Program outlook
For 30 years, Montana football defined what consistency meant in the FCS.
Since Oct 28: W 42-33 at Eastern Washington. 6-3 this season.
Bobby Hauck took over in 2003 and rebuilt the program twice, compiling 151 wins over 14 seasons (two stints) and matching Hauck's standard as the blue-blood of the Big Sky Conference. The 2025 season saw Montana finish 13–2 and earn the No. 3 playoff seed, but a 48–23 loss to in-state rival Montana State in the FCS semifinals ended the year.
The program has the foundation, the stadium in Missoula that holds 25,000, and a fanbase that treats the Grizzlies as the civic heartbeat. What it needs to prove is that elite FCS football is not one coach away from mediocrity.
Through seven games in 2026, Montana is 5-2, with wins over Southern Utah (28-21), Drake (45-10), Utah Tech (35-14), at UC Davis (62-22) and Northern Colorado (36-14). It lost 52-17 at Oregon State, then on October 10 lost 49-44 at Northern Arizona as a 9.5-point favorite.
Update (Oct. 28, 2026): Montana is 5-3. Since then it lost 42-35 to Idaho on Oct. 17, as a 16.5-point favorite.
Montana plays Big Sky-dominant, tournament-ready football. The program emphasizes quarterback play and defense, rarely rebuilds, and wins in the playoff tournament. The Grizzlies are built to peak in November and December.
Moment of the year · 2026
Week 1 of 2026. A statement win, by 35 points.
Developing. The pipeline is real but still building volume.
San Francisco 49ers
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Big Sky standing · 2026
Montana is 3rd in the Big Sky at 5-2. Two teams above — that's the direct path to the title game.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Arizona | 6-1 |
| 2 | Montana State | 5-1 |
| 3 | Montana | 5-2 |
| 4 | Weber State | 5-3 |
| 5 | Idaho | 4-2 |
| 6 | Idaho State | 3-3 |
| 7 | UC Davis | 3-3 |
| 8 | Cal Poly | 3-4 |
| 9 | Southern Utah | 3-4 |
| 10 | Northern Colorado | 2-4 |
| 11 | Portland State | 2-4 |
| 12 | Eastern Washington | 1-5 |
| 13 | Utah Tech | 1-7 |
Coaching history
The rituals that anchor a Saturday in this program's world.
since 1986
Fans line the Adams Center plaza alongside the UM marching band to welcome the Montana football team and coaching staff as they walk to the stadium. A Missoula institution that electrifies the pregame atmosphere and builds the bond between the fanbase and program.
since 1897
The fourth-oldest active rivalry in FCS college football, dating to November 26, 1897. Montana leads the series 74-44-5, though Montana State won both the 2025 regular-season game (31-28) and the FCS playoff semifinal (48-23). The rivalry defines both programs and captivates the entire state.
since 1986
A cannon fires at Washington-Grizzly Stadium each time Montana scores a touchdown, while the mascot Monte (a spirited grizzly bear) entertains the crowd with flips and stunts. The #37 jersey tradition—begun in 1987—honors top defensive players by awarding them the number of the year.
Most recent: 2025 — loss 48-23 (away). Last 5 postseason: 3-2.
