Podcasts about montana state

On this episode of The Bluebloods, Zach McKinnell and Timothy Rosario from FCS Football Central recap all the quarterfinal games of the 2025 FCS Football Playoffs. The duo discusses another dominant performance by Montana against South Dakota, Montana State's Friday night win over Stephen F. Austin, another road win over a Top 16 for Illinois State against UC Davis, and Villanova's comeback win over Tarleton State. All this and more right here on The Bluebloods! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Montana State punted just once and rode big plays all night to a 44-28 win over Stephen F. Austin Friday night in Bozeman. The No. 2 Bobcats advance to the semis of the FCS Playoffs for the fifth time since 2019. MSU awaits the winner of No. 3 Montana and No. 11 South Dakota in Missoula Saturday. MSU head coach Brent Vigen, senior defensive end Kenneth Eiden IV and quarterback Justin Lamson along with SFA head coach Colby Carthel, quarterback Sam Vidlak and DT Ky Moore addressed the media following the game. Audio recorded by Blake Hempstead, Skyline Sports.

In the first hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez welcomes Stephen F. Austin head coach Colby Carthel to break down the Lumberjacks' season so far and preview their quarterfinal showdown against Montana State in Bozeman on Friday night. (14:28)Next, Colter is joined by Montana State wide receiver Dane Steel to recap the Bobcats' narrow win over Yale and look ahead to their upcoming quarterfinal matchup with Stephen F. Austin. (35:39)To close the hour, Colter reacts to the breaking news that Montana Gatorade Player of the Year Ryan “Moose” Ludwig has decommitted from Michigan amid the turmoil surrounding the firing of the Wolverines' head coach. (45:06)

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.

On this episode of The Bluebloods, Zach McKinnell and Timothy Rosario from FCS Football Central preview all the quarterfinal games of the 2025 FCS Playoffs. The duo discusses a huge matchup between Montana and South Dakota, if Tarleton State will continue to roll against Villanova, if Illinois State can defy the odds again against UC Davis, how Stephen F. Austin can pull off the upset over Montana State, and the keys to victory for every team in every matchup this weekend. They also preview the Celebration Bowl matchup between South Carolina State and Prairie View A&M. All this and more right here on The Bluebloods! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

To kick off Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez is joined by FCS expert and HERO Sports contributor Sam Herder to break down last weekend's action — including the major upset of North Dakota State — and preview the next four games in the FCS playoffs, featuring upcoming matchups for both Montana and Montana State. (3:20)Next, Geoff Safford is joined by the man behind the glass, Hayden Smith, for a conversation on the Brawl of the Wild on the ice, the Seattle Kraken, and the latest storylines from around the NHL. (34:03)

