshman whenever he saw the field, and the expectations for him are high knowing he'll see more of the field as a high-ceiling talent. Jones rushed for 131 yards and two scores in six games last season.

"He's done a great job of mimicking Eli a little bit, right?" new running backs coach Dominic Daste said. "And I have to remind myself he's a young guy because he does things that veterans do, and his intelligence and how he plays the game are really impressive. And so it's a friendly and nice reminder that he's a young dude who's ... going to play a lot of football for us."

The Griz also have utility player Fynn Ridgeway, who moved to running back in the spring, and second-year back Chase Cook has also shown he's capable of stepping up, not to mention true freshman Courtney Rogers from Arkansas who also looks college-ready.

From top to bottom there's talent aplenty in a room led by an all-time great who could be bound for a special campaign.

"I'm feeling really good about the room first of all. My body feels great. Like, this is generally the best I think I've (physically) felt since I first got here," Gillman said. "I think we're more confident than ever this year. And then our room is young and talented, so I'm excited for them, too."

Griz 2026 offensive linemen

BOZEMAN Montana States offense got rolling early and the defense stepped up late in the Bobcats only preseason scrimmage, a closed session held Saturday morning in Bobcat Stadium.

All-America quarterback Justin Lamson completed 10 of his first 11 passes, finishing the day 15 for 21 for 248 yards with two touchdowns. That first scoring strike was a 27 yarder to senior Jordan Reed, the second a 75-yard pitch-and-catch to freshman Parker Mady, who finished his days work with four catches for 106 yards.

I thought the offense moved the ball pretty efficiently throughout the day, MSU head coach Brent Vigen said, but then I thought the defense settled in a little bit and situationally made some stops in the second half of the scrimmage.

MSUs offense scored three touchdowns and kicker Myles Sansted converted all three of his field goals. Patrick Duchien was 10-for-13 passing with a touchdown and an interception, while Grant Vigen was 8 for 10. Reed, Mady, Carter Dahlke and Maxwell Hendrick each snagged at least four catches.

We definitely saw some playmakers on the offense, which were thinking we have, Brent Vigen said. I thought Justin ran things pretty efficiently, and defensively those depth battles in the core, that's D-line linebackers, safety, and how that shakes out will be really important.

Defensively, freshman cornerback Brian Harris interception was the days only turnover.

Clearly at corner, this is the biggest test that we'll have through fall camp and honestly, before we play, Vigen said. So youve really got to lean into what that looked like. Brian Harris, a young guy, true freshman, got a pick. That's great to see. He's been one that's continued to climb the ladder.

The only full practice with live tackling provided a good-news/bad-news situation in that area, Vigen said. Bobcat ball carriers evaded tacklers on several occasions, but Vigen said thats a double-edged sword.

We have some guys that are really hard to tackle, he said.If our guys are making their teammates miss thats a positive, as long as that doesnt emerge during games. But we got some good tackling work in today.

In the most extensive special teams work of the preseason, Myles Sansted was perfect on place kicking and Colby Frokjer averaged nearly 50 yards on punts.

We got a lot of special teams work in, Vigen said, 12 reps of special teams today. So thats a step in the right direction.

The Cats practice Monday and Tuesday before taking Wednesday off, then begin transitioning into game preparation. Vigen said plenty of work remains aside from getting ready for Utah Tech.

Getting our depth sorted, and thats offense, that's defense, and clearly special teams, putting those guys in more and more situations and then shifting gears to Utah Tech with our mindset, he said.

So, you know, by the time we get to the next week, I hope we have a good understanding of our opponent, and we have a good understanding of who's going to be playing in that game.

There's one position bringing the most experience to Montana State's offense this year, and that group can be found in the trenches.

Offensive line coach Matt Smith says the group is highly competitive, which is what you want to have.

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"Obviously we have three returners in Burke (Mastel), Braden (Zimmer) and Titan (Fleischmann)," Smith said. "Aiden Kaplan got reps last year (and) Everett Carr, Dylan Rollins (are all) guys that are doing some really good things."

Smith says his players make it easy for him.

"It's easy for me to just have the guys out there (to) go compete and push them," Smith said. "It's fun to see their response and how they're gelling together with the chemistry."

Smith's players echoed his mindset going into this season, with Zimmer also feeling the high level of competition.

"Nobody feels safe," Zimmer said. "We're all up to the understanding, even the people that started last year, that if we don't perform (in) camp we're just not going to play. It's simple as that."

Fleischman agreed.

"I think the beautiful thing about our offensive line room is that there's always competition no matter where you're at," Fleischmann said. "Nobody's job is safe. There's so much talent and so much experience and youth that people can step up at any given point."

Smith says two fifth-year players have emerged as the biggest leaders on the offensive line.

"I think it starts with Titan and Burke, right?" Smith said. "(They're) the two older guys, the guys that have played the most football, naturally guys look up to them. Titan's definitely a little bit more outspoken than Burke is, but both those guys (are) able to use their voices and (hold) the standard, so it's not just me. It's been a great time and great growth for those two."

Junior Aiden Kaplan has earned the starting center role for the Bobcats this season.

"It was his job to take, right? I mean, JT (Reed) graduated," Smith said. "He got some reps last year, and the spring was huge for him just to prove that he can go and do it. And I think he did that. And so for us moving forward now, it's, how do you take that next step?"

Kaplan has big shoes to fill.

"JT (is a) legendary Bobcat offensive lineman at this point," Smith said. "I love that guy. He was able to take his voice and his command. And everyone believed him, whether he was right or wrong, they believed in him.

That's what (Kaplan) got to get to. And that's your job as a center. I think he's done a really good job of that, and I think each and every day he builds the the trust with those guys to keep going."

Montana's offense has the potential to be one of, if not

, best in the FCS this season. But for that to happen it'll need high production from the players on the wall of defense along the offensive line.

After all, everyone in football will tell you it all starts up front.

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Last year Montana's offensive line paved the way for a record-setting season on that side of the ball. But the Griz return zero starters from that group in 2026 and have a new leader, so it's a puzzle veteran offensive line coach Brent Myers must now solve.

"So I've been through it a couple times and it has its frustrations because kids are learning," Myers said. "Things that were automatic with your older kids are not so automatic until they get the reps that they need. So I've been through it before. It's good."

Highlighted in this year's group are tackles and Montana natives Austin Buehler of Helena and Torin Jeske of Bozeman, who have starred in camp and are set to lead this new-look group.

Do-it-all lineman Lucas Freitas, a fourth-year player, brings the most playing experience back to this year's group, along with Dylan Jemtegaard, who received a waiver this offseason to return to Montana.

"Jemtegaard's got a lot of experience and then we got a few transfers who bring some new perspectives in and a lot of new young guys who are just ready, really wanting to play," Buehler said.

Key transfers in the mix include UNLV product Dyllan Drummond, San Diego transfer Jack D'Ambra, and Carroll College All-American Wyatt Sandford.

Beyond that, Myers delivered high praise for sophomore Kaikoa Kanakaole. And guys like Matt Hilden and Carter Bowan have all been vying for reps.

"I tell the kids, make it hard on me because then I know you're competing against each other and we're going to have hopefully a minimum of two deep everywhere, which I would love to be able to go into a game with 10 guys that can play," Myers said.

"Now, can we get there? Maybe. We'll see. But I guarantee the 'want' is there, you know, because they all want to make the bus. There's no question about it. So it's kind of cool."

And Myers' messages have been hitting home.

"Physicality for sure," Jeske said. "In spring it's hard to be super into it and be physical when you don't have a game coming up and so I think we've done a lot better being physical, opening gaps, being physical at the D-line."

There's a lot of unknowns in that position group, and with so many weapons on offense this new line's cohesion is paramount to what the Griz can achieve.

"Repetitions are the mother of all learning," Myers said. "I always try to teach them the who, the how and the why, which is really super important. And I think they've really developed an attitude of knowing exactly what they're seeing and why they're seeing it. And the more reps you get, the better off you are."

Griz 2026 offensive linemen

Defensive line is a question-mark position for the Montana Grizzlies entering this season, with no returning starters and a new position coach all under a new scheme in a new-look defense.

Jaylen Johnson takes over as the defensive line coach at Montana after previously spending his time at Eastern Washington alongside new Griz defensive coordinator Eric Sanders.

Now it's a matter of getting his new guys up to speed.

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"I think we have a bunch of different guys that do different things," Johnson said. "And that's what's so fun to play with as a coach. I can put guys on the field and I think that they're really physical edge setters. I could put guys on the field that I think will be really good pass rushers. I've got a lot of juice and it's a deep room. So I'm very excited for the season."

Griz fans were used to the previous 3-3-5 defense which only utilized a trio of linemen up front.

Now UM is looking to use more four-down fronts, and has also utilized linebackers like Styles Goodman and Solomon Tuliaupupu as edge guys that have worked with both position groups.

"There's still so much further we can go, right? There's guys playing in different positions they've never played before," Johnson said. "We're testing guys out at certain spots that we think they could play at, but also ultimately developing skills that will help them in their main position. So there's a lot going on, but I feel confident of where we're going."

There's a few returners who saw the field a year ago, including preseason All-Big Sky pick Jake Mason, who put on more weight and will be tasked with leading the group. Mason had a pair of sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2025.

"Obviously everyone has their strengths and weaknesses," Mason said. "I mean, we got guys that have more power, guys that can rush the passer more. So I mean, it just depends on how he wants to put it together. But I think there's definitely multiple ways he could do that that can make us successful."

Joining Mason as a returner is Hayden Schwartz, who had three sacks and a pick last year for Montana after he joined from Minnesota.

"I think we all stepped up and especially with new transfers coming in, it feels like family already," Schwartz said. "And so I think we all got really close and it wasn't really any cliques or anything like that. All good guys and we just all get along."

Central Washington transfer Tyler King has turned heads early in this group, while Zekiel Seumalo also returns and figures to be heavily in the mix, as will MSU Northern transfer Manase Tupou, Utah Tech transfer Nui Tovoy and Nevada transfer Zaiden Wallace. Montana also returns Braydon Bailey who was the team's backup nose tackle in 2025.

