SPOKANE, Wash. — Kickoff times and broadcast details for Montana State’s 2024 football season were released Saturday via the Big Sky Conference.
Scripps Sports and the Montana Television Network will broadcast seven of MSU’s eight Big Sky games, beginning Sept. 28 on the road versus Idaho State at 4 p.m.. The Bobcats’ only Big Sky game that will not air on MTN is Oct. 12 at home against Idaho, a game that will air at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN2.
MTN will also air two of MSU’s non-league games — the Gold Rush home opener Sept. 7 versus Maine at 6 p.m. and, after a bye, Sept. 21 at home vs. Mercyhurst at 1 p.m.
Montana Television Network stations owned by Scripps include KBZK in Bozeman, KTVQ in Billings, KXLF in Butte, KRTV in Great Falls, KPAX in Missoula, and KXLH in Helena. Games not shown on CBS stations across the state will be available at mtnmontana.com, a new secondary network available over the air and via DirecTV across the state.
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Eleven of the Bobcats’ 12 games will also be available to stream on ESPN+, with the lone exception the season-opener on Aug. 24 against New Mexico on the road. That game will air on Fox Sports 1.
Following is are MSU’s full schedule details:
2024 Montana State Football Schedule
(All times Mountain)
Aug. 24 — at New Mexico, 2 p.m., FS1
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Aug. 31 — at Utah Tech, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Sept. 7 — vs. Maine, 6 p.m., Scripps/ESPN+
Sept. 21 — vs. Mercyhurst, 1 p.m., Scripps/ESPN+
Sept. 28 — at Idaho State, 4 p.m., Scripps/ESPN+
Oct. 5 — vs. Northern Colorado, Scripps/ESPN+
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Oct. 12 — vs. Idaho, 8:15 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN+
Oct. 19 — at Portland State, 2 p.m., Scripps/ESPN+
Nov. 2 — at Eastern Washington, 2 p.m., Scripps/ESPN+
Nov. 9 — vs. Sacramento State, 1 p.m., Scripps/ESPN+
The No. 2 Montana Grizzlies improved to 11-0 on the season with a dominant 63-17 win over Portland State at Providence Park in the Rose City on Saturday.
The Griz exploded for 35 unanswered points in the second half to put the game away early and play everyone on the travel roster as UM capped the regular season with an unblemished record on the road.
“Our guys got after it today. It was good. I’m excited with the way we played. I thought all three phases played well today,” said Hauck.
“Tonight was our night, and it was a good. We’re excited to come here, get to 11-0, for the fourth time in school history in all these years of Griz football.”
The Grizzly defense was the difference, picking off five Vikings passes – the most in a single game in the FCS this season – and harassing the signal callers with five quarterback hurries while holding PSU under 100 rushing yards until the last five minutes of play.
The Griz entered the game with a Big Sky-best 13 interceptions on the year and having scored 59 points off turnovers so far this season. Both of those numbers ballooned against PSU, with the five picks accounting for 35 combined points.
“We got our act together defensively,” said Hauck after UM allowed EWU to hang around last week. “We gave up a few catches in the second quarter, but other than that we were pretty on the money. We played hard.”
Montana put together a complete game, keeping the pedal down for all four quarters with 42 points in the second half alone. The Grizzlies’ 63-point outburst matches their highest point total of the year against Indiana State. 63 points was also the most scored against the Vikings of an FCS team this season, and second-most only to BYU.
Montana remains undefeated at 11-0 on the year and 7-0 in Big Sky Conference play while the Vikings fall to 1-10 on the year and 1-6 in league play. The 2025 Griz are now one of just four teams in nearly 130 years of Montana football to start the year 11-0. Two of the other three teams to hit the milestone have also been coached by Bobby Hauck, with the 2007 and 2009 teams hitting the mark.
“We have a structured, detailed, and mature, competitive guys,” said Hauck. “These guys, they want to win, they believe in their coaches and they listen. And I think that’s probably why we’re fortunate to win.”
Hauck also made some personal history against PSU as well with his 86th career Big Sky Conference win. He’s now the all-time conference leader in both overall wins (149) and league wins (86) in his 14 seasons at the helm in Missoula.
The win sets up a titanic battle against No. 3 Montana State, with a potential Big Sky title at stake in the 124th Brawl of the Wild game next week in Missoula.
