It’s time to get together prefer it’s 1995.
The Montana Grizzlies return to Missoula this week for Homecoming, decked out in new threads from helmet to cleat that pay homage to the 1995 National Champions on that staff’s 30
th anniversary.
Montana has been on a tear harking back to that ’95 staff as effectively, averaging over 40 factors per recreation and arising with a few of the similar magic that led UM to its first title at Marshall all these years in the past.
The Griz return dwelling at 5-0 on the season an 2-0 in Big Sky play after passing their first highway check of the yr in a wild 42-38 shootout over Idaho State at Holt Alrena in Pocatello that noticed over 1,000 yards of mixed offense.
Add that to a dominant win over Idaho the week prior and an exciting come-from-behind traditional over North Dakota on week two and UM has discovered a solution to win every week.
As the midway level of the season nears, Montana should now hold it rolling, internet hosting a surging Cal Poly squad (3-3, 1-1 BSC) that has a number of acquainted faces on workers and one other high-flying offense that rivals UM when it comes to numbers.
With four-consecutive sellouts at Washington-Grizzly Stadium and a homecoming crowd that historically packs the place, homefield benefit will as soon as once more be a welcome ally for Montana because the Griz look to increase their six recreation dwelling win streak.
Kickoff towards the Mustangs is about for two p.m. and serves because the icing on the cake of a busy weekend of homecoming actions.
HOMECOMING HAPPENINGS: The University of Montana welcomes again alumni of all generations this week for its annual homecoming celebrations with the theme “Party Like it’s 1995” to honor the 30
th anniversary of the ’95 nationwide title.
Among the occasions is the return of the annual Yell Night Pep Rally in The Oval, set for Friday at 8 p.m., that includes the complete Grizzly soccer staff, the spirit squad, marching band, fireworks, and extra.
The Homecoming Parade returns to its conventional route on Saturday morning, beginning downtown and touring alongside Higgins earlier than hanging a left on University Avenue. The parade begins at 10 a.m.
The UM Alumni Association will maintain an official alum tailgate get together close to the Van Buren footbridge beginning at midday, and the GSA Tailgate can be open to alums returning for the sport. For extra data on homecoming actions go to
GrizAlum.org.
THROW IT BACK: With greater than three million views throughout a number of social media platforms, you’ve got probably seen Montana’s new throwback uniforms that set the school soccer web abuzz this week.
The Grizzlies will formally run out of the tunnel at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in these copper and gold throwbacks for homecoming Saturday to have a good time the 30
th anniversary of the 1995 National Championship.
Montana has worn copper & gold throwback uniforms thrice beforehand. The most up-to-date was in 2018 when legendary QB Dave Dickenson went into the College Football Hall of Fame. Prior to that, the staff wore throwbacks in 2015 to have a good time the ’95 staff’s 20
th anniversary. Perhaps most famously the Griz emerged from the Topel Tunnel sporting throwbacks within the 2008 Montana/Montana State recreation to the shock of Griz followers all over the place after warming up for the sport in maroon and silver.
This yr’s throwback uniforms function a singular helmet decal. For the primary time ever, “Otto the slobbering bear” might be displayed on the aspect of a Griz soccer helmet. The slobbering bear was initially a basketball brand, featured at heart courtroom of Dahlberg Arena and on varied basketball equipment within the ’80’s and early ’90’s till UM formally switched to maroon and silver as its sprit colours in 1996.
Montana initially started sporting “copper, silver, and gold” soccer uniforms in 1967 underneath soccer coach Jack Swarthout, who had returned to UM after teaching at Texas and needed to pay homage to Montana’s wealthy mining custom, particularly in Butte, America.
Apparel objects from Montana’s new classic line might be bought via the
Go Griz Store on campus,
Scheels and
Dillard’s within the Southgate Mall, or the
M Store and
Wear Your Roots retailer in downtown Missoula and on the Grizzly Team Store or
UpTop Clothing on-line. Due to excessive demand, stock is at present low however might be replenished within the coming weeks.