Kalispell native Isaac Keim and sophomore Cooper Buffington are also a pair of young guys likely to crack through, and with head coach Bobby Kennedy wanting eight to 10 guys ready to roll through, building depth at defensive line has been paramount during fall camp.

"They're going to be guys that play extremely hard," Johnson said. "They're going to run after the ball. They're going to do all the little nasty things, and they're going to finish. Once I find four of those guys, that'll be my group."

Griz 2026 defensive linemen

While Montana State's safeties have a number of returners, the cornerbacks are one of the bigger question marks heading into this season.

Kory Boyd says the cornerback room has been amazing.

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"There's been a lot of growth since the first start of camp," Boyd said. "I feel like we all just have been getting better each day, and I feel like it's a pretty solid room. I'm confident with everybody in there, with everybody's abilities.

"We've got a whole lot of athletic guys in there that I think could really make an impact, whether it's on the field, on special teams, anywhere on the field. So I feel like it's a good group of guys in there."

Safety Taki Uluilakepa says the group has a chip on its shoulder heading into this season.

"I feel like last year people were looking at us like we were the weak link on the team," Uluilakepa said. "We took that personally, and now we're really ready to show people what we can do."

All positions in the secondary have experienced leaders returning. Boyd says he leans on these veteran players.

"I feel like they are the staple of this defense since the last year with the national championship," Boyd said. "Those guys have blossomed from that, and they've become guys that you can depend on, guys that you can listen to and just guys that you want to be around."

On the safety side, 2025 Big Sky Conference defensive player of the year Caden Dowler finished second on the team in tackles with 91. He ended the season with six interceptions. He enters this season as the league's preseason defensive MVP.

Tayden Gray finished with 55 tackles, including one sack and two interceptions.

Uluilakepa referred to these two as the heart of the defense.

"Caden, he communicates every position (and) tells everyone what to do," Uluilakepa said. "And Tay, he's come such a long way from freshman year and I can't say how proud I am of that guy."

On the cornerbacks side, Takhari Carr enters the season as the most experienced corner for the Cats. He had 30 tackles on the season plus four pass breakups.

Defensive coordinator Bobby Daly complimented Carr's leadership.

"Takhari is very vocal and he does a great job of kind of letting the young guys know how we do things around here," Daly said.

While there are multiple returning starters on the roster for the defensive backs, Uluilakepa says there are still opportunities for any player to step up and earn their time.

"Everyone's still fighting for their spot," Uluilakepa said. 'There's no guaranteed spots out there. Everyone's still out there fighting good competition every day."

BILLINGS As a new college sports year arrives, the Big Sky Conference finds itself pulled in several powerful directions.

The growing reach of its television platform, the proposed federal legislation to help regulate the industry and a rapidly expanding gambling culture have emerged as three central issues facing the league (and everyone else) in the evolving world of collegiate athletics.

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Big Sky commissioner Tom Wistrcill has been among the most vocal when it comes to the questions Division I schools face. And in the revenuesharing era, he sees TV exposure, potential reform from D.C. and sports betting as major talking points in how the league's member institutions both compete and protect their athletes.

At the Big Sky Kickoff media event last month at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Spokane, Wash., Wistrcill talked at length with MTN Sports about several topics, not the least of which were the growing reach of the leagues football brand on national television, the proposed "Protect College Sports Act" and the rise of gambling around Big Sky football.

Here, we delve into some of those thoughts.

This year, the Big Sky will be featured on linear ESPN television five times for what's become known as "Big Sky After Dark," the most in any single season in league history.

With that comes heightened brand exposure as well as a certain amount of strain on the players and coaches due to late kickoffs.

Specifically, Montana will appear on the ESPN network once (Nov. 14 versus Idaho State at 8:30 p.m.) while Montana State will appear twice (Sept. 26 vs. NAU and Oct. 2 at Idaho, both at 8:30). Also, MSU's game at Idaho is Friday night, making it an even shorter week between that and the NAU contest.

The Grizzlies have a 9 p.m. Mountain kickoff at Oregon State on Sept. 19 on the USA Network as well as an 8 p.m. kick at UC Davis on Sept. 26, a game that will be broadcast on the Montana Television Network via Scripps Sports. The Bobcats play at Nevada on Sept. 12 at 8:30 (on The CW) and also play their opener at Utah Tech beginning at 8 (Scripps Sports).

Those will make some late Saturdays and some bleary-eyed Sundays, especially when you're on the road. But Wistrcill said the juice is definitely worth the squeeze in terms of how the league benefits.

"Travel is a factor," he conceded. "But we believe that the exposure we get from those late-night games is so important to our conference, to our coaches from a recruiting standpoint and the notoriety we get.

"The number of messages that I get every Saturday night when there's a late game is shocking. Texts from friends, people I used to work with, different schools I was at ... 'Hey, I'm in New York City at this bar. Big Sky football's on.' That's why I'm happy we have five games this year in that 'Big Sky After Dark' slot. I don't love the 8 or after 8 o'clock start local time. That's why we don't typically have anybody do it more than once. But ESPN kind of dictates that.

"The ratings are off the charts late at night. I've explained many times to our presidents and ADs that every bar in the country east of the Mississippi has our game on every night we're on. And like I said, I hear from so many people that are watching. We typically have late-night travel that's a little later than normal, but as long as it's not an every-week thing, then I think we're OK."

The topic by which Wistrcill seems most heartened is the potential for federal legislation in the form of the proposed Protect College Sports Act.

The bipartisan bill is expected to come to a vote in the U.S. Senate in September. If it surpasses the required 60-vote threshold it will then go to the House of Representatives for another vote.

The legislation, as it is currently written, purports to provide several safeguards for the NCAA in the "rev-share" and NIL era. Among the most important pieces for the Big Sky and conferences of that ilk, the bill could restore some semblance of order to the transfer portal.

Wistrcill said under the bill, athletes would get one free transfer. If they move a second time, they would sit out a year. Paired with that would be the NCAA's fiveyear eligibility model that would replace the patchwork of redshirts and waivers that have defined the last several years of roster management.

"If we get the opportunity to (keep) our student-athletes and do our job as schools and athletic departments to help them grow as young people, that's a huge step forward," Wistrcill said.

Additionally, the legislation would give the NCAA what Wistrcill called a "limited" antitrust exemption around eligibility and other rules that would push legal challenges to the federal level and give the NCAA a chance to enforce its rules.

"Those two things alone make it an absolute grand slam for the Big Sky, and we desperately need some help with that because this path we're going down right now, it hurts us," Wistrcill said.

"Everybody wants to get better. But if the only way to get better is to pay the players more, then we're just in this vicious cycle to the bottom, and that's what you see at the highest level. And while we're not there, we still have that race among our schools to provide those types of resources."

The Protect College Sports Act could provide significant guardrails. But a separate concern, Wistrcill said, is the growing gambling culture associated with college sports as it relates particularly to NCAA athletes.

In June, a Texas District Court Judge restored the eligibility of then-Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby after he had been permanently banned from NCAA competition due to a betting scandal. Specifically, an investigation revealed that Sorsby had placed bets on his own team when he was at Indiana University.

The ruling eventually dissolved when Sorsby attempted to pursue the NFL Supplemental Draft in response to Big 12 teams threatening to boycott scheduled games against Texas Tech. The supplemental draft never came to fruition and Sorsby's playing prospects ended for 2026.

The initial injunction reestablishing Sorsby's eligibility sent shockwaves across college football, including the Big Sky Conference, a league in which roughly $160 million was bet on football games that involved at least one of its teams last season.

"It certainly raised the spotlight to that situation and to the sports gambling issue that we all know is there," Wistrcill said. "And you're right; $160 million bet on Big Sky football alone last year and the growth of that ... I mean, I remember I think the first time I said the number in public, it was $60 million, which was like two years ago."

Most concerning to Wistrcill is the prospect of athletes in the Big Sky Conference placing bets on NCAA sports, which is a violation of the association's policy. But he's not naive to the idea that it probably does happen.

"The things that we can do now with the tracking systems that are out there, we'll find if people are doing it. We'll find them, and they won't be eligible to play in the Big Sky anymore," Wistrcill said.

"But it's become like a part of the culture where it's so easy. We desperately need to get rid of the prop bets. Every time I see a newspaper article or something on the ticker and it says college gambling, I hold my breath until I start reading about it. Is it going to be one of our schools? Is it going to be one of our student-athletes?

"It's scary because it's just become so easy, and it's part of our society now that people are just going to bet on sports, so it's absolutely a concern of mine."

Two words come to mind for the wide receiver group at Montana: potential and opportunity. Its a group that has a lot of spots to fill on an offense with a high ceiling.

New wide receivers coach Eric Price knows he has an interesting stable of talent in his position room with plenty of openings ripe for the taking.

"There's a lot of opportunity out there and I just keep telling them, stay focused and be ready when you get your time to make a play and you got to be ready for that and make the play," Price said. "And so the competition is going to make us better as a group."

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Headlining the group is the returning Brooks Davis, who was a freshman All-American last year and has been shining during training camp so far. Davis caught 54 passes for 698 yards and five scores last season after he redshirted in 2024.

"I feel like I can get better at every aspect of my game, every single day, just trying to take one step forward, like perfecting the basics," Davis said. "It's an honor, being looked at that way. That's kind of what I work for. I'm very grateful and honored to be in this position and bringing the young guys along because I was in that position coming in."

Davis was a strong 1-2 punch with Michael Wortham a year ago for quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat, and over the offseason the speedy receiver worked on altering his body while honing his craft.

"Get in the best condition as possible, gaining weight, muscle, you know, so I can take some of those hits and just kind of build my game all around," Davis said. "So just getting bigger, faster and stronger every day."

"He can be a lot better. If you think you've ever arrived in this business, then you're probably going to stay the same," head coach Bobby Kennedy added. "And what I've seen out of him thus far in the weight room and even his practice habits and things like that, he's pushing himself. So I'm really pleased with him."

From there, it's a mix of players who have seen some playing time and new faces looking to fill a lot of holes.

