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On the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez breaks down the Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Championship, which ended with a 77–66 victory for the Idaho Vandals men's basketball over the Montana Grizzlies men's basketball.Hear from Montana head coach Travis DeCuire and Idaho head coach Alex Pribble, along with players from both teams, as they reflect on the championship game, break down the key moments that decided the matchup, and discuss their seasons as a whole.
On the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez runs through this week's edition of Treasure State Stars, highlighting standout performances from athletes across Montana. He then shares a press conference with Nate Harris, head coach of the Montana Lady Griz basketball team, as Harris reflects on the season, the team's performance in the Big Sky Tournament, and the program's progress over the year.Next, Geoff Safford breaks down Montana State women's exciting win before prompting an interview with Travis DeCuire, head coach of the Montana Grizzlies men's basketball team, to preview their upcoming matchup against the Portland State Vikings.To close the hour, Colter continues the Montana vs. Portland State preview with an interview featuring Jase Coburn, Portland State men's head coach, and provides a quick press conference from Montana State women following their OT win over the Eastern Washington Eagles.
In the first hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez breaks down the latest results from the Big Sky Conference Tournament. He recaps the Montana State Bobcats men's basketball loss and the Sacramento State Hornets women's basketball victory over the Idaho State Bengals women's basketball. Colter also examines why the Big Sky continues to show so much parity, featuring interviews with Montana Grizzlies assistant coach Jay Flores, associate head coach Chris Cobb, Montana State men's head coach Matt Logie, Northern Colorado men's head coach Steve Smiley, Portland State men's head coach Jase Coburn, and Eastern Washington head coach Dan Monson. He also previews Montana prep basketball, discussing upcoming games in the state tournaments across all classes.Next, Geoff Safford provides an update on Montana lacrosse after a dominant weekend and gives a live update on Eastern Washington's upset of Northern Colorado in the women's bracket.
In the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez is joined by the CWDKS for a lively, wide-ranging sports conversation. They cover everything from 30,000-calorie lineman diets and a stuttering NFL prospect who faced ridicule, to the latest drama between Logan Paul and Tom Brady, and the shocking story involving a former Cal State Bakersfield assistant coach tied to the program. Along the way, there are offbeat stories, unexpected takes, and plenty of laughs in true CWDKS fashion.Later, Geoff Safford and Hayden Smith break down a hot start for Montana Grizzlies lacrosse before diving into an action-packed NHL trade deadline, analyzing the biggest moves and what they mean for the rest of the season.
In the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez dives into Montana Grizzlies basketball as the postseason approaches. Hear from head coach Travis DeCuire and freshman Kenyan Aguino as they reflect on Montana's recent loss to the Northern Colorado Bears and discuss what needs to change heading into their first-round rematch in the Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. The conversation covers adjustments, mindset, and how the Griz plan to respond with the season on the line.Later, Colter discusses the addition of Eric Sanders as Montana football's new defensive coordinator before playing clips from head coach Bobby Kennedy and Sanders himself about the hire and Sanders' vision for the Griz defense.
In the first hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez is joined by former Montana Grizzlies football wide receiver Sammy Akem to talk all things spring ball. The two dive into Bobby Kennedy's first press conference as head coach, discuss changes on the defensive side of the ball, break down roster movement, and explore the biggest storylines surrounding the program as a new era gets underway in Missoula.
In the first hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez goes hoops-heavy, breaking down the latest Big Sky Conference action. He recaps last night's matchups, including a tough 85-57 loss for the Montana Grizzlies to the Northern Colorado Bears, and lays out the full seeding picture for next weekend's men's and women's conference tournaments. Colter also announces all the upcoming bracket matchups, highlighting key games, potential storylines, and what fans should watch for as the postseason begins.Beyond the Big Sky, he continues his coverage of prep basketball across Montana, including his Class C spotlight, breaking down recent results and previewing the upcoming matchups in all the state tournaments, giving listeners a complete look at the high school hardwood action around the Treasure State.Next, Colter rolls through this week's list of Treasure State Stars, highlighting the top athletic performances from across Montana and celebrating standout moments from athletes at every level.Lastly, for the community spotlight segment, Colter sits down with Keri McHugh, COO of the YMCA, to talk about this year's Riverbank Run and how the event brings the community together.
To kick off Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez rolls through his “Best of the Week,” spotlighting standout performances from around the Treasure State. He highlights the latest indoor track and field champions from the Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State Bobcats at the Big Sky Indoor Championships. Colter also recaps a thrilling finish on the hardwood, as Rocky Mountain College stunned Montana Tech with a buzzer-beater victory.With the Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament right around the corner, Colter shifts his focus to conference hoops and the postseason picture, breaking down where teams stand and what's at stake heading into tournament time. Hear from Travis DeCuire and senior guard Te'Jon Sawyer as they reflect on Montana's home win and season sweep of the Portland State Vikings and discuss the momentum building in Missoula.To close the hour, Colter is joined by Tommy Evans for a fun and offbeat conversation about a tomato-growing contest and plenty more, adding a lighthearted twist to a jam-packed show.
In the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez stays locked in on the hardwood as the Big Sky Conference tournaments approach. He breaks down all the possible seeding scenarios based on tonight's conference games, walking through key tiebreakers, potential first-round matchups, and what each outcome means for teams fighting for byes, favorable draws, and momentum heading into tournament weekend.Next, Colter turns to the gridiron, breaking down recent confirmed coaching changes and exploring Spring ball as Bobby Kennedy begins his first year as head coach of the Montana Grizzlies football. He also chats with Phillipsburg native and senior special teams/safety Kade Cutler, asking about the team's early progress, practice routines, what's ahead this spring, and his perspective on the departure of former head coach Bobby Hauck.