WATCH: The Grizzlies return to Montana Television Network stations across the state this week, with the Cal Poly matchup obtainable on fundamental cable, satellite tv for pc choices, free-to-air channels, and on-line streaming.
This week’s recreation might be proven on KPAX in Missoula and Kalispell, KTGF in Great Falls, KXLH in Helena, and “The Spot – MTN” round the remainder of the state. “The Spot” is a brand new unbiased tv community that serves because the secondary dwelling of Big Sky Conference video games and can carry particular UM video games in particular markets. The recreation will even be proven again in San Louis Obispo for Cal Poly followers on KSBY 6.2 LAFF.
The Spot is on the market across the state free-to-air for viewers with antennas. It can be obtainable on Spectrum Cable, TCT West, Montana Opticom, Access Montana, DIRECTV, the DIRECTV streaming platform, and FUBO TV.
ESPN+ will once more function the first streaming dwelling of Montana Athletics this season.
In the sales space are veteran play-by-play announcer Trey Bender, joined by former Grizzly All-American Jordan Tripp who serves as analyst. Kyle Hansen will report from the sidelines. For full broadcast particulars go to GoGriz.com/WhereToWatch.
LISTEN: “Voice of the Griz”
Riley Corcoran is in his tenth season behind the mic at Montana and is as soon as once more set to convey you all of the Grizzly motion over the airwaves on the Grizzly Sports Radio Network and its fifteen affiliate stations across the state.
“Grizzly Gameday” begins two hours earlier than kickoff every Saturday with the official pregame radio present that includes Ace Sauerwein and Denny Bedard earlier than Corcoran and longtime coloration commentator
Greg Sundberg take over half-hour to kickoff.
Griz followers exterior the radio footprint can stream all of Montana’s broadcasts on their cellular gadget LIVE and FREE of cost with the Varsity Network App, powered by Learfield and Sidearm Sports.
///GRIZ TRACKS/// PLAYER OF THE WEEK: With 247 all-purpose yards (probably the most within the Big Sky and sixth-most within the FCS this season), one passing and two dashing touchdowns, and massive play after massive play,
Michael Wortham was all over the place within the win over Idaho State.
With a lot single-handed impression, he was named the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, surprisingly, for the primary time in his profession. For the second time this season he additionally earned an honorable point out for the Stats Perform FCS National Player of the Week after selecting up a particular groups nod week one.
The senior receiver totaled 247 all-purpose yards with 41 yards and two TDs dashing, a career-high 124 receiving yards on six catches, and one other 82 on kickoff returns. He additionally added 49 passing yards and a landing on two of two completions for a QB score of 471.
All informed he was concerned in 5 of Montana’s 11 greatest performs of 15 yards or extra. His first chunk play was from the quarterback place, dashing it in from 21 yards out to cap UM’s first drive of the sport with a rating. Later within the second quarter he bought on the board once more with a landing go to tight finish
Josh Gale from 16 yards out to transform a 3rd down.
He additionally arrange an enormous landing together with his arm, throwing again to quarterback
Keali’i Ah Yat on a reverse that put the Griz within the pink zone late within the fourth quarter with a 33-yard achieve. On the following play he ran it in from 9 yards out to place the Griz up for good.
• Wortham now leads each the Big Sky and the FCS in all-purpose yards. Not even midway via the season and he is already having among the finest all-purpose years in program historical past as effectively, with 883 whole mixed dashing, receiving, and return yards.
• He wants 511 extra to enter his identify into Montana’s high 20 document ebook for probably the most in a single season and can proceed chasing Marc Mariani’s 2009 document of two,265. With a present per-game common of 176.6 and 7 common season video games to play, he is on tempo to be within the record-breaking dialog on the finish of the yr. He is also in attain of the Big Sky Conference season document of two,520 set by one other former Eastern Washington Eagle in Jesse Chatman in 2001.
• Of Montana’s 5 third down conversions at ISU, Wortham was answerable for three of them with two massive catches and a 3rd down landing go to Gale.