One player that has stood out early is Landon Ransom-Goelz, a transfer from Rice who had a previous relationship with Kennedy. He looks to be an instant-impact player for the Griz offense.

"When you come into something that's already good, you never want to destroy (the) balance," Ransom-Goelz said. "Obviously I'm just trying to complement them and just elevate the offense as a whole. I'm not really trying to mess up anything or take over anything. I'm just trying to elevate the offense and do my job.

"I'm going to battle for these Montana Grizzlies every single day. I'm leaving everything out on the line. I've been battling injuries and everything. I'm really trying to leave it all on the field for Montana."

Korbin Hendrix has strongly been in the mix as a contributor who caught three touchdowns last season along with 12 receptions and 174 yards. Jordan Dever also caught a score as he broke through with some playing time in 2025 with 11 catches and 197 yards, and Lekeldrick Bridges has also stood out as a player who saw time as a younger talent and is now well-entrenched again.

Plus, players like veteran Ian Finch, Minnesota transfer Legend Lyons, or young up-and-comer Bridger Smith could all find their way into larger roles.

"But those guys are getting better because of the competition in the room. So when they get their chance, they're going 100%. And so the effort level is there," Price said. "We still got to clean up a lot and we got a long ways to go. And each guy is every day it's like a challenge. They have to beat somebody out basically and have a good day or else they know the guy behind them is going to make the play. So it's just making us all better."

Griz 2026 wide receivers

This time last year, Montana State hadn't even named a starting quarterback yet.

This year, Justin Lamson is ready to lead the offense once again in his last season in Bozeman.

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"My mindset is still being hungry. I know that there's guys underneath me that are going to compete with me every single day in the room," Lamson said. "They're going to push me, they're going to make me a better player, and I know I still have a lot to prove. I've still got a chip on my shoulder."

In his first year with the Bobcats in 2025, Lamson threw for 3,172 yards with 26 passing touchdowns and set a Big Sky Conference record by completing 71.6% of his passes. He also rushed for 734 yards with 16 rushing touchdowns, and his 3,906 total yards also set an MSU record.

Montana State offensive coordinator Pete Sterbick spoke on the two biggest things the staff was pushing Lamson to do between this time last year and now.

"We were pushing on getting the ball downfield (and) taking shots in practice ... so we can carry that over to the game because I think that's a part of our offense we need to unlock more," Sterbick said. "And his actual ball placement I mean, he was really productive and efficient, completion percentage was pretty high, but putting it in the exact right spot, I think those are the things he's probably improved on the most."

Behind Lamson is junior Patrick Duchien, a Florence native who saw action in six games last season. Duchien finished with 86 passing yards and one passing touchdown, as well as 55 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

Sterbick said Duchien has taken a step in this fall camp, especially in his accuracy and his command. And Duchien said he has taken lessons from backing up Lamson for the last year.

"A big thing I've learned from Justin is his play style," Duchien said. "It's a big thing to learn from how he receives defenses, reads defenses and where he goes with the ball. Last year he didn't have many turnovers, he kept the ball safe and protected. And so being able to learn from that and learn to just protect the ball a little more is a big thing I'm trying to learn from him."

Grant Vigen, Jake Hamilton and Joseph Janney round out the rest of the quarterback room with Vigen getting valuable minutes in this year's spring scrimmage when Duchien was out.

Sterbick said Vigen is right there.

"He's improving, coming off a run on the scout team (and) obviously he had spring," Sterbick said. "He's probably a little more athletic than people think he is. You know, he's 6-foot-6."

Duchien said Vigen has been fun to play with.

"He's great, obviously he's a tall dude out there in that pocket," Duchien said. "And he's got a rocket of an arm. It's fun to see him progress. too, because you see him getting better every day, and that's awesome to see. But I think we have a fun quarterback room and all the guys are getting better every day, and it's been fun."

BILLINGS Last year, Justin Lamson was in the unenviable position of being the successor to one of the best and most decorated players in Montana State football history Walter Payton Award winner Tommy Mellott.

You know the story. All Lamson did was complete a Big Sky Conference-record 71.6% of his passes with 3,172 yards and 26 touchdowns. The 6-foot-2, 222-pounder was also a fearless runner, gaining 734 yards with 16 more TDs on the ground.

In MSU's national championship win over Illinois State in Nashville, Tenn., Lamson threw for 280 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns, helping the Cats capture their first title in 41 years.

HEAR FROM MONTANA STATE QUARTERBACK JUSTIN LAMSON:

And he did it all while not putting MSU's defense in vulnerable spots. Lamson threw just three interceptions all year on 356 pass attempts, and none zip, zero in Big Sky games.

It was an unbelievable season for a journeyman quarterback with obvious talent who came in without a significant on-field rsum. Lamson had made just four starts in his previous two seasons at FBS Stanford, though he definitely showed flashes.

Last year was his breakout. And sixth-year Bobcats coach Brent Vigen suggested Lamson's season was a jumping off point.

"We feel and Justin would be the first one to say it that he's got another level," Vigen said during the Big Sky Kickoff in Spokane, Wash. "What he was down the stretch (last year) versus where he was at the beginning I think was what we needed, for sure. I think what our program expects and what he expects out of himself is (getting to) another level.

"It doesn't mean he's got to necessarily do

. He's just probably got to do it at a little higher clip. I think he really did a good job coming in last year and not assuming anything and just putting his head down and working and establishing a respect level from that.

"There's a lot of areas I know he can improve upon. I think he knows that. Now, we're not talking giant leaps, but you put together a season like he had last year and you can improve upon that. I think that's what we're after."

Lamson seemed to diversify the offense with a legitimate down-field passing game, but his greatest impact on the Bobcats last season can be traced to two critical plays.

One was his 87-yard touchdown connection with wideout Taco Dowler on a third-and-20 play that went a long way toward a 48-23 win over archrival Montana in the FCS semifinals. The other was his 14-yard TD throw to Dowler on fourth and 10 in overtime of the national title game that led to a 35-34 victory over Illinois State.

His season stats alone in 2025 were enough to prove his worth. But those two plays cemented Lamson's reputation as a poised, capable performer in the most clutch moments.

As the saying goes, big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.

"He figured out a way to step into a role that was really hard, and a lot of people would not be able to do that," Dowler said. "Throughout the year, he just got better and better. And by the end he was the polished quarterback that all you guys watched.

"He is a great leader and puts the ball where it needs to be, and is very competitive and doesn't let people slack. Confident. He's the quarterback that you all see now, and it just speaks to his character and how he goes about each day."

When Lamson arrived in Bozeman, Dowler made a point to pull him into the fabric of Montana State football. Dowler said people would walk up to Lamson and remind him of the big shoes he was brought in to fill.

Dowler said he eventually told him to flip the narrative and respond with, Good thing Ive got big feet.

Lamson was thrown into the mix just weeks before the season opener at Oregon. The first week was a struggle, Dowler admitted, but Lamson kept grinding. And the trust and belief from his teammates followed.

Vigen said Lamson's ambition and drive are what set him apart.

"I think it's his competitive nature and how that spills over into our team, and it was evident against Oregon last year in his first start," Vigen said. "That game certainly didn't go how we had hoped, but one of the more important drives of our season was that last drive, where you could tell he was still in the fight, and I think our guys felt that."

Vigen described Lamson as "an intense competitor, very driven to become his very best. And so there's a chip on his shoulder that is still there. I think this opportunity for him to play and shine came relatively late in his college career.

"So he's not taking anything for granted, and I think you know how intensely focused he is. Then that leads to the low turnovers and all the things that he does to master our offense. He's what you want between the ears, for sure."

Lamson isn't just the clutch performer the Bobcats needed last fall. Now he's ready to jump to another level. And that's a scary prospect for the Big Sky Conference to consider.

Montana State's wide receiver room this year has a mix of faces that fans are already familiar with, as well as some new players to get to know.

Dane Steel says it's a good room this season.

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"It's a younger group of guys, or maybe I'm just getting older," Steel joked. "But I feel like we have a lot of young guys in this group. Taco's the only guy that doesn't have another year left. It's been fun for sure."

Steel says first-year wide receiver coach James Price has done a good job of making it a fun fall camp, which Steel says isn't always easy.

"All the guys want to play, and that's what you need in the receiver room," Steel said. "You need guys who are competitive and want to be out there, but at the end of the day, just supporting each other and loving up on each other."

Steel finished his freshman campaign in 2025 with 39 receptions, the second most by a Bobcat freshman, for 501 yards as well as three touchdowns including a remarkable hurdling, diving 33-yard score in the national championship win over Illinois State.

The No. 1 leader in the wide receiver room is Taco Dowler, who finished last season with 1,025 yards and seven touchdowns.

Dowler also had 323 yards on punt returns and scored on one.

Steel says Dowler has been given a nickname for his leadership qualities.

"Coach Price gave him the nickname Captain Taco," Steel said. "He's the smartest guy in the room, the oldest guy in the room, the best player in the room. So he's doing a really good job and obviously has the respect of all the guys and has just been doing a good job."

One incoming freshman is Bozeman native Carter Dahlke, who is already impressing his teammates in his short time with the Bobcats.

"I think he plays a lot like Taco," Steel said. "He's smaller than Taco, which you usually don't say that in college football, but he's so fast. He early enrolled, so he was there for the spring and he's done just such a great job of taking everything we and coach Price have said, and just rolling with it."

"He's really coachable, he does a good job listening," Steel said. "He's still a freshman and tries to be quiet about things, but every here and there you can catch a glimpse of him getting a little fire to him and saying stuff, so that's good to see."

The list continues of receivers to keep an eye on this season.

"Parker (Mady) didn't play at all last year, (but) I think he's going to have a really good year," Steel said. "He's really competitive, a guy that played multiple sports in high school and a guy that just wants the ball in his hands. He's going to get the ball and he's going to make things happen. I think he's going to be a guy that people are going to be watching out for, and he's going to do his thing."

"And then Jordan (Reed) had one touchdown last year," Steel continued. "I think he's going to have a good year. He's also transitioning to outside (receiver) a little bit and learning that along with me, so that's been fun."