This weekly show is now part of the "Happy Hour with John Gaskins" daily podcast, which you can find at SiouxFallsLive.com, MidwestSportsPlus.com, and most podcast platforms like the one you find here! So, if you enjoy the topics Matt & John cover, you'll get those topics, plus relevant local guests, every Monday through Thursday on Happy Hour... so we highly recommend you check that out!Is it time for the Coyotes to take a seat at the FCS "grownup" table? In other words, to make room to expand the "Big Four" of FCS football — North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Montana State, Montana — to the "Big Five?"USD has made three consecutive quarterfinals, something NDSU and SDSU — who have split the last four national titles, two apiece — can't say after losing in the round of 16 on Saturday (but the Bobcats and the Grizzlies can).Unlike the Big Four, the Coyotes haven't played in an FCS national title game within the last four years, or ever. We'll find out how they stack up against a blue blood Saturday on ABC in a time window when Army-Navy will be the only other football game to watch on over-the-air TV.But Sioux Falls Live sports editor Matt Zimmer and Happy Hour host John Gaskins dig in to what three years of USD reaching this round means, particularly for a 2025 team that has won five consecutive games — four against ranked teams — and left a 47-0 bruise on SoCon champ Mercer, the nation's best (statistical) offense and rush defense, by holding the Bears to 277 total yards (227 short of their average) and bulldozing them for 316 rushing yards (226 over their average).So, will the Coyotes stack up to the Grizzlies better than the Jackrabbits, who were 50-burgered? Zim and John kick that around as well in this week's edition of their five-years-and-running weekly podcast "Nobody's Listening Anyway."Also on the docket:* Why is Zim happy for Jimmy Rogers at Iowa State, and why does he find it nonsense to bash his character for leaving Washington State after less than a year to take his third head coaching job in four years? And why, in hindsight, was he still the best choice to take over for John Stiegelmeier?* Why does Zim feel Chase Mason doesn't need to go to the Big Ten or SEC or any FBS school to show NFL pros he is worthy of an early rounds NFL Draft selection?* What is Zim's sense of how many SDSU players who aren't out of eligibility will stick around?* Does NDSU's early round exit from the FCS Playoffs make the postseason more interesting or more boring? Does it make the FCS stronger? Does it strengthen or weaken the case that the Bison should want to stay in the FCS?* Oh, and should James Madison's entry into the CFB Playoffs make the case for NDSU and SDSU to "move up?" Actually, Zim says no. Why?* Bowl games — yeah, their prestige has been weakened over the decades by the sheer volume of them, the number of top players sitting them out, and now the number of teams refusing to play in them. Does that mean they should all go away? Zim says no. Hear why.

Stephen F. Austin head football coach Colby Carthel joins Colter Nuanez on ESPN MT to talk about SFA's quarterfinal FCS Playoff game at No. 2 Montana State on Saturday. 

In this week's Akem's Analysis, I look into all 4 of the FCS Quarterfinal matchups and give my thoughts about all of them. After this weekend, there will only be 4 teams left standing in the #FCSPlayoffs, hear what I think about all the matchups.SPORTS BET MONTANA LINK: https://sportsbetmontana.com/en0:00 - Intro3:17 - Montana/South Dakota Preview16:39 - Montana State/SFA Preview27:26 - UC Davis/Illinois State Preview38:08 - Tarleton State/Villanova Preview49:42 - Final Thoughts51:45 - End

Sam Vidlak, who played at Montana before transferring to Stephen F. Austin, leads the Lumberjacks into the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs Friday night in Bozeman against No. 2 Montana State.

This week, Matthew and Jeff break down Duke's stunning ACC Football Championship victory over Virginia and what it means for the conference. The discussion heats up around the College Football Playoff selections, including Miami's inclusion, Alabama's controversial bid, and Notre Dame's snub. The hosts also analyze the latest FCS Playoff action following North Dakota State's shocking loss and highlight Montana State as the top title contender. On the hardwood, ACC men's basketball surges with multiple teams building NCAA Tournament resumes. The episode wraps with Virginia Tech's recruiting explosion under new leadership and optimism for the Hokies' futureThis episode is sponsored in part by TicketSmarter:Use promo code LWOS10 to receive $10 off purchases of $100 or moreUse promo code LWOS20 to receive $20 off purchases of $300 or moreThink smarter.  TicketSmarter

IIn the second hour of Nuanez Now, Colter Nuanez looks ahead to a huge weekend of Montana football, breaking down Montana State's Friday night matchup with Stephen F. Austin and Montana's Saturday afternoon clash with South Dakota. He dives into the key players, matchup dynamics, and storylines that will define both games. (0:55)Colter also continues his preview of the top high school basketball talent in the Treasure State, including Butte senior point guard Hudson Luedtke and Sentinel senior shooting guard Lincoln Rodgers. (23:02)To wrap up the hour, Colter is joined by Missoula native and Hellgate High alum Ian Finch to talk about his impactful season with the Grizzlies, including a blocked punt last weekend. (37:53)

Colter Nuanez joins Dave Wooten on the 106.9 FM KSKY Country "Blue & Gold Thursdays" to talk about the Julius Davis dust-up with Brent Vigen and preview Friday night's FCS Playoffs game between Montana State and Stephen F. Austin in the quarterfinals. 

