MATCHUP EDGE
WHERE THE NUMBERS LEAN
SCORING+33.0Montana points/game edge
TOTAL OFFENSE+207.5yards/game for Montana
RUSHING+86.0yards/game for Montana
POINTS ALLOWED−43.0fewer points allowed by Montana
Latest Griz News
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2026 Big Sky Football
All Big Sky teams • conference & non-conferenceLoading Big Sky schedule…
Source: Big Sky Conference ↗
GRIZ HQ • OPPONENT DOSSIER
NEXT UP: UTAH TECH
Everything you want to know before kickoff — the matchup, the numbers, the history, the opponent, and the best places to dig deeper.
SEP 121:00 PM MTWASHINGTON-GRIZZLY STADIUM
#2
MONTANA
2–0 • 1–0 BIG SKY
VSGAME 3
NEXT
UTAH TECH
0–2 • 0–1 BIG SKY
JUMP TO / EXPLORE
THE NUMBERS
MONTANA VS. UTAH TECH
Through two games for each team. Utah Tech's official statistics list 205.5 yards and 3.5 points per game; Montana enters 2–0.
2026 THROUGH 2 GAMES MONTANA UTAH TECH
MONTANA UTAH TECHRecord2–00–2
Points / Game36.53.5
Total Offense / Game413.0205.5
Passing / Game273.5152.0
Rushing / Game139.553.5
Points Allowed / Game15.558.5
Total Defense Allowed / Game403.5484.0
3rd Down41.7%34.6%
Turnover Margin+1−6
RECENT FORM
HOW THEY GOT HERE
MONTANAW28–21Southern Utah
W45–10Drake
UTAH TECHL0–54Montana State
L7–63BYU
PLAYERS TO KNOW
WHO MATTERS IN THIS MATCHUP
M
Eli GillmanMontana RB • 181 rush yards • 4 TD
M
Keali'i Ah YatMontana QB • 547 pass yards • 4 TD • 1 INT
UT
Ace ChatmanUtah Tech RB • team-high 58 rushing yards
UT
Bronson BarbenUtah Tech QB • 193 passing yards
OPPONENT INTEL
GET TO KNOW THE TRAILBLAZERS
Utah Tech is in its first season as a Big Sky football member. The Trailblazers opened 2026 against Montana State and then traveled to BYU before coming to Missoula. The program is led by third-year head coach Lance Anderson.
2026Big Sky debut
0–2Current record
115Players in fall camp
St. GeorgeHome of the Trailblazers
SERIES HISTORY
THE GRIZ HAVE OWNED THIS SERIES
Montana and Utah Tech have met twice. The Griz won the first meeting 31–14 in Missoula in 2021, then won 43–13 in St. George in 2023. This is the third game of the four-game series and the first meeting since 2023.
2–0Montana all-time
74–27Montana scoring edge
2021First meeting
2021MONTANA 31–14Missoula
2023MONTANA 43–13St. George
WHAT TO WATCH
THREE THINGS I'M WATCHING
- Can Montana establish the run?The Griz enter averaging 139.5 rushing yards per game.
- Can Utah Tech protect the football?The Trailblazers have 6 turnovers through two games, including 5 interceptions.
- Can the Griz avoid a letdown?Utah Tech has faced Montana State and BYU to open its Big Sky debut season.
MORE GAME-DAY INFO
KEEP THESE OPEN
FILM ROOM
WATCH THE OPPONENT
Start the week with the video that matters: coach interviews, player press conferences, highlights and recent games.
HIGHLIGHTSSearch Utah Tech 2026 HighlightsRecent game clips and team highlights
↗
COACH TALKLance Anderson Press ConferencesHear the opponent's coaches directly
↗
RECENT GAMEUtah Tech at Montana StateLook for full-game, recap and highlight video
↗
RECENT GAMEUtah Tech at BYUAnother look at the Trailblazers' most recent test
↗
DEEP DIVE
OPPONENT RESEARCH DESK
GAME FILM CHECKLIST
WHAT I WOULD STUDY FIRST
- Quarterback tendenciesLook at early-down throws, pressure response and where the QB goes when the first read is covered.
- Explosive playsFind the opponent's longest runs, passes and returns from the first two games.
- Third-down defenseSee how they line up on 3rd-and-medium/long and which pressures create negative plays.
- Special teamsWatch kickoff coverage, punt returns, field-goal range and fake-punt tendencies.