"And then, you know Jabez (Woods) is going to do his thing in the return game and at receiver," Steel said.

BILLINGS Bobby Kennedy is greatly anticipating running out of the Topel Tunnel for the first time as head football coach of the Montana Grizzlies.

Just one year ago, Kennedy, 59, couldn't have envisioned this. He'd recently been hired by Bobby Hauck to coach UM's wide receivers, a position group he'd overseen at five previous programs dating back to 2004.

But life can take crazy turns. And now Kennedy can't wait to make the jog onto the field at Washington-Grizzly Stadium with

team on the night of Aug. 29 when Montana opens its season against Southern Utah.

"I'd be less than honest if I didn't say that I'm really looking forward to that first game and running out as the head coach and being around my team," Kennedy said. "When I started as wide receivers coach last year, Id never been in Washington-Grizzly Stadium before, and then having the opportunity to coach as an assistant in that environment, you realize how special it is.

"Obviously our fan base is unmatched. Theres a reason why they call it the Mecca of FCS football, and so Im really looking forward to it, and really, really privileged to be in this position."

Kennedy was named Montana's head coach after the sudden and surprising departure of Hauck in early February. Kennedy was first awarded a one-year contract, seemingly as a stopgap option to keep the team intact in the midst of a big transition.

But UM's athletic administration soon saw Kennedy's real value as a magnetic personality, an in-state recruiting hawk and the kind of coach that players absolutely love.

Thus, Kennedy's contract was amended into a four-year deal at the end of June. Now he has job security and the faith of the decision-makers to keep the program firmly in its place as a national power.

The fact that Kennedy hadn't experienced Washington-Grizzly Stadium until last season makes this all feel even more sudden from the outside looking in. It's a fan base and a game day atmosphere that can rival the most rabid in the country.

And with that come intensely high expectations. A year ago, the Grizzlies finished 13-2 and at one point were ranked No. 2 in the country. But there was still a sense of foreboding, mostly because their two defeats were to archrival Montana State in the two biggest games on the schedule including in the playoff semifinals.

"We lost the wrong two games," Kennedy later said.

Griz fans are incredibly passionate. But they can also be exceedingly fickle. Frankly, they're starving for a national championship that has eluded the program for 25 years.

How does Kennedy plan to manage expectations, knowing that anything less than beating the Bobcats and making their own run toward a title in an increasingly thinning FCS will be seen by some as a bust?

For one, he knows Montana isn't a fixer-upper.

"Every team is a new team every year, right?" he said. "And so how do our guys come together? How do our guys that people think are the big fish, like Keali'i (Ah Yat) and Eli (Gillman), Peyton (Wing), Jake (Mason) ... all those guys. Clay Oven, Brooks Davis. How do they lead this team?

"But we expect big things because we have good players and we have really good coaches. So hopefully well be able to change the narrative."

One advantage Kennedy has is continuity of star power.

In an era when a coaching change can trigger a mass exodus of talent, Montanas core stayed largely intact after Haucks departure. That includes the three-headed monster on offense that is Ah Yat at quarterback, Gillman at running back and Davis at wide receiver.

No. 1, I think they know what Montana has to offer, Kennedy said of star retention. Its the people in the community, its our program, its their friends on the team. But also, Id be remiss if I didnt mention our assistant coaches. Our players have a really good connection and good relationships with our assistants. I think those guys were as instrumental as anything with the group of guys staying.

By the same token, the roster does look different. By his count, the Grizzlies brought in roughly two dozen transfers and around 20 high school signees who now have to learn what the Montana way, as Kennedy puts it, actually looks like.

"Part of their charge is learning the culture and having the guys that are on our team teach them the Montana way," he said. "Its a continuing process all the time in terms of teaching and learning, and then also the expectations."

That's part of the reason why UM's restructuring of Kennedy's contract was much more than an offseason footnote. He now has a longer runway to establish his brand, his style and his culture within the program.

And, should things come to a head, the relatively small $100,000 buyout clause within is an "easy" out for both sides. But nobody is thinking about that right now.

"For them to see the good things that I was doing thus far in my short tenure meant a lot," he said. "Ive got full confidence in our administration and the path that were on.

"They thought, yeah, you know, maybe we need to give this guy a little more so that he can have a fair run at this thing. I enjoy the state. Ive been all around the state this spring, and Montana fans and the University of Montana, its a special place. So this is where I want to be."

As fall camp continues in Missoula, Kennedy is in the midst of that process. And he can't wait to unveil the 2026 Griz to thousands of fans across the state and wherever else they may reside starting with running out of that tunnel on the night of Aug. 29.

BILLINGS It was a seemingly trivial moment during Taco Dowler's one-on-one interview with MTN Sports during the Big Sky Kickoff in Spokane, Wash.

Dowler was asked to reveal something about himself that his teammates (or anyone else) might be surprised to learn.

"My teammates ...," Dowler said, thinking for a moment. Then he perked up. "Me and (twin brother) Caden are both colorblind."

Come again?

Colorblindness isn't an all-too-uncommon condition. According to the National Eye Institute, roughly 1 in 12 men in the U.S. have some sort of color vision deficiency, which is characterized simply as difficulty in differentiating between certain colors.

And while Taco Dowler said he and his brother are not

color blind, it's an affliction they deal with every day. In Spokane, Dowler was explaining how he couldn't quite ascertain between the various patterns lining the carpet of The Pavilion at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino.

Most affected individuals don't have problems with every day activities much less football. But can they? According to Dowler, you bet.

"The Weber (State) game last year was pretty difficult, like punt returning," Taco Dowler stated. "But I think it was difficult for everyone because it was our camo(flauge), our digital camo navy jerseys.

"I don't even know what color they were wearing, honestly. But it looked similar to ours, especially when it's punt returning. It's chaos, and you don't know who's on your team or not."

That's interesting, because the brothers both products of Billings West High School have been impeccable on the field since their youth. And both put up huge seasons during Montana State's national championship run in 2025.

Taco Dowler was one of the most dangerous playmakers in the FCS last season, hauling in 77 passes for 1,025 yards and seven touchdowns while earning All-America honors and first-team All-Big Sky recognition.

Whether lined up at receiver or returning punts, he routinely delivered game-changing moments for the Bobcats throughout their title run, with his 87-yard touchdown catch in the semifinals against Montana and his fourth-down TD reception in overtime in the championship game against Illinois State as the proof.

Caden Dowler anchored Montana States secondary with a big season at safety. He finished with 90 total tackles and six interceptions two of which he returned for touchdowns.

His interception return for a TD in the regular-season finale against Montana helped secure a crucial 31-28 victory and home-field advantage through semifinal round of the playoffs.

So for the Dowlers, distinguishing colors might be an issue. For everyone else, distinguishing their talent is not.

Grit. That's the word that Xavier Ahrens used to describe Montana State's linebackers, a deep and talented position heading into the season.

"Everybody can play, so it's going to be competition every day," Ahrens said. "So whoever's best is going to win it, but it's going to be a good group to come out of there."

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Defensive coordinator Bobby Daly had high praise for the position group.

"I would say in the years that I've been here, this is the deepest that group's ever been," Daly said. "It's going to be very competitive to get on the football field and get reps, but ultimately the beautiful thing about being in the position that I'm in, coach (Jody) Owens is in, we have a lot of trust in a lot of different individuals in that room."

One of those individuals is Cole Taylor, who led the defense last season in total tackles with 107, as well as two interceptions.

Ahrens said Taylor's skill level is high.

"Cole is exceptional," Ahrens said. "He'll talk, he'll get everybody right, he's over there touching a guy (and) moving them if they're not doing something right. (He's) an overall leader, I see how he's he's grown as that, and I can look up to him."

Another top performer in the linebacker room is Melstone native Bryce Grebe, who started all 16 games last season despite battling injury.

Grebe finished third on the team in tackles with 72.

Daly has been impressed by Grebe's toughness.

"If you've seen where he came from, living on a ranch, it's no joke out there, man," Daly said. "He's a tough kid, but adversity is a part of life, and he's experienced a lot of adversity through injuries here in his career.

"But it ain't going to be the worst thing that life throws at him, so it's good practice for him to work through those things and come back better for it."

Despite his battle with injuries last season, Grebe feels ready going into this one.

"I feel like I've got a chip on my shoulder a little bit," Grebe said. "I finally feel healthy. Last year (was) kind of up and down with injuries a little bit. (I) got surgery right after the season, (and I) finally feel good. (In the) last however many months, (I've) just kind of felt beat up and not very good.

"Now (I) had a good summer, finally feel good going into fall camp so I'm excited," Grebe said.

Another leader in the linebacker room is Neil Daily.

Brock Steel and Ryan Krahe rotated in at linebacker throughout last season as well.

One area of strength for Montana State this year is in the tight end room, which is a position of great depth heading into the season.

Rocky Lencioni led the way for the tight ends in his first season playing for the Cats in 2025 with 19 catches for 206 yards and six touchdowns.

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When asked how Lencioni would describe the tight end group in one word, he paused for a while to think.

"I guess I'll just go with gritty," Lencioni said. "I think we have a lot of gritty guys in there (Rylan) Schlepp obviously just had a double ankle surgery this of season, and it's pretty cool to see him come out here and just continue to do what he's been doing for years."

Schlepp is entering his third season of play after redshirting his first two years with the Bobcats.

Montana State offensive coordinator Pete Sterbick says Schlepp and Lencioni are both stepping into leadership roles this season.

"Rylan Schlepp's a guy that's been here the longest out of those guys, so there's some leadership things that Rylan brings to the table," Sterbick said. "Rocky (is) a third year player coming in. I think he established himself last year."

Lencioni echoed this sentiment.

"I'm obviously a younger guy. I know Schlepp's been there a lot longer than me," Lencioni said. "And so I still look up to him a lot, I've learned so much from him over the years. But for me it's really just leading by example.

"I look up to the people that are doing things the right way and try to emulate that. And if I can be that for other guys, that's the way I want to go about that."

Hunter Provience transferred to N.C. State, but the Bobcats have added Bruin Fleischmann to the group, an Air Force dropdown and brother of MSU offensive lineman Titan Fleischmann.