To kick off the first hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez dives into the latest action around the Big Sky Conference, breaking down last night's results and what they mean with tournament time right around the corner. With postseason positioning on the line, Colter analyzes how each outcome shakes up the standings, who's trending at the right time, and which teams may have helped—or hurt—their seeding for the upcoming conference tournament.Later in the first segment, Colter continues his coverage of the first press conference for Bobby Kennedy as the new head coach of the Montana Grizzlies. Hear a short clip as he addresses whether any changes are coming to the Grizzlies' offense following significant turnover on the coaching staff this offseason, along with Colter's insight into what it could mean for the program heading into spring ball.Next, Colter shifts to the high school ranks with a breakdown of prep basketball divisional tournament results so far, plus a look ahead at the match-ups still to come over the next few weeks as teams battle for spots at state.Lastly, Colter reacts to the firing of Griz legend Wayne Tinkle from the head coaching position at Oregon State Beavers men's basketball, reflecting on his legacy and what the move means for both the program and Montana basketball ties.
The Grizzly Coaches Show 02-24-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Colter Nuanez opens this episode of Nuanez Now by reacting to a spectacular finish at the Winter Olympics, where Team USA delivered unforgettable moments on the ice. Both the U.S. men's and women's hockey teams defeated Canada in dramatic overtime thrillers to capture gold, adding another epic chapter to one of the sport's greatest rivalries. Then it's back to the college hardwood with a full recap of a pivotal weekend in the Big Sky Conference. Colter covers the biggest results, shifting standings, and the key storylines shaping the stretch run — plus a short interview with Tricia Binford, head coach of the Montana State women's team, to get her perspective on the Bobcats' performance and momentum as postseason play approaches.To close the show, Colter takes a hard look at what's going on with Montana Grizzlies basketball after a disappointing season for both the men's and women's programs, breaking down what's gone wrong and what could be next moving forward.
In the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez is joined by Ryan Tootell to continue the in-depth discussion surrounding the departure of Bobby Hauck. With a couple of weeks to process the decision, the guys revisit the situation from every angle — what led to the change, how it was handled, and what it means for the future of the Montana Grizzlies football program.Then, Colter shifts to the mat with a breakdown of the past weekend's Montana high school state wrestling championships, highlighted by a historic performance from Makael Aguayo. Aguayo capped his prep career with a perfect 16-0 record at state tournaments, winning his fourth straight state title while finishing the season 47-0 with 22 pins.
In the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez sits down with Chris Cobb, assistant head coach of the Montana Grizzlies men's basketball, to break down the season so far and what it will take to make a strong push down the stretch. Cobb shares insight into the team's growth, key contributors, adjustments on both ends of the floor, and the mindset the Griz need as they gear up for the final stretch of the regular season.Later in the hour, Colter catches up with Doug Fraley, head coach of Montana track & field and cross country, to discuss an incredibly successful indoor season. The Grizzlies have already set 10 new program records the most in a single season in school history and Fraley breaks down the performances fueling the surge and what it means heading into championship season.
Grizzly Coaches Show 02-17-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On the first hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez recaps all the action from an electric weekend on the hardwood as the Montana State Bobcats earned an impressive sweep over the Montana Grizzlies in both the men's and women's rivalry matchups.Colter breaks down how Montana State controlled the weekend, the key performances that made the difference, and what the results mean moving forward for both programs. You'll also hear postgame reaction from Montana State head coaches Matt Logie and Tricia Binford, along with Montana head coaches Travis DeCuire and Nate Harris, as they share their thoughts on the rivalry battles and what's next for their teams.Plus, hear from Bobcat players Addison Harris, Ella Johnson, Jed Miller, and Patrick McHahon as they reflect on the rivalry wins.Full analysis, standout moments, and exclusive coach and player interviews from another intense chapter of the Cats–Griz rivalry.
Colter Nuanez opens the first hour of Nuanez Now by sitting down with former Montana Grizzlies wide receiver Sammy Akem to break down the recent coaching changes at the University of Montana following Bobby Hauck's departure. The two discuss how Hauck's exit has reshaped the Griz coaching staff, reflect on the legacy he leaves behind in Missoula, and examine what his transition to the defensive coordinator role at the University of Illinois means for both programs.Colter then delivers a statewide update on Montana prep basketball, highlighting standout performances from across the state — including a 44-point eruption from Sentinel product Lincoln Rodgers in his latest game. He also continues building toward this weekend's Montana vs. Montana State rivalry matchups with an interview featuring Montana State women's head coach Tricia Binford.
Colter kicks off the show by sitting down with FCS expert and HERO Sports contributor Sam Herder to break down the latest news from around the FCS. The two discuss North Dakota State's transition to the FBS, Bobby Hauck's brief retirement before taking the defensive coordinator job at the University of Illinois, South Dakota head coach Travis Johansen's move to Rutgers, and other major storylines shaping the subdivision.Later in the show, Colter visits with Montana State freshman guard Jamison Phillips to recap recent conference results, including a big win over Eastern Washington, and to preview the upcoming rivalry matchup against the Montana Grizzlies.