MORE NUMBERS
STATS WORTH DIGGING INTO
The scoreboard tells you who won. These numbers tell you how the opponent is built.
TURNOVERS−6Utah Tech turnover margin
3RD DOWN34.6%Offensive conversion rate
PASSING152.0Passing yards per game
RUSHING53.5Rushing yards per game
POINTS ALLOWED58.5Opponent points per game
TAKEAWAYS0Through the first two games
2026 SEASON AT A GLANCE
1–0RECORD
1–0BIG SKY
28.0PPG
21.0OPP PPG
DATEOPPONENTRESULT / TIME
AUG 29SOUTHERN UTAHW 28–21
SEP 5DRAKE2:00 PM MT
SEP 12UTAH TECH1:00 PM MT
SEP 19@ OREGON STATE9:00 PM MT
SEP 26@ UC DAVIS8:00 PM MT
OCT 3NORTHERN COLORADO2:00 PM MT
GRIZ HQ • DAILY FOOTBALL NEWS
THE GRIZ NEWSROOM
Your daily Montana football front page — official news, game stories, insider coverage and more.
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THE TEAM
Roster & Depth Chart
2026 seasonROSTER HQ
Meet the 2026 Griz
One place to see the roster, current two-deep, position groups, experience and new arrivals. Use the explorer below instead of jumping around the page.
110PLAYERSOfficial 2026 roster
3UNITSOffense · Defense · ST
11GROUPSQB through specialists
2-DEEPNOWLatest published depth chart
LEADERSHIP
Team Captains
2026 WATCH
Players to Watch
PRESEASON RECOGNITION
Honors & Watchlists
52OFFENSEQB · RB · WR · TE · OL
53DEFENSEDL · LB · DB
5SPECIALISTSK · P/KP · LS
22FRESHMENFirst-year players
23SOPHOMORESSecond-year players
25JUNIORSThird-year players
20SENIORSFourth-year players
145TH YEARGraduate / extra-eligibility veterans
ROSTER EXPLORER
Find any Griz in seconds
Filter by unit, position or class. Click a player for the full roster card.
110 PLAYERS
Showing all 110 players
THE STAFF
Coaching Staff
The 2026 Montana football coaching staff, pulled from the official GoGriz staff page.
The depth chart below is the latest published two-deep. The official GoGriz roster is the authority for the complete player list and player details.
OFFENSE
POS1ST TEAM2ND TEAM
QBKeali'i Ah YatLuke Flowers
RBEli GillmanDylan Paine
X WRLandon Ransom-GoelzWeston Adams
Z WRBrooks DavisJordan Dever
F WRLekeldrick BridgesKorbin Hendrix
TETitus RohrerMariano Birdno / Reese Brooks
LTTorin JeskeWyatt Sandford
LGLucas FreitasWyatt Sandford
CJack D'AmbraMatt Hilden
RGDyllan DrummondJack D'Ambra
RTAustin BuehlerCarter Bowen
DEFENSE
POS1ST TEAM2ND TEAM
DLTyler KingManase Tupou
NTCooper BuffingtonZekiel Seumalo
DEJake MasonHayden Schwartz
BUCKSolomon TuliaupuluJustin Eklund
WILLPeyton WingNai Mose
MIKEClay OvenJustin Eklund
SAMTanner WilliamsNai Mose
CBChris Johnson IIGabe Stroud
CBBrady BeanerSage Salopek
SKade BoydAshton Paine
SKade CutlerBrock Beaner
STanner Huff—
SPECIAL TEAMS
POS1ST TEAM2ND TEAM
KJo SilverRyder Barinowski
PEverett O'Donnell—
LSJace Eastlick—
PRBrooks Davis—
KRLandon Ransom-Goelz / Monte Gillman—
WHAT THE GRIZ LOST
Griz Transfers
Former Montana players who transferred out after the 2025 season. 2026 performance is updated from currently published destination-school statistics; “No stats posted” means the destination has not published player stats yet.
🟢 Thriving🟡 Contributing⚪ Limited role🔴 Not playing
11TRACKED DEPARTURES
7FBS DESTINATIONS
3IOWA STATE CYCLONES
2025BASELINE SEASON
🟡 CONTRIBUTINGGRIZ LOSS A-
Malae Fonoti
Missouri · RB · Junior
Montana 202511 G · 48 rush · 184 yds · 4 TD · 10 rec · 97 yds
20261 G · 3 rush · 18 yds · 6.0 avg · 0 TD
Limited early workload, but he has already produced an explosive 6.0-yard average in his first game.