Lencioni complimented Flesichmann's work ethic.

"You've got a guy like Bruin who's obviously hard-nosed and will just throw his face in there and go to work," Lencioni said.

Sterbick expects Fleischmann to step into a leadership role as well.

"Being the type of person he is coming from the Air Force, I think he obviously has some great leadership capabilities that we'll probably see come out as time goes by," Sterbick said. "He hasn't been here very long."

Lencioni says you can tell Fleischmann is a very experienced player.

"He's really gelled well with our room," Lencioni said. "It's not an easy thing coming into a new room and learning the lingo and the new techniques and obviously a whole new offense. I think he's doing a really good job with that."

Sterbick says there are more tight ends that the team expects to really step up this season as well.

"Carter Curnow is a guy that redshirted, but I see everything from him for being such a young guy," Sterbick said. "He's commanded a lot of respect."

Lencioni had high praise for Dillon's Curnow.

"Carter Curnow is one of the more impressive redshirt freshmen I've ever seen," Lencioni said. "I've not only gotten to know him just as a friend, but also on the field. It's just kind of a blessing to get to line up with a guy like that.

"And then all the way down the line, we've got guys like Luvens (Valcin), Carter Cocke, Luke Smith, that are going to go out there and just continue to get better and push all of us from the bottom up."

Linebacker is a position group that is always loaded with talent for the Montana Grizzlies football program, and this season is no different.

Each year linebacker is a heartbeat on the UM defense. New defensive coordinator Eric Sanders is also that group's position coach, so there's plenty of new from top to bottom.

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"I want us to compete for every inch, every play that they snap the ball, we're trying to stop them," Sanders said Tuesday. "That's the identity. We're not going to give anything up. And I think they're embracing that. They love that. And this kind of a fun thing about these kids here at University of Montana, you give them something, they identify with it."

While Montana's defense had plenty of turnover from last year, the two returning starters are in the linebacker room All-American Peyton Wing and All-Big Sky selection Solomon Tuliaupupu, who Sanders said is also splitting his time this camp with the defensive line.

Tuliaupupu was granted a waiver by the NCAA in the offseason and enters his ninth season of college football.

"It's been fun. It's cool because I get a little bit of what I used to play back in high school and last year and then kind of what I did most of my college career," Tuliaupupu said. "So it's been awesome. It's cool to learn this scheme and, you know, be able to play different pieces of the puzzle."

Along with Wing and Tuliaupupu is Clay Oven of Billings, Montana's legacy No. 37 possessor who was featured heavily in the rotation in 2025 and will be leaned on again.

"After a while you kind of get used to what you can and can't rely on and stuff, and who does what and you really kind of build off each other and kind of lift each other up throughout the day," Oven said. "It really is convenient to also have guys who you have played with in the past, but it's also nice to get new guys and kind of learn this new playbook with them."

"It's great because the leadership, it's not just leadership for the linebacker group, but it's also the overall team," UM head coach Bobby Kennedy added. "Like those guys are strong voices and they've done it here and they've done it well. And so it's good for those other younger guys to follow them.

"I think we have really good depth at the linebacker position. And guys are getting in the mix and they're making plays and they're, I think it's a really solid group."

Outside of those three key returners, the rest of the room has plenty of new faces and up-and-comers to be excited about.

Notably, Georgetown transfer Nai Mose, Bowling Green transfer Justin Eklund, and San Diego State transfer Tanner Williams have earned early praise, while second-year Grizzlies Styles Goodman and Colton Lentz have turned heads and had a lot of hype surrounding their potential since they arrived.

"I think they all are leading each other," Sanders said. "So just the togetherness, the joint leadership. Nobody's trying to boss anybody else around. They're just pushing each other. I love that."

"It's just kind of learning the new scheme that kind of takes a sec," Oven added. "But, how I played the old defense is still going to be kind of the same intensity and effort and (what) I'm bringing to this new defense. It's just learning the new scheme, and (Sanders has) a bunch of little tips and tricks to help with that along the way."

Depth is key for that position group, and the Grizzlies believe they had the talent and numbers needed to be an elite unit. Kennedy said on Tuesday that ideally UM wants to have at least six to seven viable linebackers in rotation.

"It's been awesome. We brought in a lot of good guys, both on the field and off the field," Tuliaupupu said. "New era of college football is transfer portal. So a big part of it's finding the right pieces that fit character-wise, but also on the field. And I feel like we found those guys. It's been awesome."

Griz 2026 linebackers

BILLINGS When asked during the Big Sky Kickoff about the prospect of breaking Montana's career rushing record(s), senior Eli Gillman flashed his signature grin as if to say it's only a matter of time.

But Gillman's official response is more guarded. He won't put the cart in front of the horse.

"I mean, I'm not going to lie and say it's not on my mind, because it is," Gillman told MTN Sports at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Spokane, Wash. "But I know that if I just play ball and (approach) it like I've been doing before, good things are going to happen."

"I'm not going to sit here and focus on my own records when it's a team sport," he added. "I know if I do my job and other guys do their jobs that things will just kind of fall into place naturally."

They certainly have to this point.

Entering the 2026 campaign, Gillman is sitting on 3,677 rushing yards to rank fourth in team history behind all-time leader Yohance Humphery (4,070), No. 2 Chase Reynolds (4,067) and No. 3 Lex Hilliard (4,018). Gillman's 49 rushing TDs rank third behind Reynolds (52) and Hilliard (50).

The reigning Big Sky Conference offensive player of the year and the league's preseason MVP pick this season, Gillman knows exactly whose company hes chasing in the record book.

"I've hung out with Chase a couple times. I've talked to Yohance," Gillman said. "I haven't hung out with them a lot, but I've seen them. Coach (Brent) Pease, my own coach, he used to talk about them. I've heard nothing but great things. I've seen videos of them. They're nothing but great. And I think it's sweet that I'm even in the same conversation with them."

Humphery, from Eagle River, Alaska, was a typical workhorse in the late 1990s and early 2000s when teams abundantly fed their No. 1 running option. His 138.2 yards per game average from the 2001 national title season is by far tops in school history, and his 265-yard outburst in an '01 game against Weber State remains the program's single-game standard.

And remember this: Humphery played during an era in which the NCAA did not include postseason statistics for a player's career total. In actuality, Humphery rushed for 4,892 career yards and 54 touchdowns.

But those are numbers that Gillman still should surpass provided he remains healthy.

Montana career rushing leaders

4. Eli Gillman (2023-present) - 3,677

Similar to Humphery, Reynolds was a bell cow and one of the most beloved players in modern Griz history. Coming from 8-Man powerhouse Drummond, Reynolds went from prep legend to (relative) college football anonymity to Griz superstardom in short order. He toted the ball a school-record 321 times in the 2009 season.

Hilliard, out of Flathead High in Kalispell, was a tank. He owns the school mark with 806 career rushing attempts, and his 32-carry, 186-yard, three-touchdown performance in a victory in a mud bath at Montana State in 2007 with a broken hand, no less was the stuff of legend.

Gillman is now in the same company as those giants, and he's on the cusp of eclipsing them all.

"Records are important because they show achievement," said new Montana coach Bobby Kennedy, who recently signed a new four-year contract to lead the Grizzlies. "If he's able to break that, it's going to be a huge accomplishment for him.

"Just let me say this: If he doesn't break it, I don't know how good that four-year contract is. So we better be feeding that guy the ball because he's a really good player. But the thing that impresses me about Eli is even though he's had all these accolades and he's a well-known figure in Montana, in Missoula and also maybe the country because he has accomplished so much, I haven't seen any change out of him.

"Still comes to work every day in the weight room and running. He's been a really good team leader, so I know it'll be a big accomplishment for him. But I'm one to think that those things happen organically, and he's going to get his touches. So yeah, I'm excited for him to break that record."

With just 394 yards left to gain before he sits atop the list, Gillman and the Grizzlies open the season on Aug. 29 at home against Big Sky Conference opponent Southern Utah.

In the past several years during fall training camp for the Montana Grizzlies, quarterback has been the position to monitor because of competition.

But this season Montana brings back an All-American. And for Keali'i Ah Yat, the sky is the limit.

Ah Yat threw for 4,070 yards last year, completed 69% of his passes and accounted for 41 total touchdowns. But if you ask him, the growth is just beginning.

"I don't think I'm anywhere close to where I can be," Ah Yat said. "So it's everywhere and just slowing the game down, still being a student of the game. Processing coverages, being a leader out there. So, everything."

WATCH THE VIDEO:

Ah Yat is UM's first returning full-time starter at quarterback since Dalton Sneed in 2019, and last year he ran with his opportunity en route to All-Big Sky and All-America honors.

"He's been excellent. I've seen growth already," UM head coach Bobby Kennedy said. "I think he's night and day compared to where he was last year. And so I really feel good about where he's at. But you know, we all got to get better. I think he's got to become a little more vocal with his leadership. But there's no doubt the guys respect him."

That leadership is where the coaches, and Ah Yat himself, want to see him take the biggest leap.

"Just be more vocal, trying to take charge, lead the offense, and just try to motivate the guys, get everyone else to play better, motivate them," Ah Yat said. "And I think if I could do that and just help everyone around me, then I think we'll be in good shape."

Then there's the continued on-field development of decision-making, the game having slowed down, progressions, play-making, and more.

"I expect him to be mature in all those game situations, whether we're behind, ahead, tied up, going into halftime, a two-minute drive in the fourth quarter, whatever it really, and sometimes some bad things are going to happen to him, whether he gets sacked or throws an interception," UM offensive coordinator and QB coach Brent Pease said.

"We don't want that, but that's reality. And he's got to be able to handle all that and still guide 10 other guys on the field."

Rounding out the quarterback group will be backups like Luke Flowers, who has flashed potential too, along with the athletic Cody Schweikert and veteran Gage Sliter, who are there to compete but also support their QB1.

"I think the mentality doesn't change with a guy like Keali'i being in front of me, how good of a player he is," Sliter said. "My mentality never changes being a leader, being a guy that can be vocal, lead by example, work as hard as I can every single day just with that stuff."