On the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez sits down with University of Montana Athletic Director Kent Haslam to unpack a whirlwind week in Missoula. Haslam breaks down Bobby Hauck's brief retirement and rapid move to defensive coordinator at the University of Illinois, the decision to elevate Bobby Kennedy as the next head coach of Montana Grizzlies football, how Kennedy will be evaluated moving forward, and what truly changes during a leadership transition—from locker-room culture to on-field philosophy and beyond.The conversation also covers the hire of Montana women's soccer head coach Stuart Gore and what the addition means for the future of the program, along with Haslam's perspective on North Dakota State's move up to the Mountain West Conference and his take on the upcoming Griz Cat matchups on the hardwood here in Missoula
On the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez sits down with Montana Grizzlies men's basketball assistant coach Jay Flores to preview the second matchup of the season against the Montana State Bobcats. Flores breaks down the keys to the rivalry showdown, what the Griz are emphasizing heading into the game, and what to expect when the two programs meet again.Then, Colter continues the hardwood conversation with Manhattan, Montana native Seth Amunrud, discussing his journey to playing for the Bobcats, what the rivalry means to him, and a preview of Montana State's upcoming clash with the Grizzlies.
The Grizzly Coaches Show 02-10-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
We sit down with Bobby Hauck one final time before he packed his office and retired as the head coach of the Montana Grizzlies.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Grizzly Coaches Show 02-03-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Grizzly Coaches Show 01-27-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Colter Nuanez is joined by former NFL coach and Montana Grizzlies quarterback Marty Mornhinweg for a wide-ranging conversation about the NFL. They break down the NFC and AFC Championship games, resulting in wins by the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, and share what stood out as we move toward the Super Bowl. The discussion also covers the impact of weather on football games, the ups and downs of Sam Darnold's career, the Pittsburgh Steelers' hiring of Mike McCarthy as their new head coach, Michael Wortham's invitation to the East-West Shrine Game and how it could boost his NFL chances, along with many more storylines from the weekend.
Montana Grizzly Coaches Show 01-20-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On the first hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez delivers an in-depth breakdown of the latest Brawl of the Wild on the hardwood, a weekend that was highly successful for Montana State and humbling for the Montana Grizzlies.The show features insight and analysis from several key voices, including Montana State men's head coach Matt Logie and women's head coach Tricia Binford, along with Montana men's head coach Travis DeCuire. Hear directly from the players as well, with an interview featuring Montana State's Davian Brown, as he reflects on a pivotal rivalry weekend in Big Sky basketball.
In the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez is joined by former NFL coach and Montana Grizzlies quarterback Marty Mornhinweg for a wide-ranging football conversation. The two break down the latest transfer portal news, Marty's reaction to Montana State's national championship, and his thoughts on tonight's FBS National Championship matchup between Indiana and Miami.They also dive into NFL coaching firings and openings, recap last weekend's action in the NFL Divisional Round, and cover much more from across the football landscape.
Montana State senior Jed Miller talks about his breakout final season and his last home rivalry against the Montana Grizzlies.
The Grizzly Coach's Show01-13-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Grizzly Basketball Coaches Show 01-06-26See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Colter Nuanez is live from Nashville to set the stage for the FCS National Championship, wrapping up his on-site coverage with final thoughts before kickoff. He's joined first by former Montana Grizzlies receiver Sammy Akem, then by former Montana State player and coach Mike Rider, as they break down today's matchup between Montana State and Illinois State and lay out exactly what to watch for when the title game kicks off. (1:14)Next, Colter sits down with Kelly Davis — a Butte native and member of Montana State's 1984 national championship team — to reflect on his own championship run and what it would mean to pass that legacy on to the next generation of Bobcats. (28:40)And with kickoff just minutes away, Colter closes the show with his final thoughts before the FCS national title is decided. (44:47)
We all know that Santa Claus is a football fan. How else can he stay so jolly while gearing-up for a one-night trip around the world in both freezing and blazing hot temperatures next week? This man definitely has the Dad bod of a jolly old soul who watches a lot of football games during the fall. Too many cookies and hot chocolate can do that. “Ho, ho…oh, drat! That scale must be wrong again. Time to start my diet all over again come January, right?” This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Santa’s Workshop will hand us a glorious assortment of pre-Christmas football games to watch as the elves keep one eye on their flat screen TV’s while they work. The football games help alleviate the stress which Santa and his crew are feeling ahead of next Wednesday night’s big deliveries. “Roll Tide or Boomer, Sooner? They play Friday night! Will Ole Miss miss Kiffin as Tulane puts up a fight? Sunday’s Jaguars at Broncos – the best game of the day? Or Steelers visit Motown – which team comes to play?” It’s a holiday weekend football celebration! College football on Friday night and all day on Saturday. NFL games are plentiful, too, on both Saturday and Sunday. If your Christmas shopping isn’t done, you’ve still got Monday and Tuesday, right? Let’s preview this wonderful slate of football games coming this weekend (all times CST) Friday 12/19 10 AM – ESPN – It’s the early bird special! Myrtle Beach Bowl – Conference USA champ Kennesaw State (10-3) vs. Mid-American champion Western Michigan (9-4) Put your bowl of Cheerios down and get started watching some college football! This bowl game is played on the campus of nearby Coastal Carolina. A partly cloudy day with 64 warm degrees will greet fans watching these two mid-major conference champions. 1:30PM – ESPN – Gasparilla Bowl – Memphis (8-4) vs. N. Carolina State (7-5) This fairly even match-up makes for a great spot to take your Friday afternoon siesta. The NC State Wolfpack knocked-off top ACC teams like Virginia and Wake Forest this year. Memphis (which saw head coach Ryan Silverfield leave for Arkansas three weeks ago) will try to break a three game losing streak in Tampa on a warm 78-degree afternoon. 