Ryan Tootell joins Colter Nuanez to talk all things Griz FCS Playoffs win + if Montana and Montana State actually have a stronger chance to keep stud players than other non-FBS schools.

Montana State wide receiver Dane Steel joined Colter Nuanez on Nuanez Now to talk about his breakout freshman season and help preview MSU's FCS Playoff matchup against Stephen F. Austin in Bozeman on Friday night. 

Join Jordan, Commish, Pitt Girl, Beth, and our VP of Podcast Production, Arthur. We grab our Positivity Bunny and recap Championship Week/FCS Playoffs. We go in-depth on Illinois State's monumental upset win over North Dakota State, Villanova gets Pope magic in taking down Lehigh, we're nearly Dakota-less into the FCS Quarterfinals except the Coyotes, Montana State eeks by Yale, Stephen F. Austin moves on, Montana handles the Jackrabbits, UC Davis takes out Rhode Island after Midnight Eastern. HOOTY HOO KENNESAW STATE, JMU throwing snowballs, Tulane gets 5 turnovers from the Mean Green, Boise State does it again, Texas Tech takes down BYU again, Western Michigan, Prairie View's SWAC Championship, DUKE DID IT, Indiana making history, DII and DIII Playoffs, Candy Bowl, the coaching carousel updates, ULM & The Blind Side, some bowl selections and then we talk about the College Football Playoff and much, much more!!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Colter Nuanez opens the show by breaking down the biggest matchups across the FCS landscape, starting with Illinois State's unbelievable upset win over NDSU, UC Davis' impressive performance in their victory over Rhode Island, and South Dakota's dominant showing against Mercer.From there, Colter dives into a wild weekend in Montana football, unpacking the Grizzlies' statement win over South Dakota State and Montana State's nail-biter against Yale. He digs into the defining moments of each game and what they signal for both teams moving forward. The episode also features conversations with coaches Brent Vigen, Bobby Hauck, and Dan Jackson, as well as players Solomon Tuliaupupu and Drew Deck, offering fresh insight straight from the field and locker rooms. Whether you follow the Griz, the Cats, or the wider FCS landscape, this episode delivers sharp, timely analysis from top to bottom.

Former Montana State player and coach Michael Rider analyze the Brent Vigen-Julius Davis dust up, Yale's defensive game plan, finals week, MSU's quarterfinal matchup against Stephen F. Austin & more.

On today's Daily Puck Drop, Jason “Puck” Puckett and Jim Moore, the Go-2-Guy, spend the majority of the show discussing Jimmy Rogers bolting for Iowa State and what's next for Washington State.  Jim is all on board with Rick Neuheisel, but Puck doesn't see it or want it.  Puck believes they should go all in on Brent Vigen, the Montana State head coach.  What about Luke Falk? Both Puck and Jim agree that would be a stretch. Whoever they hire they just want someone who loves Pullman and Washington State. They briefly touch in on the Harry Ford trade and wonder why he didn't return more and it spoke volumes how the rest of the league views him.  And, did Pete Carroll just sound the alarms on betting in the NFL on he coached in their loss to the Broncos on Sunday by kicking a last second field goal to cover the spread?Puck talks Seahawks, “The Dugar Report” with Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic.  It's another dominating Seahawks defensive performance.  Sam Darnold started shaky but was sensational in the second half and it was finally the breakout game for Rashid Shaheed.  “On This Day…”   George Washington, Pearl Harbor, John Glenn and Jeff George are all in the news. Puck wraps up with, “Hey, what the Puck!?”   Commitment and loyalty is over in college athletics.  (1:00) Puck and Jim (1:17:18) Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic  (1:44:24) “On this Day…”  (1:46:50) “Hey, What the Puck!?”