"I think my mentality is always the same, but obviously just being here more and having that year under my belt last year, coming off that last year," Ah Yat added. "I'm comfortable, but like I said, I'm never complacent. Mentality is just to get this offense to keep improving every single day."

Griz 2026 quarterbacks

Fall training camp is officially here for the Montana Grizzlies, so we'll take a look at the top five storylines UM faces as they prepare for the opener against Southern Utah on Aug. 29.

The top plotline is the most obvious as camp is underway which officially begins the Bobby Kennedy era as the program's new head coach.

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO:

Kennedy, along with a number of new position coaches, have been busy keeping the roster intact since taking over, and now are fully entrenched on scheming and preparation ahead of the opener against Southern Utah.

Storyline No. 2 centers around UM's defense, a unit that sees the most amount of new coaches, plus a new scheme under defensive coordinator Eric Sanders, but only two returning starters in linebackers Peyton Wing and Solomon Tuliaupupu.

The Griz picked up some important transfers and also have a number of players who saw time as rotational assets last season. How that unit meshes will be key, because the third storyline centers around the three-headed monster on offense in quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat, running back Eli Gillman and wide receiver Brooks Davis.

Those three are back as instrumental parts to a record-breaking offense a year ago, with Ah Yat the cog behind it all, while Gillman is on the verge of establishing new marks across UM's record book.

Storyline No. 4 centers around the offensive line, a unit that returns no starters, and that will be leaned on heavily if those mentioned prior are to continue having success.

Same as the defense, a few key rotation players are back along with transfers that the Griz will lean on.

Finally, No. 5 is Montana's schedule, now the normal 12-game format and one that features a mid-season bye.

It's a rugged slate, with Montana set to face the seven other teams that were picked in the top 8 of the Big Sky, not to mention an FBS game at Oregon State as well.

UM was picked No. 2 in the FCS preseason top 25, chasing only rival Montana State, and the wheels are now set in motion for the Griz to begin working to prove the preseason hype. MTN Sports will preview the positions across the Griz football team in the coming weeks to dive deeper into the the 2026 squad UM will put on the field.

Montana State's top assistant coaches spoke to the media following Monday's fall camp practice, with defensive coordinator Bobby Daly just as fired up as his players to get back on the field.

"I can tell our guys are ready to play some football," said Daly, who returned to MSU this offseason after a one-year stint at UTEP. "We've been doing a lot of working out in the summer and trying to simulate different football activities, but getting to put the helmets on and compete in 11 on 11 situations (has us) fired up and ready to go."

Watch the video here:

Second-year offensive coordinator Pete Sterbick echoed that sentiment for his squad.

"We've got a hungry group competitive on both sides," Sterbick said. "Iron sharpens iron. So it's a great challenge for us offensively and hopefully we're challenging the defense. You've got to have some good back and forth, I think that's how it should be, but I like where we are offensively right now."

According to Daly, the consistency of the defensive schemes has made it a smooth transition into camp.

"What coach (Brent) Vigen has been able to do here is (keep) the defense the same through coordinators," Daly said. "So the veterans within our group should know this stuff like the back of their hand. It's (about) getting the young guys and transfers up to speed."

On offense, Sterbick says quarterback Justin Lamson is continuing to build reps with the Bobcats' long list of offensive weapons.

"He just knows he's got these guys around him, and the way we're running things, he knows where the ball is supposed to go and the progressions and reads," Sterbick said. "And we're so far beyond where we were a year ago with him."

Fall camp for the Bobcats will continue through Aug. 22.

Defending national champion Montana State is the unanimous No. 1-ranked team in the Stats Perform Top 25 ahead of the 2026 football season.

The Bobcats received all 57 first-place votes by the national media, an ode to their 35-34 overtime victory over Illinois State in the FCS championship game last January in Nashville, Tenn.

MSU's archrival, Montana, is ranked No. 2 in the poll, which was released on Monday.

Montana State, coached by Brent Vigen, went 14-2 overall last year with an 8-0 mark in the Big Sky Conference to win the league title, the second consecutive season in which the Cats ran the table in the conference.

The Grizzlies are coming off a 13-2 season in which they reached the FCS semifinals before falling to Montana State in the first playoff meeting between the in-state foes. Montana, which fell to the Bobcats twice last year, enters the season under new leadership with Bobby Kennedy taking over for departed head coach Bobby Hauck.

The Big Skys presence in the rankings extends beyond the Montana schools.

UC Davis checked in at No. 6, while Northern Arizona earned the No. 25 spot. Idaho State and returning conference member Southern Utah also received votes.

The Missouri Valley Football Conference also places multiple teams near the top of the preseason rankings, with South Dakota State at No. 3, national runner-up Illinois State at No. 4 and North Dakota at No. 10.

Elsewhere, the United Athletic Conference has two teams ranked in Tarleton State (No. 5) and Abilene Christian (No. 15), while the Coastal Athletic Association features three ranked programs in Rhode Island, Villanova and Monmouth.

North Dakota State, a perennial power and 10-time FCS national champion, departed the league for the FBS following the 2025 season when it was invited to join the Mountain West.

2026 Stats Perform preseason Top 25

3. South Dakota State

4. Illinois State

5. Tarleton State

7. Rhode Island

8. Villanova

9. Youngstown State

10. North Dakota

11. Lehigh

12. South Dakota

13. Stephen F. Austin

14. Tennessee Tech

15. Abilene Christian

16. Southern Illinois

17. Austin Peay

18. Yale

19. Southeastern Louisiana

20. Lamar

21. Mercer

22. Monmouth

23. UT Martin

24. South Carolina State

Thanksgiving is a holiday for spending time with family, giving back and, as always, football.

Tuesday had all three of those things as Montana State football players went out into the community to give back through various volunteer activities in the county.

The players were dispersed by position groups to help out at the Food Bank, HRDC, Science Center and Habitat for Humanity. Theyre pillars for the community and enjoyed returning the support they receive throughout the season.

"The community does so much for us, supporting us on Saturdays, for the rest of the year, donating and everything, so its only right they we can come out and give back," Bobcats defensive back Rylan Ortt said. "Especially on Thanksgiving week and be thankful for everything that people do for us."

Ortt and the defensive backs helped at the Science Center, while the offensive line and tight ends helped out at the Food Bank to prepare for the HRDC Huffing for Stuffing event.

"Being a Bozeman guy, but more importantly a Montana State football player, you know, Bozeman supports us in so many facets, if thats meals in the community or just showing out every Saturday," Bobcats offensive lineman Justus Perkins said. "So any chance we get to give back to them, we jump on it. We love to do it any time we can."

The players' lives can become very football-centric, especially as they enter into the FCS postseason. By using the day to give back, they also reflected on how things are bigger than the game when supporting those in need.

"One hundred percent," Perkins said. "Just to take that step back and realize how cool of an opportunity we truly do have playing football at the collegiate level and helping those around who may be in a less fortunate spot than us. Giving back really just helps us just get going again."

Ortt is most thankful for his family both immediate and with the Bobcats this holiday season.

"Definitely just thankful for my family," Ortt said. "The people who have helped get me here, and thankful for the family that we have here at Bobcat football. Its a very close-knit group, been through a lot this season, got to keep grinding some more.

"But, just thankful that were playing football in December, were in the position that we are. We got a bye week, and that were going to be able to go home and spend some time with our family, have a good Thanksgiving dinner this week."

As for what Perkins is most thankful for? His offensive line.

"Oh Im thankful for these guys right here," Perkins said, pointed to his linemates. "They're my brothers, so most definitely them."

Montana State has the No. 6 seed for the upcoming FCS playoffs. The Bobcats will have a first-round bye this Saturday, and then on Dec. 2 will host the winner of a game between North Dakota State and Drake.

The Montana State Bobcats have personified the motto "next man up" this season. Despite multiple veteran leaders and starters going down with injury, the team has continuously found ways to rise to the occasion.

The 2023 regular season will come to an end in Missoula this Saturday with the 122nd Brawl of the Wild, and this game is for more than bragging rights: The Bobcats are playing to win their second straight Big Sky championship and perhaps a top-two seed for the FCS playoffs.

Following is a Montana State season in review:

The Bobcats came into this season ranked No. 3 nationally and opened the year with their annual Gold Rush game vs. Utah Tech. They won 63-20 and instantly flexed their dominant run game with freshman running back Scottre Humphrey breaking out with 110 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Then, it was a game the team had been waiting eight months for: a rematch with no. 1-ranked South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits knockied MSU out of the playoffs in the semifinals in 2022. Quarterback Sean Chambers connected with Clevan Thomas Jr. for a game-winning touchdown but it was ultimately overturned upon video review. The Bobcats lost 20-16.

Quarterback Tommy Mellott suffered a lower-leg injury against SDSU and missed five weeks.

Montana State quickly bounced back with a dominant 57-20 win over Stetson at Bobcat Stadium in Week 4. The Cats then opened conference play at No. 10-ranked Weber State and stamped a 40-0 shutout over the Wildcats, a defensive highlight for the season. Offensively, Chambers connected with tight end Treyton Pickering for two touchdowns.

MSU carried that momentum into a 38-22 homecoming victory over Portland State.

After a bye in Week 6, the Bobcats returned to conference play ready for more action, and so was Mellott who officially returned from injury. They also moved up a spot in the polls to be ranked second nationally. They dominated Cal Poly 59-19.

Then the Bobcats had the bright lights of national television on them as they traveled to No. 3-ranked Sacramento State. Running back Julius Davis had 110 yards rushing and a touchdown, and had a highlight-reel hurdle of a Hornets defender in the Bobcats 42-30 win.

Ater that it was two top-ten road games in a row as the Cats headed to the Kibbie Dome to take on No. 9 Idaho. After being shut out in the first half, the Bobcats' offense exploded in the second. It led to a game-tying field goal attempt that was ultimately missed and MSU lost its first conference game in two years, 20-16.

The Bobcats rebounded with two big wins back at home the following weeks, starting with a 45-21 romp over Northern Arizona. This was followed by a 57-14 blowout of Eastern Washington last week.