MORE SATURDAY STARS: Keali’i Ah Yat was dealing in Pocatello. The sophomore QB threw for his fourth career-high passing within the final 5 video games, connecting on 23 of 40 passes for 350 yards with one TD and one INT to return out with a 134 passer score.
With 1,436 passing yards via 5 video games and a Big Sky-best 287 per-game common the sophomore is on monitor for a high 5 all-time season for the Griz. It’s an much more spectacular feat contemplating coordinator
Brent Pease‘s uber-balanced method to offense and the highest working again within the league patrolling the again area subsequent to him. His 287 per-game common can be third-best within the FCS and his whole offense is No. 7 within the subdivision.
• Ah Yat is the catalyst for UM’s Big Sky-best scoring and whole offense, averaging over 500 yards per recreation and almost 45 factors per recreation – each high 10 marks within the FCS as effectively.
EXPERIENCE MATTERS: Eli Gillman is scheduled to make his 30
th profession begin for the Grizzlies on Saturday. Despite being only a junior, he is already top-five all-time in a number of dashing classes within the UM document ebook, together with whole yards (2,727), dashing TDs (37), and whole TDs (40). He’s additionally two TDs away from climbing into UM’s high 10 factors scorers listing as effectively with 240.
Leading the staff in reps is offensive lineman
Liam Brown, who is about to make his 35
th profession begin on Saturday.
FAST FRESHMAN: Not to be misplaced amongst Wortham’s spotlight reel day was
Brooks Davis’ massive day at Idaho State. Davis had a profession excessive receiving day with six grabs for 104 yards. He’s racked up 18 catches for 274 yards this season and now sits No. 10 on UM’s all-time freshman yr receivers listing, only one yard shy of Jimmy Farris.
EMPTY CALORIES: Idaho State QB Jordan Cooke threw for 421 yards towards the Grizzlies, probably the most in a recreation of any participant within the Big Sky this season. He’s the primary participant to throw for 400+ towards Montana since Eastern Washington QB Eric Barriere threw for 530 in a 2021 FCS playoff recreation. What do each video games have in frequent? Montana victories.
RUN GAME RESILIANCE: ISU entered final week’s recreation with the Big Sky’s second-leading rusher (behind Gillman) in Dason Brooks. The Grizzly protection stood tall, limiting him to simply 51 yards on 15 carries whereas stuffing 14 (40%) of all Bengal carries.
Overall Montana is third within the Big Sky in dashing protection, permitting simply 161 yards per recreation and 9 touchdowns via 5 video games. Gillman enters the Cal Poly recreation because the league’s main rusher at 118 yards per recreation, whereas Brooks is second at 85 YPG.
• Safety
TJ Rausch racked up a career-high 11 tackles, seven of which have been solo, to steer Montana’s protection towards the high-flying Idaho State passing assault. Rausch and the Grizzly secondary clamped down on QB Jordan Cooke within the second half, permitting him to finish simply 51 % of his passes and forcing an interception to go 16-31-1 whereas Montana mounted the comeback win.
• Cornerback
Kenzel Lawler has been closely examined in latest weeks and stood alone on the island. Lawler is now third within the Big Sky in passes defended with six breakups in 5 video games.
GRIZ ON HOMECOMING: Montana enters the Cal Poly recreation in search of its 70
th all-time win and 35
th win in Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Homecoming this week. Montana is 69-11-1 total and 34-4 since WGS opened in 1986.
UM has gained 5 consecutive Homecoming video games relationship again to a 2018 loss towards Portland State. The Griz are additionally 3-0 towards Cal Poly in homecoming video games, with the final assembly in 2021, a 39-7 win.
GRIZ IN THE POLLS: Montana held regular at No. 4 in each the Stats FCS media ballot and the AFCA coaches high 25 this week for the second-straight week. The Griz are the highest ranked Big Sky staff out of 5 represented within the convention, with MSU (5), UC Davis (6), Idaho (11), and NAU (14) all ranked as effectively.