In this week's Akem's Analysis, I recap all the FCS Playoff games from the 2nd round (outside of Montana vs SDSU; you can see that in the other recap). There were some wild games in the 2nd round, and one that is historic. Stay tuned for the entire episode this week.SPORTS BET MONTANA LINK: https://sportsbetmontana.com/en0:00 - Intro2:01 - Montana State/Yale Recap13:38 - NDSU/Illinois State Recap21:28 - UC Davis/Rhode Island Recap28:32 - South Dakota/Mercer Recap35:12 - SFA/ACU Recap41:08 - Tarleton State/North Dakota Recap47:51 - Villanova/Lehigh Recap54:39 - Final Thoughts 56:30 - End  

Montana State head coach Brent Vigen wraps up his team's 21-13 win over Yale and previews No. 2MSU's quarterfinal matchup against No. 7 Stephen F. Austin on Friday night in Bozeman, MT. 

Montana State head coach Brent Vigen along with captains senior DT Paul Brott & sophomore RB Adam Jones + representatives from the Yale Bulldogs addressed the media following MSU's 21-13 win in the second round of the FCS playoffs. 

Colter Nuanez is joined in studio by Rajiem Seabrook to break down Montana prep football state championship results, recap Montana State's rivalry win over Montana in Missoula, and dig into Montana Tech's playoff push. Plus, the guys go around the NFL in their “Smart or Dumb” game and a whole lot more! (6:22) 

Former Montana State All-American offensive lineman JP Flynn joins Colter Nuanez to talk all things Bobcat football, including MSU's 31-28 win over Montana in Missoula and the upcoming potential playoff run for the Bobcats. 

Former Griz All-American and NFL linebacker Jordan Tripp joins Colter Nuanez to talk about his impressions of Montana State's 31-28 win over Montana in Missoula plus key matchups as the Griz get ready for the FCS Playoffs with a second round matchup against No. 14 South Dakota State. 

On this episode of The Bluebloods, Zach McKinnell and Timothy Rosario from FCS Football Central preview all the second-round games of the 2025 FCS Playoffs. The duo discusses an MVFC rematch between North Dakota State and Illinois State, if Yale has any chance of pulling off an upset over Montana State, if North Dakota can continue to exceed expectations with a win over Tarleton State, an intriguing offensive battle between UC Davis and Rhode Island, and the keys to victory for every team in every matchup this weekend. All this and more right here on The Bluebloods! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Colter Nuanez is joined by FCS expert and HERO Sports contributor Sam Herder to break down the latest action across the FCS landscape and preview the upcoming playoff matchups—including Montana's showdown with South Dakota State and Montana State's clash with Yale. (6:17)Then, Colter sits down with Missoula native Adam Jones to discuss the Cats securing the outright Big Sky title, what it means for a hometown kid to win inside Washington–Grizzly Stadium, and how Montana State is gearing up for Saturday's matchup with Yale.(31:35)To close the show, Colter shares his thoughts on Eli Gillman being left off the Walter Payton Award watch list despite his standout season for the Grizzlies. (40:18)

Montana State sophomore running back Adam Jones joins Colter Nuanez on Nuanez Now on ESPN MT to discuss MSU's Big Sky Conference championship and its second round FCS Playoffs matchup against Yale on Saturday in Missoula. 

In this week's Akem's Analysis, I'm previewing all the 2nd round FCS Playoff matchups. There are a lot of interesting games, for a lot of reasons. Only 8 teams will remain after this weekend. Find out what I think about all the matchups.

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.

Colter Nuanez is joined by University of Montana Assistant Club Sports Director Tucker Sargent to break down the latest developments in UM club athletics. Tucker also weighs in on the New England Patriots holding the best record in the NFL, and, as an East Coast native, offers his unique perspective on Yale traveling to Montana to face Montana State on Saturday. (1:35)Later, Colter catches up with Havre native Kellan Detrick after practice for a quick interview to preview the Grizzlies' huge showdown with South Dakota State this Saturday at Washington–Grizzly Stadium. (40:43)