7PM – ABC and ESPN – College Football Playoff Game 1 – Alabama (10-3) at Oklahoma (10-2) What a terrific Friday nightcap! The Sooners beat Bama 23-21 in Tuscaloosa on November 15. This is the “Something to prove” game. Alabama’s quarterback Ty Simpson faded off the Heisman radar late in the year with several inconsistent efforts. The agent for Bama head coach Kalen DeBoer has been fielding and deflecting calls from the University of Michigan about their head coaching job vacancy. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s offense ranks #77 in scoring and must produce more points on Friday to take some pressure off the Sooners’ vaunted sixth-ranked scoring defense. Gusty winds of up to 30 miles per hour will come sweeping down the plains in Norman, Oklahoma this Friday night. Kickoff temperatures will be in the upper 40’s to greet these two SEC competitors. Saturday – 12/20 – The greatest day of football of the year! There will be three College Football Playoff first round games, two FBS semifinal games, and two NFL games played on Saturday. Are you ready for some football? 11AM – ABC and ESPN – College Football Playoff Game 2 – Miami (FL) (10-2) at Texas A&M (11-1) This is the first ever playoff game for the Texas Aggies. Yell practice on Friday night in College Station, Texas might be be heard as far away as downtown Houston! Miami comes in as a 4-point underdog. The Hurricanes’ experienced quarterback Carson Beck has been involved in playoff games in three seasons at Georgia prior to coming to Miami this year. The Aggies are at home. They are quite hungry to win their first playoff game, too. The mighty 12th man (the A&M fans) will unleash a wall of sound at Miami for the entire game. Sunshine and 75 degrees await these two teams in College Station Saturday. 2:30PM – TNT – College Football Playoff Game 3 – Tulane (11-2) at Ole Miss (11-1) Keep your remote control nearby – just in case this game gets ugly early. The Rebels trounced Tulane 45-10 earlier this year, so oddsmakers established Ole Miss as a 17-point home favorite in this game. Ole Miss is without offensive guru head coach Lane Kiffin (who left for LSU). Defensive coordinator Pete Golding was tapped as the team’s new top man in Oxford. Tulane’s best hope is to get off to a good start and maintain pressure on the home favorite down the stretch. Sunshine and 60 degree weather will prevail Saturday afternoon in northern Mississippi. 3PM – ABC – FCS Semifinal Game 1 – Montana (13-1) at Montana State (12-2) This is a rematch from a very exciting regular season finale won by Montana State 31-28 on the University of Montana’s home field. The still angry Grizzlies will lumber to Bozeman on Saturday seeking to even the score and advance into the national championship game in Nashville on January 5. The Montana Grizzlies’ high powered offense has generated more than 40 points in their 13 victories this season. Montana State, though, specializes in defense. The Bobcats are #6 nationally and allow a little more than 17 points per game. Ticket prices for this semifinal playoff game are through the roof with resellers grabbing $650 apiece this week. Sunshine and Montana-like temperatures of 30 degrees at kickoff await these two longtime foes Saturday afternoon. 6:30PM – ESPN2 – FCS Semifinal Game 2 – Illinois State (11-4) at Villanova (12-2) These two overachievers are now just one game away from playing for a national championship. Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse has been on fire over the past month for Illinois State. The Redbirds went on the road to knock-off #1 overall seed North Dakota State two weeks ago and downed #8 seed UC-Davis in California last weekend. They are loose and playing like a team of destiny. The Wildcats from Villanova are the #12 FCS seed. They fell behind 14-0 in last week’s game at #4 seed Tarleton State. Villanova’s defense stiffened, and the offense roared back to score a 26-21 victory to advance into the semifinal round game at home against Illinois State. A clear, cold night is ahead for these two teams in Philadelphia with temperatures falling into the mid-30’s. 6:30PM – TNT – College Football Playoffs Game 4 – James Madison (12-1) at Oregon (11-1) It’s the Dukes against the Ducks! The upstart James Madison Dukes from the Sunbelt Conference will travel 2,800 miles west to take on the Oregon Ducks. JMU’s defense is ranked #10 nationally and allows a miserly 16 points per game. Oregon’s high flying offense is #9 in the FBS group and generates more than 38 points per game. Quarterback Dante Moore produced 24 touchdown passes this season versus six interceptions. It is expected to be perfect weather – for ducks – on Saturday night with rain expected and chilly temperatures in low 40’s. NFL – The chase for the playoffs continues Saturday and Sunday Saturday – 4PM on FOX – Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) at Washington Commanders (4-10) The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles can clinch a playoff spot Saturday with a win. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will not play after re-injuring his non-throwing elbow last week. Saturday – 7:20PM on FOX – Green Bay Packers (9-5) at Chicago Bears (10-4) The Pack needs to win to have any chance to capture the NFC North title. No one (except some die-hard Bears fans) expected Chicago to be 10-4 and leading this division. A win by Chicago at home Saturday night (and a Detroit loss on Sunday) would lock-up a playoff spot for da’ Bears. Sunday – 12 Noon – FOX – Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) at Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1) If Philadelphia should lose at Washington Saturday, Dallas retains a 1% chance of making the playoffs. They will have to defeat a Chargers team which is on the brink of clinching a return to the AFC playoffs for the second straight year. Sunday – 3:05PM – FOX – Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) at Denver Broncos (12-2) Both of these teams have surprised the so-called experts this fall. Jacksonville leads Houston by one game and Indianapolis by two. A win would solidify the Jaguars’ chances to make the playoffs. Denver is trying to lock-up the AFC’s #1 seed along with home field advantage through the playoffs as the Broncos ride an 11-game winning streak. Sunday – 3:30PM – CBS – Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) at Detroit (8-6) Can the Steelers offense score enough points to compete against the pinball machine offense of the Detroit Lions? A loss by the Lions on Sunday would put them at risk of missing the playoffs for the first time in three years. Sunday – 7:20PM – NBC – New England Patriots (11-3) at Baltimore Ravens (7-7) The Ravens are fighting to stay alive in the AFC North as they battle the Pittsburgh Steelers for the division title. New England is a surprising 6-0 on the road this year. The no-name Patriots are fighting to stay one-game ahead of Buffalo in the AFC East. The post Santa Delivers Pre-Christmas Football Presents this Weekend appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.
