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There was a time last summer where I thought I was going to "Big Sky Country."
I love the state of Montana a lot. One of my goals in life is to visit that beautiful state and call a game there.
Someway, somehow, I was able to secure two interviews with a Montana television station and I felt like I got the job. So much so that I started to plan out when I would make the move out West and start my role as a reporter.
Unfortunately, life threw me a curveball and I wasn’t offered the position. Not securing that role was one of the more frustrating moments of 2025 and I still wonder what could have been had I earned that position.
Looking back, it was even more frustrating when you take into account the season Montana football had in 2025.
The Grizzlies are by far one of my favorite FCS teams and I wished that they had more nationally televised regular season games so I could watch them more. Historically, they are an incredible program and they are always in contention to win the FCS championship.
In 2025, Montana finished 13-2 (7-1 Big Sky), made the FCS playoffs again and took down everyone they faced. However, who were those two losses to you may ask? Well, it was to their arch-rivals, the Montana State Bobcats.
“The Brawl of the Wild” is one of the best rivalries in the sport and there is no love between these two programs. The Bobcats showed no mercy when they squared up against their bitter rivals twice last season.
Last November, both teams entered their rivalry game as two of the top three teams in the FCS. However, it was the third-ranked Bobcats who came into Washington-Grizzly Stadium and upset the undefeated second-ranked Grizzlies.
Nearly a month later, the two dueled once more in the semifinal round of the FCS playoffs. This time, the game took place at the Bobcats’ home field in Bozeman and was nationally televised on ABC. What occurred on that cold December afternoon will haunt Grizzlies fans for a while.
Down 27-23 entering the fourth quarter, Montana was hoping to make a comeback with a bid in the championship game on the line. Then, they proceeded to allow 21 points to their rivals in the fourth, lose and watched the Bobcats eventually win the FCS championship in January.
I’m not a diehard supporter of Montana, nor am I an alumni of the school. However, I felt bad for them.
Things remained chaotic for the Griz come the offseason as their head coach, Bobby Hauck, announced his retirement in early February. That retirement only lasted a few days, however, as he was eventually hired to become the new defensive coordinator at Illinois.
With Hauck gone, Bobby Kennedy is now the HC and he will be facing an extraordinary amount of pressure in 2026.
The Griz are of course still bitter about their rivals winning the championship and they hope that they can respond nicely with a championship of their own in 2026. The path, while never easy, is a little lighter given that former FCS powerhouse, North Dakota State, is now in the FBS. Truthfully, there is really no excuse left for Montana as they hope to win their first FCS championship since 2001.
Think about this. Although the Grizzlies are one of the proudest programs at their level, their last four FCS championship game appearances have all ended in defeats (2004, 2008, 2009, 2023).
The talent is there of course for the Grizzlies as it’s spread all across their massive roster.
Offensively, quarterback Keali’l Ah Yat and running back Eli Gillman are two of the finest players in the FCS. In the case of the FCS All-American RB Gillman, he might just be the best back at his level and teams will be terrified of him once again this fall.
Despite Ah Yat being an excellent QB, there are questions surrounding the passing game with many new faces expected to step up at wide receiver and tight end. This may allow Gillman to blossom early and continue his already historic career in dominant fashion. Seriously, the man was the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year and an all-conference back in 2025 so it only makes sense to hand him the ball a lot.
Luckily for Ah Yat, Freshman All-American Brooks Davis will be a helpful piece for him in the passing game so expect a lot of great plays between them.
The offensive line is a concern though for Montana as zero starters return from the 2025 team. The lack of experience found at that position is also worrisome for the program. San Diego transfer Jack D’Ambra was a big get for them in the offseason so the Grizzlies hope he can be reliable in 2026.
Defensively, Montana means business on that side of the ball. Utilizing the transfer portal well this offseason, the Grizzlies picked up a few gems from the lower divisions and elsewhere.
Arriving from Georgetown this offseason, linebacker Naiteitei Moses comes to Missoula after earning All-Patriot League second-team honors in 2025. Moses joins a LB core that is arguably one of the best in the whole FCS. With the likes of all-Big Sky members in Solomon Tuliaupupu and Peyton Wing, it’s going to take a lot to stop them.
It’s also a good time to mention that Montana added Division II All-American Tyler King from Central Washington this offseason. The defensive lineman finished the 2025 season with 13 sacks and was the Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year as well.
There are some questions regarding the secondary with their top three cornerbacks from last season gone. Returning safety Kade Boyd does have a lot of experience so he will be relied on in that department.
Carroll College (MT) transfer Braeden Orlandi was an interesting get for Montana this offseason and he may break out in 2026. Coming from the NAIA level, this will be the first time that many fans will watch him play and he has the accolades to prove that he is good. In 2025, he was a second-team NAIA All-American, the leading tackler in the NAIA and was the Frontier Conference West Defensive Player of the Year.
Montana will once again be a contender to win the Big Sky in 2026 and this season, they should win it.
Now, with them being an FCS program, they will hardly be on national television outside of two games. While all of their games can technically be streamed on ESPN+, these two regular season games will air on cable this fall.
The following include:
9/19 - @ Oregon State 11 PM on USA
11/14 - Idaho State 10:30 PM on ESPN
Expectations are high once again in Missoula and hopefully for their diehard fanbase, they will be rewarded with a championship.