MISSOURI PROFILE ↗⚪ LIMITED ROLEGRIZ LOSS B+
Colin Amick
Iowa State · OL · R-So.
Montana 202511 G · 7 starts · FCS Freshman All-American
2026No player stats posted
Important young tackle for the 2025 Griz. Iowa State has not published individual 2026 statistics yet.
IOWA STATE PROFILE ↗⚪ LIMITED ROLEGRIZ LOSS B
Jose Balver-Mendoza
Nevada · OL · Junior
Montana 20254 games
2026No player stats posted
Depth offensive-line departure. Nevada lists him on the 2026 roster but has no individual season stats posted.
NEVADA PROFILE ↗⚪ LIMITED ROLEGRIZ LOSS B+
Jareb Ramos
Iowa State · DT · R-Sr.
Montana 202515 G · 15 starts · 31 tackles · 2.5 TFL · 2 sacks · 2 FF
2026No player stats posted
A full-season starter and disruptive nose tackle for Montana in 2025; Iowa State has not posted individual 2026 stats.
IOWA STATE PROFILE ↗⚪ LIMITED ROLEGRIZ LOSS A
Caleb Otlewski
Colorado State · LB · R-Jr.
Montana 202579 tackles · 9.5 TFL · 2 sacks · 2 INT · 2 PBU
2026No player stats posted
Montana's leading tackler in 2025. The Rams currently have no individual 2026 statistics posted for him.
COLORADO STATE PROFILE ↗⚪ LIMITED ROLEGRIZ LOSS A
Diezel Wilkinson
UAB · DB · Junior
Montana 202515 G · 78 tackles · 2.5 TFL · 2 sacks · 2 PBU
2026No player stats posted
One of Montana's biggest defensive losses. UAB lists him on the roster but has not posted 2026 individual stats.
UAB PROFILE ↗⚪ LIMITED ROLEGRIZ LOSS A-
Kyon Loud
Duke · CB · R-So.
Montana 20257 G · 7 starts · 25 tackles · 2 TFL · 4 PBU
2026No player stats posted
A starting corner when healthy in 2025. Duke's current player page has no 2026 individual stats posted.
DUKE PROFILE ↗⚪ LIMITED ROLEGRIZ LOSS C+
Rashid Mansour
Houston Christian · CB · Junior
Montana 2025Did not appear
2026No player stats posted
Mansour did not play for Montana in 2025; HCU lists him on its 2026 roster.
HCU ROSTER ↗🟡 CONTRIBUTINGGRIZ LOSS B+
Terahiti Wolfe
Portland State · S · Junior
Montana 202511 G · 11 tackles · 1 INT
20262 G · 4 tackles
He's already seeing the field for Portland State and has recorded four tackles through two games.
PORTLAND STATE PROFILE ↗⚪ LIMITED ROLEGRIZ LOSS C
Justus Breston
Mary · DB · 5th Year
Montana 20254 G · no recorded stats
2026No player stats posted
Returned to Mary after one season at Montana. His 2024 Mary season included 20 tackles, 3 INT and 7 PBU.
MARY PROFILE ↗⚪ LIMITED ROLEGRIZ LOSS A-
Micah Harper
Iowa State · S · R-Sr.
Montana 202515 G · 15 starts · 45 tackles · 1 TFL · 2 INT · 7 PBU
2026No player stats posted
One of Montana's starting safeties in 2025. Iowa State's current cumulative stats do not list individual production yet.
IOWA STATE PROFILE ↗🏈 COACH DEPARTURE
Bobby Hauck
Illinois · Defensive Coordinator
GRIZ LOSS: A+Former Montana head coach · Illinois staff in 2026
Tracked separately from player transfers. Hauck left Montana after the 2025 season and joined Illinois as defensive coordinator.
2026 Illinois defense: 1 G · 23 pts allowed · 413 total yds allowed · 194 rush yds allowed · 219 pass yds allowed · 1 INT · 1 sack
Through Week 1: Illinois beat UAB 42-23 on Sept. 3. The Illini defense also recorded a pick-six by Ismael Kante.
OFFICIATING INTELLIGENCE
NUMBERS
Griz Stats Central
Through Week 1THE FULL PICTURE. Team efficiency, player production, special teams and game-by-game trends — automatically refreshed from the official Montana statistics.
