Big Sky Breakdown

Skyline Sports analyst Ryan Tootell gives his instant reaction to Montana State's 31-28 win over Montana in Missoula on November 22, 2025. 

Montana State head coach Brent Vigen along with quarterback (13:33) Justin Lamson, Caden Dowler and Zac Crews + Montana head coach Bobby Hauck (23:17), running back Eli Gillman and safety TJ Rausch addressed the media following MSU's 31-28 win over UM in Missoula on November 22, 2025. 

Montana State quarterback Justin Lamson, safety Caden Dowler and defensive end Zac Crews addressed the media following MSU's 31-28 win in Missoula over No. 2 Montana to secure a Big Sky Conference championship. 

Montana State 5th-year head coach Brent Vigen won for the first time in his career in Missoula, sewing up his third Big Sky Conference championship in the process by beating No. 2 Montana 31-28 on Saturday afternoon. 

Montana head coach Bobby Hauck, senior captain TJ Rausch and junior running back Eli Gillman addressed the media following UM's 31-28 loss to Montana State in Missoula on Saturday afternoon. 

Former Montana State All-American offensive lineman JP Flynn joins Colter Nuanez to talk all things Montana-Montana State football, share his memories from his time battling the Griz and preview the key matchups in Saturday's game in Missoula. 

Colter Nuanez and Samuel Akem share rivalry game memories (1:25) and ask a collection of questions to each other, both contemporary & historic, leading up to the 124th edition of the Montana-Montana State contest, including: (5:35) - What is the biggest matchup in the 2025 game? (8:12) - Who has the advantage in the trenches? (9:55) - What do people deny the eye test? Why is Montana State ranked ahead of Montana in Sammy's poll? (13:19) Measuring talent beyond the starters and evaluating the way each team rotates, especially on defense (15:20) Who has the best win - Montana or Montana State? (18:15) What player on each side is going to have a really big game this weekend? (21:20) How have the Griz receivers been so much more productive this year than last year despite losing four seniors from last season? And how does that group match up with Montana State's confident, youthful defensive backs? (26:51) Does it matter that 22 Montana seniors are expected to play on Saturday while MSU only has nine seniors on its roster? (29:19) Why has the visiting team been avalanched in every rivalry game since 2019? (34:34) Position by position comparisons - who is better at each position group? (45:30) The best individual performances we've ever seen in the Brawl of the Wild (50:13) What's the loudest crowd pop you've ever heard in the rivalry? (51:48) What's the craziest play you've ever seen in the Brawl? (53:40) The Cats will win if? The Griz will win if? (54:43) Which head coach has more pressure on them when it comes to legacy within the rivalry? (56:34) Tommy Mellott or Keali'i Ah Yat? (1:00:24) How important is it for the Griz to win this game if they want to make a run to the national championship? (1:02:50) What would be crazier - a rivalry rematch in the playoffs in MIssoula or Bozeman? Or a rivalry game national championship in Nashville?

In this week's Akem's Analysis, I talk about some BIG games taking place in the FCS in the final week of the regular season. The Brawl of the Wild is the biggest game in the country with a ton on the line. UC Davis & Sac State face off in the final Causeway Classic for the foreseeable future. North Dakota looks to give SDSU their 5th straight loss and knock them out of the playoffs. All of this and more in this week's Akem's Analysis. SPORTS BET MONTANA LINK: https://sportsbetmontana.com/en0:00 - Intro3:08 - Montana/Montana State Preview16:32 - UC Davis/Sac State Preview24:51 - North Dakota/SDSU Preview31:16 - Harvard/Yale Preview37:38 - Lehigh/Lafayette Preview42:24 - No Huddle Notes52:48 - Final Thoughts 54:21 - End

Montana State senior captain Kenneth Eiden IV addressed the Bozeman media ahead of his final rivalry game against Montana on Saturday in Missoula. Sound provided by MSU sports information. 

Idaho head coach Thomas Ford Jr., talks about his team's 23-20 loss at Sac State and previews his team's rivalry game against Idaho State on Saturday. 

Montana State head coach Brent Vigen joins Colter Nuanez on Nuanez Now on 102.9 ESPN to preview the 124th matchup between Montana State and Montana in Missoula on Saturday. 

Montana State analyst Michael Rider joins Colter Nuanez for a discussion including Cat-Griz memories, Caden Dowler's rise to an elite FCS player, the college football player factory that is Billings West High and key matchups in Saturday's 124th rivalry showdown between Montana and Montana State in Missoula. 

Montana State defensive coordinator Shawn Howe sits down with Colter Nuanez to talk about MSU's soundness on defense (0:39), the young Bobcat defensive coaching staff (1:55), the defensive line as leaders (4:40), the ability to play base (6:11), conversation about Montana State's four senior defensive linemen (7:34), and how Coach Howe wants to finish the regular-season (19:13). 

Jordan Tripp, a former Montana All-American linebacker and NFL player who is now doing color commentary for Scripps Sports Television broadcasts, joins Colter Nuanez to break down what makes Montana's risky yet prolific defense effective and to give his insight into the origin of the Bobcats' 4-2-5 scheme and why it's been so sound this season.

Leo Davis, a former Bobcat football player who is now the color commentator for Bobcat football on the Bobcat Radio Network, joins Colter Nuanez to talk all things Montana-Montana State with the rivalry game looming in Missoula on Saturday with a Big Sky title and playoff seeding on the line. 

Skyline analyst Ryan Tootell joins Colter Nuanez to rap about the 2025 rivalry game between No. 3 Montana State at No. 2 Montana in Missoula on Saturday, including:0:00 - Intro3:44 - Magnitude of the matchup8:10 - Setting the stage for the rivalry 16:30 - Why does the road team unravel since 2019? 22:10 - Do underdog mentalities play when the 'Cats play the Griz? 24:25 - What if these teams played twice before the end of the year?  28:30 - How will Justin Lamson handle his first Brawl?And much more! 

Skyline analyst Andrew Schmidt joins Colter Nuanez to talk about home field advantage in the rivalry (1:24), Griz 63-17 win over Portland State (3:36) plus Andrew gives his five favorite Bobcats (5:55) of all time. Plus, Andrew & Colter analyze the biggest question coming into the 124th matchup between No. 3 Montana State at No. 2 Montana (13:03) + "it's Cat week, bitch" and concerns for the Griz (26:46). 

Montana State senior captain Paul Brott addressed the media ahead of MSU's game in Missoula against No. 2 Montana (11-0). 

Montana State senior center and captain JT Reed talks about MSU's senior day and his final rivalry game against Montana in Missoula on Saturday afternoon. 

Montana State head coach Brent Vigen breaks down the 124th rivalry showdown with Montana on Saturday in Missoula.