It's happening! For the first time ever the Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats will face off in the post season! To mark the occasion YOL's resident Bobcat, Derek and Griz, Sammy G break down the implications of this historic game and give some insight on what we might expect in Saturdays match. Send us a text!Support the show
Most college football observers did a double-take when reading last Saturday’s FCS small college playoff scores. The undefeated defending FCS champion North Dakota State Bison lost – at home! They were eliminated from the playoffs by Illinois State 29-28. NDSU’s loss has opened the door for a new national champion to be crowned in less than one month. Villanova’s 2008 national championship was the most recent title won by a member of this year’s remaining eight quarterfinalist teams. What happened to North Dakota State last weekend? North Dakota State came into last Saturday’s home playoff game with Illinois State with a perfect 12-0 record in 2025. The Bison had already defeated the Redbirds 33-16 at Illinois State a couple of months ago. However, my weekly FCS report last week noted, “That game saw the Bison leading by only two points (18-16) after three quarters before NDSU tacked-on two late scores for the final margin of victory”. Illinois State came into Fargo, North Dakota last Saturday with the knowledge that they had come really close to taking down the Bison in that previous meeting. By contrast, North Dakota State confidently entered last week’s game knowing they had won 14 straight games against their Missouri Valley Football Conference rivals. The Bison wasted no time in taking a 14-0 first quarter lead in NDSU’s always-noisy FargoDome stadium last Saturday. The first offensive play from scrimmage produced a 79-yard touchdown pass completion to Bryce Lance (yes, he is the younger brother of former Bison and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance). North Dakota State tacked-on a 52-yard punt return for a touchdown to take a 14-point lead in the opening quarter. North Dakota State’s usually punishing offense was throttled all day. Illinois State held the Bison to just six first downs – for the entire game! NDSU still led 28-14 early in the fourth quarter as Illinois State quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse tossed five interceptions which allowed the Bison to maintain the lead. However, the Redbirds’ quarterback saved his best for last. Rittenhouse tossed two touchdowns in the game’s final three minutes plus a two-point conversion to give Illinois State a thrilling 29-28 win. Illinois State controlled the ball – well, when they weren’t throwing one of those five interceptions to North Dakota State. The Redbirds kept possession of the football for 42 minutes compared to just 18 for the Bison. NDSU finished its season at 12-1. Illinois State improved to 10-4 and now travels west this week to play UC-Davis on Saturday afternoon. Let’s preview this week’s four FCS quarterfinal playoff games! #7 seed Stephen F. Austin (11-2) at #2 seed Montana State (11-2) – FRIDAY – 8PM CST on ESPN Two mirror image teams will meet on Friday night in Bozeman, Montana. The SFA Lumberjacks opened the season with two straight losses and have reeled-off a school-record 11 straight victories to reach Friday’s FCS quarterfinal game. The Southland Conference champions defeated the United Athletic Conference winner Abilene Christian 41-34 at home Saturday in Nacogdoches, Texas to advance to this weekend’s game. Ditto for Montana State! The Bobcats dropped a road “money game” at Oregon and were surprised in their home opener by South Dakota State. After an 0-2 start, Montana State’s defense has only allowed one team (Montana) to score more than 17 points in their current 11-game winning streak. The Big Sky Champion Bobcats edged Ivy League winner Yale 21-13 last Saturday in Bozeman to advance into the quarterfinals at home on Friday night. Stephen F. Austin’s defense is doing its part this season, too. The Jacks have allowed just 16 points per game over their current 11-game winning streak. Offensively speaking, Montana State ranks #9 nationally in scoring 36.8 points per game. Stephen F. Austin is #14 in the FBS in scoring by producing 36 points per game. The explosive Lumberjacks’ offense has produced 57 plays of more than 20 yards this season. Montana State expects nearly 20,000 fans for Friday night’s game. The weather will be chilly with gametime temperatures around 40 degrees and brisk winds of 15-20 mph during this game. 11-2 Villanova at #4 seed Tarleton State (12-1) – Saturday at 11AM on ESPN The Wildcats come into Saturday’s quarterfinal game in north Texas on a 10-game winning streak. Villanova went on the road last Saturday to end the season for previously undefeated Lehigh 14-7 in a game played in Bethlehem, PA. The Wildcats from the Coastal Athletic Conference took advantage of two Lehigh turnovers to secure a win in this tightly-contested game. Villanova’s fans must travel nearly 1,600 miles southwest to Stephenville, Texas (near Fort Worth) to attend this Saturday’s