State of the playoff race (1:02)Friday games (11:46): Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State, Troy at James Madison, UNLV at Boise State, North Texas at TulaneSaturday noon games (20:25): BYU vs. Texas Tech, Miami (OH) vs. Western MichiganSaturday afternoon (25:41): Georgia vs. AlabamaNight games (31:31): Indiana vs. Ohio State, Duke vs. VirginiaFCS games (40:24): Villanova at Lehigh, South Dakota at Mercer, Illinois State at North Dakota State, Abilene Christian at Stephen F. Austin, North Dakota at Tarleton State, Yale at Montana State, South Dakota State at Montana, Prairie View A&M at Jackson State, Rhode Island at UC DavisPredictions (44:13): South Dakota State at Montana, Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State, Western Michigan vs. Miami, UNLV at Boise State, Troy at James Madison, Duke vs. Virginia, Georgia vs. Alabama, BYU at Texas Tech, North Texas at Tulane, Indiana at Ohio State 

Former Montana State player and coach Michael Rider joins Colter Nuanez to talk about Brent Vigen staying at MSU after a courtship from Oregon State, Justin Lamson not earning Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year and MSU's playoff draw against Yale.

Skyline Sports analyst Samuel Akem joins Colter Nuanez to talk about final reactions to the Cat-Griz rivalry, the draws for the FCS playoffs, the results of the first round of the postseason + the matchups for the three Big Sky Conference teams playing in the second round.  

Montana State running backs coach Josh Firm joins Colter Nuanez to talk about Julius Davis' senior year, Adam Jones' sophomore year and what he expects in MSU's second round playoff matchup against Yale. 

Colter Nuanez is joined in studio by former Grizzly quarterback and longtime NFL coach Marty Mornhinweg. The two dive into Montana and Montana State's outlook as they head into their first games of the FCS playoffs, breaking down matchups, momentum, and what each team needs to advance.Mornhinweg also weighs in on the latest week in the NFL, offering his perspective on a season that feels as wide open as ever.

On this week's Montana Football Hour, Colter Nuanez — joined in studio by former Montana Radio Sportscaster of the Year Ryan Tootellbrings you interviews with both Montana head coaches, Brent Vigen of the Bobcats and Bobby Hauck of the Grizzlies. The coaches break down their All-Conference selections and highlight standout performers including Eli Gillman, Kealiʻi Ah Yat, and Caden Dowler. (14:10) Colter also shares a quick interview with Coach Vigen about his decision to remain at Montana State and turn down the head coaching offer from Oregon State. (24:32)To close out the hour, Colter and Ryan delivers their full evaluation of both the Griz and the Cats, outlining each team's strengths and weaknesses as they get ready for Saturday's second round of the FCS playoffs.

Eric Frandsen and Jason Walker continue the discussion about bowl games.Reactions to Utah State's overtime win over Montana State.Inaugural NET rankings are released for the season. USU comes in as the highest-ranked Mountain West team.

Montana State is the No. 2 seed in the FCS Playoffs. Fresh off a bye, MSU will host Yale on Saturday in Bozeman, Montana. Bobcat head coach Brent Vigen addressed the media on Monday December 1 to preview the matchup. 

Scott Garrard and Spencer Nelson break down all the action from Utah State's 84-81 OT win over Montana State on November 29, 2025

Forward Karson Templin speaks with Scott and Spencer after the Aggies' 84-81 OT win over Montana State on November 29, 2025

Aggie basketball recap for Utah State vs Montana State on November 29, 2025

Head coach Jerrod Calhoun speaks with Scott and Spencer after the Aggies' 84-81 OT win over Montana State on November 29, 2025

Montana State head coach Brent Vigen announced that he is withdrawing himself from consideration for the Oregon State job to stay with the Bobcats. Doesn't anybody want that job?

In Hour 1, Isaac and Suke react to Montana State head coach Brent Vigen deciding to remain in his current position despite being a finalist at Oregon State, dive into the controversy surrounding the Players Era Festival, and more.

On today's show, Isaac and Suke discuss why Montana State's Brent Vigen has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Oregon State job, debate whether or not Oregon will actually lose defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi to Cal, and more.