The Griz have two previous opponents this season ranked once more this week, with North Dakota at 13 (up from No. 16 after they got here to Missoula), and Idaho at 11 (down from No. 8 when).
The Griz have come out of the primary 5 video games of the yr unscathed at 5-0 within the midst of a high 20 hardest previous schedule score. UM’s previous schedule is No. 19 this week (tied with South Dakota St.) within the NCAA’s rating of the hardest previous schedules with a .619 proportion.
FIVE-AND-OH-YEAH: Cue the Kool-Aid Man. Montana is one in all simply eight groups within the FCS to stay undefeated this week. The Griz return dwelling driving a six-game dwelling win streak and have gained 23 of the final 24 video games inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium. With 5 consecutive wins total, Montana’s win streak is the sixth-longest lively within the FCS.
HAUCK HISTORY: Already the winningest total coach in Big Sky Conference historical past,
Bobby Hauck is now nearer to the highest of the desk in league wins after beating Idaho State. Hauck is now 81-22 in 14 seasons of convention play. He wants simply 5 extra wins over Big Sky opponents to surpass Jerome Souers’ profession whole of 85.
ATTENDANCE LEADER: Montana returns dwelling because the FCS chief in whole and common attendance after 4 video games in Missoula, every with a high 20 crowd in program historical past. UM totaled 106,019 followers within the month of September and averaged 26,505 per recreation, that is 105.1 % of Washington-Grizzly Stadium’s capability. That quantity was bolstered by a crowd of 27,025 that noticed UM defeat Idaho on week 4 – the second greatest in program historical past.
The 2025 season is now tied with the 2023 season with 4 video games listed among the many high 20 highest attended in program historical past, nonetheless with 4 extra dwelling video games to play out of this yr’s FCS document eight dwelling video games. Limited tickets stay for the homecoming recreation towards Cal Poly at GrizTix.com.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS: Under the course of veteran coach Paul Wolfe, the Mustangs come to Missoula at 3-3 on the season and tied for fourth on the Big Sky desk at 1-1 coming off a slim 27-34 dwelling loss to ranked UC Davis. But previous to that, Poly pulled off one of many greatest upsets within the FCS this season, taking down a then-ranked Sacramento State 32-34 IN Sacramento.
With former Grizzly Offensive Coordinator Timm Rosenbach now calling the performs for the Mustangs, Cal Poly involves Missoula with the third-leading passing offense within the Big Sky behind Montana and Idaho State.
Michael Briscoe, an NFL prospect receiver, is the highest go catcher within the league, averaging over 88 yards per recreation and almost 5 catches. He’s additionally a high 5 scorer within the league, averaging a TD per recreation.
Defensively, linebackers Mikey D’Amato and Kenny Olson are the third and fourth tacklers within the Big Sky, respectively, with roughly 10 stops every per recreation, whereas D’Amato is tied for tops within the league in sacks with 5.
LAST MEETING: The Grizzly protection clamped down and
Junior Bergen busted free for a record-setting punt return landing that broke the dam unfastened for the Grizzlies in a complete 42-7 Big Sky highway win over Cal Poly in San Louis Obispo final season..
The Griz took three turnovers to assist hold the Mustangs scoreless via three quarters on a cool day in California’s Central Coast, whereas the offense scored 5 occasions within the second half to place the sport away with a rotation of the primary, second, and third staff gamers on the sector.
Logan Fife and
Keali’i Ah Yat break up quarterback duties for the Griz and collectively led them to 268 passing yards and a pair of scores, break up roughly down the center with 137 and 131 yards, respectively.
Xavier Harris caught the primary of these TD passes on return to his dwelling state of California, and
Keelan White had a one-handed spotlight reel seize for a second quarter rating for the opposite.
All informed Montana had 9 receivers catch 21 passes for its 268 yards, with a staff excessive 73 yards going to White and Harris accounting for 50 extra. UM added 68 extra yards on the bottom for 336 yards of whole offense.