Now, the Bobcats head into the 122nd Brawl of the Wild ranked No. 4 nationally, with the Griz one position ahead at No. 3. They'll be fighting for pride, the outright Big Sky Conference championship and the highest possible playoff seed on Saturday.

The No. 4-ranked Montana State Bobcats are coming off a 57-14 win over Eastern Washington on Saturday. They now look ahead to the 122nd Brawl of the Wild versus No. 3 Montana this Saturday.

The Bobcats held their weekly football press conference on Monday. Coach Brent Vigen, quarterback Sean Chambers and linebacker Nolan Askelson spoke to the media.

Vigen reflected on the win over EWU and gave an injury update which included that safety Dru Polidore and linebacker Danny Uluilakepa will be available this week. He also noted wide receiver Aidan Garrigan will return. Tight end Treyton Pickering will practice this week and may be able to play come Saturday.

He also looked ahead to the annual matchup against the Griz, how much the rivalry means to the team, and the high stakes in this year's matchup.

Chambers and Askelson spoke about their performances against EWU and the team's mindset going into the rivalry game versus UM. Watch the entire news conferences in the video above.

Kickoff between Montana State and Montana is slated for 12 p.m. Saturday, and the game will be broadcast statewide on the Montana Television Network.

The No. 5-ranked Montana State Bobcats won their final regular season game at home 57-14 over Eastern Washington on Saturday. They continued the longest active Division-I home winning streak with 26 in a row at Bobcat Stadium.

Sean Chambers had the first score of the game with a 68-yard touchdown. On the Bobcats defense, Ben Seymour had a fumble recovery and Nolan Askelon had an interception.

Chambers also hit Ty McCullouch twice for two receiving touchdowns. Chambers finished with five total touchdowns.

For highlights from Saturday's game, see the video player above.

GREAT FALLS Joe Kalafat and his older brother Jim grew up in Great Falls as part of a competitive family. They starred on the gridiron for head coach Jack Johnson at CMR. There was a lot of competition and rivalry but an equal amount of love.

But in college they faced a crossroads. Jim was a record breaking linebacker for Montana State who still holds the single season mark for tackles in a season. Joe was a starting nose tackle for the University of Montana from 1987-89.

We're a divided family when Cat-Griz comes around, Jim said. We got the the Cats on one side and you've got the Griz on the other. Theres that rivalry, but at the end of the day we all love each other.

After college, they took divergent paths as well. Jim would have a stint in the NFL before starring as Laser on American Gladiators while Joe embarked on a very successful career in the business world, running freight, trucking and logistics companies.

But the love never faded and the Kalafat family is asking for both sides of the Cat-Griz rivalry to come together after Joe suffered a scary accident in mid-October.

While cleaning his gutters on a ladder, Joe slipped off his roof and fell to the ground below. He suffered a severe concussion, multiple broken ribs, fractured spinal processes and a nearly severed tongue.

He was unconscious when his neighbors found him and rushed him to the hospital, Jim said. The injuries were horrific. He has a long recovery ahead of him, and theyre worried about his cognitive functioning.

The injury is compounded by the fact that Joe was between jobs at the time and was without health inusrance. Medical bills began to pile up. Though Joe would never ask for help, his family was worried that the financial burdens of recovery would take away from the important work of healing.

Jim and the Kalafat family created a GoFundMe account. And the response has been overwhelming.

In just over a week, the account had raised over $46k dollars toward a $125k goal.

Theres people from all over the world donating and it touches our family every day, Jim said. Were doing conference calls with each other and its refreshing to see the human side. Sometimes we lose sight of that a little bit in life. But then every once in a while you see people stepping up to the plate and the outpouring of well wishes. Its touching. And it reminds you that people are still good.

You can visit the GoFundMe for Joe Kalafat by clicking here.

Montana State men's basketball opened its season Monday with a 103-63 win over Northwest Indian College at Worthington Arena.

This was the first game for new MSU coach Matt Logie, and he started his Bobcats tenure off with a dominant performance from his team.

Guard Robert Ford III led the way with 15 points. Guard Patrick McMahon followed with 14, and forward Brandon Walker added 13. NWIC's Mycole Rodriguez led all scorers with 20 points.

"Winning always feel good," Logie stated in an MSU press release. "Like I told the guys after the game, it's always about the players. These guys have been through a lot over the spring and summer, so to be able to get out under the lights and dust off the nerves and get the win was a good experience."

MSU unveiled its 2023 Big Sky championship banner before tipoff. The team has won back to back conference championships and has made two consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament.

The Bobcats have Seattle University on the road this Saturday for their next game. For full highlights, see the video reel above.

After being handed an upset loss the week prior, No. 6-ranked Montana State had the chance to fold or to rise up in front of Bobcat nation on Saturday.

They chose the latter.

MSU stamped a 45-21 win over NAU, who's beaten, or been within a score of beating, a handful of top-25 teams this season.

The Bobcats ran for just under 350 yards on the ground, which started its dominance on the first drive capped off with a nine-yard rushing touchdown from Tommy Mellott.

"Its just, get a first down," Bobcats coach Brent Vigen said, referring to how every offensive possession in the first half of the week prior for his team went three-and-out until the final one.

"I think however we did it, just to move the chains, and have a positive beginning to the game, set the tone, however you want to look at it."

Both Mellott and Sean Chambers had a rushing touchdown, but the throwing game showed its flash as well.

That was highlighted by former Bozeman Hawk, Ryan Lonergan, and his first career touchdown for Montana State. The tight end, whos stepped in for an injured Derryk Snell, connected on a 20-yard reception with Mellott for the score.

"Yeah, I cant put it into words," he smiled. "That was awesome. That was a great experience."

He's been in for Snell at starter since Week 8 against Sacramento State, and every game he gets more comfortable.

"I felt definitely more comfortable out there then I did the previous game with Snell being out," Lonergan reflected. "You got to trust your training. You got to trust your film study. And just go out and play the sport youve been playing for however many years."

"Hes continued to gain experience being that third guy, now the second guy, and it turned out for much of that game he was the top guy," Vigen explained. "And Ryan has been around here a long time. Hes got all the tools, and he was able to flash some of them today, catching that football."

The team has been able to show resilience the entirety of Vigens tenure. They have never lost two consecutive games under his leadership.

"We still have got something to prove, you know," Bobcats safety/nickelback Level Price Jr. said. "So this week, the defense, we took steps, like we were watching film a lot. And, we usually take tests before games. We try to make a saying, a mantra, like, 'We dont lose at home.'"

"Try to do better than the last time I guess," Vigen explained how his team was able to bounce back.

"But more, just be concerned about what can we do on this particular Saturday to put our best foot forward, and we did that from the start."

As the regular season nears its end with two weeks left, the Bobcats look ahead to senior day this upcoming Saturday.

Price put into words how much this moment and fanbase means to him, especially being someone who has battled injury this season and only has a limited amount of games left as a Bobcat.

"It felt good being back on the field, especially in front of the Bobcat fans," Price said. "Its just exciting because, you know, Im a senior. I only have a couple more games left in Bobcat Stadium, so I kind of took it up all."

He looked up to find the words about how much Montana State means to him, and then looked back at the media.

"I almost cried because its almost time," he said.

The No. 6-ranked Montana State Bobcats defeated the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks on Saturday.

MSU moves to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big Sky Conference with the victory, and extended the longest home-game winning streak in Division I to 25 games in a row. For full highlights from the game, click here.

Bobcats coach Brent Vigen, tight end Ryan Lonergan, and safety/nickel Level Price Jr. met with the media after the game to discuss the victory. For the full press conference, check out the video above.

The No. 6-ranked Montana State Bobcats came off a loss to Idaho in the week prior with a 45-21 win over NAU on Saturday.

With this win, the Bobcats continue the longest home-game win streak in Division 1 Football with 25 games.

Bozeman native and MSU TE Ryan Lonergan scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 20-yard reception from Tommy Mellott in the second quarter. Mellott and Sean Chambers each notched a rushing touchdown to start the game in the first quarter.

For highlights from Saturday's game, see the video player above.

MOSCOW, Idaho Gevani McCoy hit Hayden Hatten on a 12-yard touchdown strike for the go-ahead score with 2:47 left as No. 9 Idaho held off a second half Montana State rally to beat the second-ranked Bobcats 24-21 on Saturday.

The Vandals, who held a 10-0 lead at halftime, dominated time of possession keeping MSU's defense on the field for 41:27. Brendan Hall missed a 49-yard game-tying field goal attempt with :18 left before Idaho ran out the final seconds.

The Bobcats (6-2 overall, 4-1 in Big Sky) return home next Saturday for a 1:05 p.m. kickoff against Northern Arizona. Idaho improved to 6-2, 4-1 with the victory.

Afterward, Bobcats head coach Brent Vigen, quarterback Tommy Mellott and defensive end Brody Grebe discussed Saturday's outcome.

MSU's full post-game media conference can be seen in the video above.

The No. 2-ranked Montana State Bobcats traveled to the Kibbie Dome to take on the No. 9-ranked Idaho Vandals on Saturday. The Bobcats lost their first Big Sky Conference game this season, 24-21.

The Vandals shutout the Bobcats in the first half 10-0, which was MSU's first halftime deficit of the season. The Bobcats found their offensive rhythm in the second half, however, and scored three touchdowns from Jared White, Clevan Thomas Jr. and Julius Davis.

The effort fell short as Hayden Hatten gave the Vandals their lead back with 2:47 left to play in the game. And in the final offensive drive of the game for the Bobcats, Brendan Hall missed a 43-yard field goal.

This was MSU's second loss this season, the first was to No. 1-ranked South Dakota State on Sept. 9. This was only the Cats' second Big Sky loss in the past three seasons. For highlights from Saturday's game, see the video player above.

MOSCOW, Idaho Saturday marks Montana State's first and only indoor game of the regular season and its second straight top-10 FCS showdown as the No. 2-ranked Bobcats visit No. 9 Idaho.

The biggest question may be whether Idaho can slow MSU's nation-leading FCS offense in scoring and rushing as Vandals head coach Jason Eck has implored Idaho fans to bring deafening noise to the Kibbie Dome.