What happens when a breakout college breakaway roper can't turn pro and has to get a "big girl job"? She accidentally becomes one of the country's leading equine nutritionists. Dr. Jyme Nichols (Bluebonnet Feeds) pulls back the curtain on her unlikely journey from the Sandhills of Nebraska and Montana State rodeo to earning a PhD and revolutionizing performance horse feeding. In this myth-busting conversation with The Converse Cowboy, she explains why protein percentage is the LAST thing she looks at on a feed tag, how horses can get type-2 diabetes just like humans, why supplements aren't always the enemy (and when they definitely are), and the real reason 3-year-old futurity horses fall apart under stress. From leaky gut and the gut-brain axis to why forage testing is "insurance" and how plasma actually works, Dr. Jyme delivers science in plain English for every horse owner tired of fads and old wives' tales. If you've ever wondered what actually moves the needle for your horse's health and performance, this episode is feed-room gold. Enjoy the show!  This episode is brought to you by Kimes Ranch, Kerry Kelley Bits and Spurs along with Bluebonnet Feeds. 

I get back into the rhythm after my little sabbatical and dive into a packed rundown across the endurance world. I start with the history and results of the JFK 50, why JFK himself helped create 50 milers, and how the Kennedy Cup still defines the military competition at the race. Then I shift to the NCAA cross country championships and go deeper into what name, image, and likeness changes have done to college sports. I explain why the development pipeline in running is shrinking, why teams are becoming more shallow, and what that means for the future of American distance running.I talk through some of the wild course cutting I saw, break down the top finishers in the men's and women's races, and then move on to a little Montana segment. Montana State won the Brawl of the Wild, Montana won the food drive, and both towns raised over a million pounds of food. It was a good reminder that community efforts still matter.From there I get into the study I have been wanting to talk about. It looks at the long term ceiling for sustainable human endurance output and why 2.5 times your basal metabolic rate seems to be the upper limit over months. I explain what that means for ultras, FKTs, and training, and why more is not always better even if you are fueling well. There is a real plateau to what we can sustain, and I compare that to my own seven week Appalachian Trail push.Janji, CS Coffee, and Garage Grown Gear help power the show!Chapters00:00 Intro04:00 JFK 50 recap10:00 NCAA cross country and NIL fallout18:00 Course cutting and race depth23:00 Montana updates and food drive27:00 The metabolic ceiling study38:00 Sponsors and closingSubscribe to Substack: http://freeoutside.substack.comSupport this content on patreon: HTTP://patreon.com/freeoutsideBuy my book "Free Outside" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/39LpoSFEmail me to buy a signed copy of my book, "Free Outside" at jeff@freeoutside.comWatch the movie about setting the record on the Colorado Trail: https://tubitv.com/movies/100019916/free-outsideWebsite: www.Freeoutside.comInstagram: thefreeoutsidefacebook: www.facebook.com/freeoutside

On this episode of The Bluebloods, Zach McKinnell and Timothy Rosario from FCS Football Central discuss the official 2025 FCS Playoff bracket and recap all the FCS football action from Week 13. The duo discusses Montana State's impressive victory over Montana, South Dakota State's overtime thriller against North Dakota, & Yale's dominant win over Harvard. The two also analyze the official 2025 FCS Playoff bracket, highlighting the key matchups, potential upsets, and some questionable seeding choices by the playoff committee. All this & more right here on The Bluebloods! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Montana State Representative Gary Perry, Chair of the House Energy & Technology Committee, to discuss how Montana can remain a leader in energy production while preparing for the future. Perry outlines his vision for expanding coal and small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), strengthening transmission infrastructure, and ensuring Montana stays a net energy exporter in the West. He also shares how reliable, affordable energy supports local jobs and keeps Montana's rural communities strong, while explaining the importance of regional cooperation with neighboring states and Canada to stabilize the grid. From Colstrip's legacy to next-generation nuclear, Perry lays out a clear, common-sense path to energy abundance and economic growth for Big Sky Country.