quarterfinal game. The Tarleton State Texans prevailed 31-13 over the University of North Dakota last week to advance into Saturday’s quarterfinals. The 12-1 Texans’ only blemish on its record came after a last minute field goal gave eventual United Athletic Conference champion Abilene Christian a 31-28 win on November 1. Tarleton State’s defense is ranked #10 nationally and allows just 18 points per game. The weather in north central Texas should be terrific on Saturday. Sunny skies with gametime temperatures in the mid-60’s and light winds will make for perfect football weather conditions. Univ. of South Dakota (10-4) at #3 seed Montana (12-1) – Saturday 2:30PM on ABC The Coyotes of South Dakota and the Grizzlies of Montana will meet on Saturday afternoon for the first time in a playoff setting. These two FBS schools are spaciously separated by nearly 1,100 miles. The University of Montana football team has never lost to USD (5-0) since the Coyotes moved up into the FCS football group in 2008. South Dakota wants to change that on Saturday. The Coyotes’ 10-4 record is deceiving. Their losses came at FBS member Iowa State and against three other FCS playoff qualifiers (Lamar University, Illinois State, and North Dakota State). USD from the Missouri Valley Football Conference has blasted two consecutive playoff opponents. Last week’s 47-0 ambush at #6 seed Mercer raised a lot of eyebrows. The Coyotes’ offense ran for 309 yards and passed for another 241 on Saturday in Macon, Georgia. South Dakota’s defense stifled Mercer’s vaunted passing attack as it produced four interceptions. The Montana Grizzlies of the Big Sky Conference will have the home field advantage on Saturday. This will mark the first-ever football game to be televised by ABC at picturesque Washington/Grizzly stadium in Missoula. Montana is the FCS’ all-time leader in post-season appearances (29) with national championships won in 1995 and 2001. The Griz is #3 nationally in scoring (41.5 points per game). Their prolific passing attack produces almost 300 yards per game with an efficient 70% completion percentage. The weather forecast for Saturday’s game calls for afternoon sunshine and a balmy (by Montana standards) high temperature of 52 degrees. Illinois State (10-4) at #8 seed UC-Davis (9-3) – Saturday at 4PM on ESPN+ The final FCS quarterfinal game of this weekend will be played just west of Sacramento on the campus of UC-Davis. UC-Davis and Illinois State are both seeking their schools’ first FCS national football championship. These two teams played each other in the second round of last year’s FCS playoffs. The Aggies of UC-Davis cruised in a 42-10 home field decision over the Redbirds from Normal, Illinois. As we covered earlier, Illinois State (which finished in 3rd place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference regular season) will not be intimidated after traveling to #1 seed North Dakota State last weekend and taking a 29-28 victory over the defending champs. The “Road-birds” are now 13-1 over the past two seasons as a visiting team against FCS opponents. Senior wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz added three touchdowns against North Dakota State last week. He now owns the Illinois State school record with 36 TD catches in his career. Meanwhile, the UC-Davis Aggies of the Big Sky Conference feature one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the entire FCS. Last week’s home playoff win over Rhode Island saw the Aggies pass for 277 yards and rush for 276 more as they pulled away in the second half in a 47-26 victory over the Rams. UC-Davis is hosting a quarterfinal game at home for the first time since 2001. Saturday’s weather in northern California will feature plenty of sunshine and a kick-off temperatures at a cool 47 degrees. Enjoy this weekend’s FCS quarterfinal games! The post FCS Quarterfinals – No Mo’ Bison to worry about! appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.
The Grizzly Coaches Show 12-10-25See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Its a full football episode as we recap the win over SDSU and get ready for the quarterfinal matchup against South Dakota!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
With a week of rest the Montana Grizzlies put on their best performance of the season in a masterful beatdown of the SDSU Jackrabbits. This week we dive into our takeaways from the game and what this means going forward. We look around the playoffs a bit and give some time to Montana's next opponent, [&hellip The post Griz Fan Podcast: Montana's most complete game (so far) appeared first on Montana Mint - The greatest website north of Wyoming..
With a week of rest the Montana Grizzlies put on their best performance of the season in a masterful beatdown of the SDSU Jackrabbits. This week we dive into our takeaways from the game and what this means going forward. We look around the playoffs a bit and give some time to Montana's next opponent, [&hellip The post Griz Fan Podcast: Montana's most complete game (so far) appeared first on Montana Mint - The greatest website north of Wyoming..