MONTANA VS. THE FIELD
Team Statistical Profile
ATTACK
Griz Offense
STOP UNIT
Griz Defense
PLAYER LEADERS
Who's Producing?
GAME TRENDS
Yards by Game
SITUATIONAL
By the Numbers
GAME LOG
2026 Results
Built to update. As each official box score is posted, Griz HQ can roll the cumulative player leaders, team profile, game log and trends forward automatically.
MEDIA & RESOURCES
Griz Media Center
Official • Media • FanLATEST PRESS CONFERENCE
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VIEW PRESS CONFERENCE ↗The newest Skyline press conference will appear here automatically when its video is published.
TRADITION
Griz History
1897–present
THE GRIZ STORY
125+ years.
Two crowns.
One identity.
From the first kickoff in 1897 to national championships, packed houses and generations of legends, Montana football has become one of the defining traditions in the FCS.
8NATIONAL TITLE
GAME APPEARANCES1995 • 1996 • 2000 • 2001
2004 • 2008 • 2009 • 2023
GAME APPEARANCES1995 • 1996 • 2000 • 2001
2004 • 2008 • 2009 • 2023
2National Championships1995 • 2001
19Big Sky ChampionshipsMost in conference history
29FCS Playoff AppearancesFCS record through 2025
13FCS Semifinal AppearancesMost in FCS history
30Home Winning Streak1994–1997
650+Program WinsEntering the 2026 season
THE HOUSE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Washington-Grizzly Stadium
Opened October 18, 1986, with Montana's 38–31 win over Idaho State, Washington-Grizzly Stadium became the stage for the modern Griz era. Montana's 30 straight home wins from 1994–97 remain one of the signature home-field streaks in FCS history.
30 STRAIGHT HOME WINS
EXPLORE STADIUM HISTORY ↗
NO PLACE LIKE HOME.Missoula • Washington-Grizzly Stadium
EXPLORE THE ERAS
Pick a chapter of Griz history.
1897
FOUNDATIONS
It starts here.
Montana football begins in 1897, laying the foundation for one of the state's most enduring sports traditions.
1969
CONFERENCE
First Big Sky championship.
Montana wins its first Big Sky football championship, beginning a conference legacy that eventually grows to 19 titles.
1986
WASHINGTON-GRIZZLY STADIUM
The house opens.
The Griz rally past Idaho State 38–31 in the first game at their new home. The stadium becomes the launchpad for the modern Montana era.
1995
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
First crown.
Don Read's Grizzlies finish 13–2 and beat Marshall 22–20. Andy Larson's 25-yard field goal with 39 seconds left becomes one of the defining moments in program history.
2001
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Second crown.
Joe Glenn's 15–1 Griz beat Furman 13–6 in Chattanooga. Yohance Humphery rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown as Montana captured its second national title.
2008
PLAYOFF RUN
Back on the biggest stage.
Montana beats James Madison 35–27 in the semifinal to reach the national championship game for the sixth time.
2009
PLAYOFF RUN
Another title game.
The Griz beat Appalachian State 24–17 in the semifinal before a 23–21 championship-game loss to Villanova.
2023
BIG SKY + PLAYOFFS
19th league title. Eighth title game.
Montana beats Montana State 37–7 for the 19th Big Sky title, then wins playoff thrillers over Furman and North Dakota State before returning to the national championship game.
2025
FCS PLAYOFFS
13th semifinal appearance.
Montana reaches the FCS semifinal for the 13th time and extends its record total to 29 playoff appearances.
THE TWO CROWNS
Championship vault
1995
Montana 22, Marshall 20
Record: 13–2. Andy Larson's late field goal completed the comeback and delivered Montana's first national championship.
2001
Montana 13, Furman 6
Record: 15–1. Yohance Humphery's touchdown and a dominant defense sealed Montana's second national championship.
THE BRAWL OF THE WILD
Montana vs. Montana State
The rivalry dates to 1897 and has become one of the oldest and most intense rivalries in Division I football. The 2025 season produced a historic first: two meetings in the same season, including a playoff semifinal.
124+ meetings entering 2025
RIVALRY HISTORY ↗LEGENDS
The names that live in Griz lore.
Click a legend to spotlight the name and its place in Griz history.
GRIZZLY SPORTS HALL OF FAME ↗