Montana Sports preview's Saturday's game in the video above.

Saturday's kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. Mountain time on the Montana Television Network.

MISSOULA Montana goalkeeper Ashlyn Dvorak was named Big SKy Conference defensive player of the week for women's socccer on Tuesday, the fourth time she's earned the award this season.

Dvorak, a redshirt freshman out of Billings West High School, made two saves in Thursdays 2-0 home victory over Sacramento State that clinched a ninth Big Sky Conference regular-season championship for the Grizzlies. 

On Sunday, she made a season-high nine saves as Montana defeated Portland State 1-0 to complete the 10th unbeaten season in league history. Montana ended the regular season 13-2-3, going 7-0-1 in Big Sky matches while allowing just three goals.

Dvorak ranks second in the nation in save percentage (.906), is tied for second with 11 shutouts and is tied for eighth in goals-against average (0.44). 

Her 11 shutouts are tied for the single-season program record, her 13 wins are tied for third in program history.

No. 1 seed Montana will face either No. 4 Northern Arizona or No. 5 Sacramento State in a semifinal match in Flagstaff at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3. The Big Sky championship match will be played on Sunday, Nov. 5.

SACRAMENTO Second-ranked Montana State ran away from No. 3 Sacramento State Saturday night on the way to a 42-30 conference road win.

Quarterback Tommy Mellott ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns to lead a Bobcats offense that topped 300 yards rushing for the 5th time this season. Julius Davis and Jared White also added rushing touchdowns for MSU (6-1, 4-0).

Defensively, Jon Johnson returned an interception for a 16-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to tie the game 7-7. With 3:46 left in the half, Montana State took the lead for good when Sean Chambers hit Ty McCullouch on a 21-yard scoring strike to make it 14-7.

Full game highlights can be seen in the video above.

The No. 2-ranked Montana State Bobcats are coming off a 59-19 win over Cal Poly, and now look ahead to their game at No. 3-ranked Sacramento State this Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

The Bobcats held their weekly football press conference on Monday. Coach Brent Vigen, quarterback Sean Chambers and defensive tackle Blake Schmidt met with the media ahead of their Big Sky showdown with the Hornets.

Vigen reflected on the Bobcats' win over Cal Poly in Week 7. He also spoke about being co-champions in the Big Sky with Sacramento State last year, and not yet playing them in his tenure as the Bobcats coach.

Chambers and Schmidt spoke about their performances against Cal Poly and the team's mindset going against Sacramento State. Watch the entire news conferences in the video above.

On Saturday night, the No. 2-ranked Bobcats rolled past Cal Poly in a 59-19 win. They remain the only team left undefeated in Big Sky Conference play.

Quarterback Tommy Mellott was back from injury for the first time since Week 2, and threw for two touchdowns. Quarterback Sean Chambers dominated the gridiron once again with three rushing touchdowns of his own.

"Its tough to stay on the sidelines when you know those guys week in and week out are giving everything for the team, and youre not able to sacrifice along there with them," Mellott said. "So that was the biggest thing, just being back out there and being able to be with the guys that Ive been with throughout the entire summer, preparing for this season, so it felt great."

It felt like Mellott hadn't been out for five weeks with how in sync the dual quarterback system was. He and Chambers bring different styles to the offense, but work together towards their one common goal of winning.

"Whoever is going to play, and you know, were going to help this team win," Mellott explained how he and Chambers work together. "That was the thing from the very first day. Hes a competitor. You know, our relationship is great. Just day in and day out working with each other, talking over things.

"You know, he sees the game a little bit different than I do, and thats certainly a great thing, and we can kind of combine those ideas together."

Chambers and Mellott combined for just under 250 throwing yards, and a main weapon at receiver all game was Ty McCullouch. He had 119 receiving yards, and also flashed his speed on special teams with the first touchdown of the game coming from his 65-yard punt return.

"I just kind of said, Im going to take this no matter what, and Im going to score," McCullouch said. "Thankfully I did. Oh that was gas, I couldnt really, there were a lot of emotions going, really. But it was a great feeling. Bobcat nation is just amazing."

Bobcats coach Brent Vigen explained how dangerous it is to leave a player like McCullouch one-on-one with a defender given his speed and skill.

"Hes a guy that can run away from people," Vigen said. "Everyone watching that game, they had nine guys, or whatever, eight guys down in the box consistently. So youre leaving a guy like Ty matched up one-on-one, and you know, pleased to get a little more out of him on both the receiving side of things and with the big punt return to really get things going."

The Bobcats defense has held opponents to an average of 17 points per game. Their most being only 22 points against Portland State in Week 5.

Vigen stated that the Bobcats defense does a solid job of keeping their head down and morale up no matter how the last play went for them.

We have to be to, you know, good play, next play, bad play, next play, and I think our guys really buy into it," Vigen said. "They dont really let things linger, and you know, if the other team scores, we have to find a way to answer that.

Something that come from the solid foundation built by the veteran leadership on the team.

Up next, No. 2-ranked Montana State takes on No. 4-ranked Sacramento State for an 8:30 p.m. kickoff this upcoming Saturday on ESPN2.

The No. 2-ranked Montana State Bobcats defeated the Cal Poly Mustangs 59-19 on Saturday night.

MSU moves to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big Sky Confernce with the victory, and extended the longest home-game winning streak in Division I to 24 games in a row. For full highlights from the game, click here.

Bobcats coach Brent Vigen, wide receiver Ty McCullouch and quarterback Tommy Mellott met with the media after the game to discuss the victory. For the full press conference, check out the video above.

The No. 2-ranked Montana State Bobcats came off a bye week, ready to take the gridiron with a 59-19 win over Cal Poly on Saturday.

With this win, the Bobcats continue the longest home-game win streak in Division 1 Football with 24 games.

The Bobcats Ty McCullouch showed his flash right away with a 65-yard punt return for the first touchdown of the game. In his return, Tommy Mellott threw for two touchdowns. Sean Chambers rushed for 91 yards and 3 touchdowns of his own.

For highlights from Saturday's game, see the video player above.

The battle for the Little Brown Stein is nearly here as the No. 16 Montana Grizzlies get set to hit the road for the second straight week and take on the No. 3 Idaho Vandals.

It's a top-20 matchup in the FCS that will be under a national spotlight with kickoff at 8:30 p.m. Mountain on ESPN2, and after losing to the Vandals (5-1, 3-0 Big Sky Conference) at Washington-Grizzly Stadium last year, the Grizzlies (5-1, 2-1) are looking to steal one back in Moscow, Idaho.

It was a stunning loss to Idaho last October when the then third-ranked Griz fell to first-year head coach Jason Eck and crew, but UM head coach Bobby Hauck isn't focusing on last year's result.

"Beyond that I don't think it has much to do with the game," Hauck said. "I mean, you got to prepare for this year's team, and we need to prepare our team completely different set up than a year ago."

But while the Grizzlies don't want to look back, they can use last year's loss as fuel heading into Saturday.

"I remember just having a sour taste in our mouths after the game last year that wasn't a fun game to lose so need to control the game just as they did last year," redshirt junior linebacker Ryan Tirrell said.

"Bringing that effort in practice, letting everybody know how it went last year just to get them going, and I would just say keep the momentum up at practice," junior wide receiver Aaron Fontes said. "Like coach said, execute."

Under Eck, the Vandals have rapidly turned into a juggernaut in the FCS and Big Sky.

Ranked No. 3 in the country, Idaho defeated FBS Nevada earlier this year and also holds wins over Sacramento State and Eastern Washington already, both of which are ranked.

The Vandals possess the most efficient offense in the league and rank second behind Montana State in total offense (443.3 ypg) and defense (297.7).

"I think they're good in all three phases. I think they're a real solid football team," Hauck said. "Offense, defense, special teams, I think they do a good job so they're a well-rounded team, and they're 5-1, we're 5-1, and it's a big game."

Idaho's offense is led by a stable of stars, beginning with preseason offensive conference player of the year in wide receiver Hayden Hatten (tied for first in Big Sky in receiving yards with 430), along with quarterback Gevani McCoy (ranks second in the Big Sky with 1,306 yards and eight touchdowns), speedy receiver and return man Jermaine Jackson, while adding a breakout star in running back Anthony Woods who leads the Big Sky in rushing yards (662) and touchdowns (10).

"I think they have a lot of targets throughout their whole team they can run the ball and throw it," Tirrell said. "I think they have a lot of dynamic people and they should be a good opponent for us."

But defensively, the Vandals are just as sound, and own the top defense against the pass (162.7 ypg) in the Big Sky.

One of the leaders on that side of the ball for Idaho is Helena High grad and redshirt sophomore Keyshawn James-Newby, a defensive lineman who ranks top 10 in the league in tackles for loss (5.0) and sacks (four). He's one of two players with Montana connections on Idaho's roster, as Eureka native Jake Kindel is a redshirt sophomore linebacker for the Vandals as well.

UI's defense is another tough task for UM's offense that saw a breakout performance a week ago in their win over UC Davis.

"We had a good practice last week with good scout look and just kind of bringing more to practice, so I feel like if we do that again this week, just with a little bit more grit to it, just since we've got that bad taste in our mouth, I feel like we could really get things going this week," Fontes said.

It'll be the 89th meeting between these two rivals on Saturday. Idaho holds the all-time record at 56-30-2.

Idaho's quick return to elite status has breathed life back into this matchup that dates all the way back to 1903, and while Montana holds an 11-3 advantage in the meeting since 1991, the Vandals beating the Grizzlies last year for the first time since 1999 brought the Little Brown Stein back to Moscow, and in turn, UI has ascended to the upper echelon of the FCS.

Now, it's the Grizzlies who aim to return the favor.

"In the world of college football, that's a lot of history between two universities, so they're kind of a neighbor to the west a little bit and when you have that history and the proximity, and you see each other in recruiting and everything else it just lends itself to focus on the game," Hauck said.

"I think we just have to mindful that this is a big game for our team, and not look at the past so much but look at the future, and just try to go out and dominate," Tirrell said.