This week, the so-called “big names” of college football are still waiting and arguing about which teams should be selected for their upcoming 12-team College Football Playoffs. The television networks will feature a limited slate of major conference championship games this weekend. Most of this weekend’s FBS teams (win or lose) will probably make the 12-team playoff field. Yawn! By contrast, the FCS small college playoffs are now entering week #2 of their 24-team competition. Yes, that is double the number of playoff teams compared to the major college football teams! Here’s how the FCS Playoffs work The 11 FCS playoff conferences do not play championship games. In the event of a tie for first place, each conference utilizes a set of tiebreaker rules to determine the league’s top team. Each of the 11 conference winners received an “automatic bid” into the 24-team FCS playoff field. The other 13 teams were selected by the FCS Playoff Committee (comprised of one Athletic Director from each of the 11 participating conferences). The 11 conference winners are not guaranteed to host a home playoff game. In fact, the winners of the Ivy League (Yale), Northeast Conference (Central Connecticut State), and Pioneer Football League (Drake) played on the road in Week #1. Last weekend’s first round had the top eight FCS seeds with a bye. The remaining 16 teams were in action, though. The next eight highest seeded teams (Seeds #9-16) hosted first round games last Saturday. Their opponents were selected by the playoff committee with geographic considerations to minimize team travel costs (a very smart idea). Three road teams pulled Week #1 upsets last weekend. Surprising North Dakota clobbered #13 seed Tennessee Tech 31-6 in Cookeville. Yale scored the final 29 points of the game in the second half to surprise #15 seed Youngstown State 43-42. Illinois State prevailed over #16 Southeastern Louisiana 21-3 in Hammond. The other five teams eliminated last weekend were Central Connecticut State, Harvard, New Hampshire, Drake, and Lamar. The FCS is now down to its “Sweet 16” round on Saturday. Let’s review each of the match-ups! (All kickoffs shown are CST) #12 Villanova (10-2) at #5 Lehigh (12-0) – 11AM on ESPN+ When you’re hot, you’re hot! The Villanova Wildcats lost two of their first three games of the season (to FBS Penn State and 9-3 FCS member Monmouth). Since then, Villanova has won nine straight games. That includes last Saturday’s 52-7 opening round shellacking of formerly 9-1 Harvard. The Coastal Athletic Association runner-up Wildcats ran for 319 yards as part of a 519-yard offensive output in their home rout over Harvard. The Lehigh Mountain Hawks of the Patriot League enjoyed a first round bye. Lehigh features the fourth best rushing offense in the FCS with more than 235 yards per game on the ground. Lehigh (which was the SwampSwamiSports.com #1 regular season team) has limited eight of its 12 opponents to 14 points or less during the season. Tickets for the first Lehigh home playoff game in Bethlehem, PA since 2004 are scarce. Saturday’s game will be played in dry but chilly (upper 30’s) weather conditions. #11 South Dakota (9-4) @ #6 Mercer (9-2) – 11AM on ESPN+ South Dakota’s Coyotes from the Missouri Valley Conference eliminated Pioneer Football League champion Drake 38-17 last week in Round 1. USD has won seven of their last eight games. This week’s game is the first-ever football match-up of South Dakota and Mercer. The Coyotes have advanced into the second round of the FCS playoffs for three consecutive seasons. The pass-happy Mercer Bears had a first round bye. Mercer is second in the FCS with nearly 334 passing yards per game. Alas, the forecast for Macon, Georgia features a 60% chance of rain with temperatures hovering around 50 degrees. The weather conditions may dampen the effectiveness of the So-Con champion Bears’ dangerous passing attack. Illinois State (9-4) @ #1 North Dakota State (12-0) – 12 Noon on ESPN+ This is a Missouri Valley Football Conference rematch of North Dakota State’s 33-16 win over the Redbirds on October 4th in Normal, Illinois. That game saw the Bison leading by only two points (18-16) after three quarters before NDSU tacked-on two late scores for the final margin of victory. Indiana State’s Redbirds are led by quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse. He passed for 28 touchdowns and ran for seven more scores this season. North Dakota State is the defending FCS champion and is participating in the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season. The Bison score 42 points per game (#3 nationally) and are #1 in defense by allowing less than 12 points per outing. Expect another sell-out crowd in the noisy 18,700 seat FargoDome to cheer-on the unbeaten Bison this Saturday afternoon. North Dakota (8-5) @ #4 Tarleton State (11-1) – 12 Noon on ESPN+ I admit it. It was quite surprising to learn that the 7-5 North Dakota Fighting Hawks were being selected to participate in the FCS playoffs over several other teams with much better season records. UND finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Missouri Valley Conference. They were dispatched 1,200 miles to the south to play a first round road game at 11-1 Ohio Valley/Big South champion Tennessee Tech. The Fighting Hawks soared in the final quarter as North Dakota scored 21 points to secure a 31-6 win and advance into the second round. This week’s “reward” is a nearly 1,300 mile road trip to #4 seed Tarleton State of Stephenville, Texas (runner-up in the United Athletic Conference). The North Dakota defense forced six turnovers last week in its win over Tennessee Tech. Tarleton State is no slouch on defense, either. The Texans lead the FCS in turnover margin with a 2.42 “plus” turnover ratio. Quarterback Victor Gabalis passed for 25 touchdowns and only four interceptions this year to lead Tarleton State’s offense. Sunny weather and temperatures in the mid-60’s should make for a perfect day for playoff football in north Texas. Yale (9-2) @ #2 Montana State (10-2) – 1PM on ESPN+ Yale may be destiny’s darling in this year’s FCS playoffs. After handing unbeaten Harvard its first loss and winning the Ivy League, the Bulldogs found themselves down 35-7 at the half at Youngstown State in last Saturday’s first round playoff game. A furious second half rally saw Yale escape with an improbable 43-42 win to advance into Round 2. This week’s opponent is also on a roll. Montana State defeated previously unbeaten Montana two weeks ago to win the Big Sky Conference title. After a first round bye, the Bobcats can’t wait to play Yale this Saturday in Bozeman, Montana as snow and 38 degrees await the visitors from Connecticut. Montana State rushes for more than 230 yards per game, so expect a ball-control offensive effort from the Bobcats on Saturday. #14 South Dakota State (9-4) @ #3 Montana (11-1) – 1PM on ESPN+ It took an overtime win in the regular season finale at North Dakota for the Jackrabbits to end their shocking four-game losing streak. South Dakota State was rewarded by the FCS Playoff committee with a playoff spot. The Jackrabbits (which finished 4-4 in the Missouri Valley this year) quickly dispatched New Hampshire 41-3 to advance to Round 2 and earn a visit to Missoula to play the University of Montana this Saturday. The hungry Montana Grizzlies are still seething from a season-ending 31-28 loss to rival Montana State. Even with the loss, the Big Sky runner-up received a first round bye based on their sterling 11-1 regular season record. The Griz want to avenge last season’s 35-18 playoff loss to South Dakota State in a game played in Brookings, SD. Running back Eli Gillman (the Big Sky offensive player-of-the-year) leads the team with 105 yards per game and a team-high 17 touchdowns. Light freezing rain and snow showers are expected during Saturday’s game with temperatures in the upper 30’s. #10 Abilene Christian (9-4) @ #7 Stephen F. Austin (10-2) – 1PM on ESPN+ These two Texas-based conference champions will tee-it up for a second time this season. This time, the game will be played in Nacogdoches on Saturday. The Wildcats beat Stephen F. Austin 28-20 in Abilene in early September. United Athletic League champion Abilene Christian has won seven of its last eight games. ACU dispatched third-place Southland Conference finisher Lamar 38-20 last weekend in Abilene during Round #1 of the FCS playoffs. The SFA Lumberjacks went 8-0 in the Southland Conference this year to take the league title for the first time since 2010. Stephen F. Austin has won its last ten games and is allowing only 15 points per game on defense. SFA was awarded a first round bye, and the school is “jacked” about hosting a home playoff game against the team which beat them in Week #2. #9 Rhode Island (11-2) @ #8 UC-Davis (8-3) – 9PM on ESPN2 “Road” Island is making a 3,000 mile cross-country trip to play this game on Saturday night in northern California. The CAA regular season champion Rams earned the trip west by winning an opening round playoff game 27-19 at home last weekend over the stubborn Central Connecticut State Blue Devils. Rhode Island quarterback Devin Ferrell leads the Rams’ offense with nearly 3,500 yards via the air and 22 touchdowns passes. UC-Davis finished third in the Big Sky Conference behind Montana State and the University of Montana. The Aggies’ explosive offense passes for 258 yards per game and rushes for another 180. Saturday’s match-up against Rhode Island will be the first-ever for these two teams. This game will kick-off under clear skies with temperatures falling into the upper 40’s. Enjoy the second round of the FCS Playoffs this Saturday! The post FCS – Previewing the “Sweet 16” Playoff games appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.
In this week's ESPN Roundtable on 102.9 FM ESPN Montana, Colter Nuanez is joined by Tanner Castora, a journalist and author who covers South Dakota State with multiple mediums as the Jackrabbits make their way to Missoula for the second round of the FCS playoffs to play the No. 3 Montana Grizzlies.
Its playoff time for Grizzly football as we preview the matchup with SDSU as well as have our end of the year discussions with Grizzly soccer and volleyball!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Grizzly Coaches Show 11-19-25See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Colter Nuanez continues his deep dive into the 124th Brawl of the Wild, featuring the undefeated No. 2 Montana Grizzlies (11–0) and the No. 3 Montana State Bobcats (9–2). He brings you exclusive interviews with both head coaches — Bobby Hauck of the Griz and Brent Vigen of the Cats — offering insight straight from the leaders of each programColter also checks in with Montana Star of the Week, Dylan Botner, for a quick conversation ahead of the rivalry showdown. (32:12)
Its rivalry week in Missoula and we get you all set to go for the Brawl of the Wild in this episode!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Grizzly Coaches Show 11-12-25See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Colter breaks down the upcoming matchup between the Montana Grizzlies and the Portland State Vikings. Hear from head coach Bobby Hauck as he previews the Griz's approach, key players to watch, and what it'll take to stay hot heading into the postseason. (12:26)Next up, Colter turns his attention to the Montana State Bobcats as they prepare for a pivotal showdown with UC Davis. Head coach Brent Vigen joins the show to discuss the Cats' mindset, game plan, and the keys to success against a tough Aggies squad. (28:33)
Colter Nuanez breaks down a jam-packed weekend of college football across the Treasure State! Hear in-depth analysis of both the Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats, plus interviews with Montana head coach Bobby Hauck, Montana State head coach Brent Vigen, Eastern Washington head coach Aaron Best, and standout players Caden Dowler, Jake Schakel, and Kellan Detrick.
Grizzly Soccer punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, Grizzly Football won a thriller against EWU and Griz Volleyball won in Bozeman and we break all of it down in this episode!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, Colter Nuanez kicks things off with Eastern Washington head coach Aaron Best to preview the Eagles' upcoming showdown against a red-hot, 9-0 Montana Grizzlies team this weekend at Washington–Grizzly Stadium. (8:17)Then, Geoff Safford checks in with Griz Hockey senior forward Ben Creamers to preview Montana's upcoming series against Providence, breaking down key matchups on the ice. (28:26)Finally, Colter closes out the show with Weber State head coach Joe Dale for the second straight week to talk about the Wildcats' matchup with Montana State and the dominant defense that's been driving their success. (41:52)