“This is going to be a big game,” Hauck said. “As big as it gets in FCS football and in all of college football next week.”
Portland State took advantage of an early Grizzly miscue to get on the board first. Viking kicker Mathias Uribe squibbed the opening kickoff, and it bounced off a Grizzly chest before PSU scooped up the loose ball for a turnover on the opening play.
Two plays later, QB Tyrese Smith pulled the handoff and ran up the middle for the opening score and the Vikings went up 7-0 after less than a minute to play.
Montana’s defense then set up the offense for its first score of the day when TJ Rausch picked off John-Keawe Sagapolutele for Montana’s 14th interception of the season and returned into Viking territory to swing the momentum back with the Grizzlies.
Two plays later Ah Yat found Wortham for a connection along the right sideline for a 23-yard gain that set up Gillman for his 15th rushing TD of the season from three yards out and it was a 7-7 tie ballgame halfway through the first quarter.
Montana struck again in the first period when Gillman burst through the A gap and found nothing but green in front of him, sprinting 60 yards untouched for his second score of the game, and the Griz ended the period up 14-7.
The score also bumped Gillman up in the record books, passing Hall of Famer Yohance Humprey to move into third on UM’s all-time rushing touchdown list with the 44th of his career.
Montana’s increased pressure on the QB led to more points in the second quarter. Micah Harper got his hands on a Smith pass for UM’s second interception of the day and was off to the races before being tripped up in PSU territory.
The takeaway would again lead to offense in a short order as Ah Yat pulled a handoff and sprinted around left tackle for Montana’s third score of the day, putting the Grizzlies up 21-7.
The Vikings would add a field goal just before halftime, however, as UM went into the locker room with a two-score lead up 21-10, with the home team slated to receive the second half kickoff after winning the coin toss and deferring to start the game.
But it was defense to offense again to start the second half as the former Viking Peyton Wing intercepted a Smith pass across the middle at the 36 and returned it all the way to the PSU two-yard line for Montana’s third interception of the day.
Soon after, Ah Yat found freshman Brooks Davis wide open in the end zone and Montana jumped out to a 28-10 lead early in the second half.
The defense again went back to work and again it was Rausch with Montana’s fourth and the senior from Missoula’s second interception of the day three plays into the PSU drive that set up more scoring for the Griz.
UM capitalized on the pick one play later when Ah Yat had his second-straight passing touchdown, this time finding tight end Josh Gale open along the left sideline for a 27-yard touchdown pass that put the Griz up 35-10 with more than 13 minutes to play.
After some defensive back and forth, Montana struck again and extended the lead, capping a five play, 70-yard drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Ah Yat to Stevie Rocker Jr. – the first TD catch of his career. The score put the Griz up 42-10 with still five minutes left to play and 21 points on the board in the third quarter alone.
Montana’s short fields had been keeping the Grizzly offense from racking up big numbers, putting 42 points on the board but having run just 41 total offensive plays late in the third quarter.
Montana’s defense got its fifth pick late in the game when Cy Stevenson was Jhonny on the spot to haul in a tipped pass deep in PSU territory to again set up the offense with primo field position.
UM kept the pedal down when the backups came in with Jake Jensen throwing the first touchdown pass of his career, connecting with Korbin Hendrix on a 25-yard fade to put UM up 56-10 with just under 10 minutes to play.
A touchdown pass from Jake Jensen to Korbin Hendrix added to the scoreline, and the first career TD run for true freshman Hashim Jones completed the scoring blitz for the Grizzlies.
A Montana man with four prior impaired-driving convictions told police he slammed into another vehicle because he was trying to pee into a Budweiser can while behind the wheel, according to a probable cause affidavit.
James Howard, 53, was arrested Nov. 8 after his Chevrolet Suburban plowed into the back of a Volkswagen at an Interstate 90 exit ramp in Missoula, the affidavit, which was posted by the news site The Smoking Gun, states.
“I’m going to jail for a f–king long time,” Howard, who had been driving with a suspended license, told the arresting officer.
James Howard, 53, was arrested by law enforcement officials in Montana on the evening of Nov. 8 in Missoula. weerapat1003 – stock.adobe.com
Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Van Kerkove spotted Howard holding a large Budweiser can in his right hand when he arrived at the Grant Creek Town Pump gas station just after 9 p.m. local time on Nov. 8.
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Van Kerkove also noticed that Howard had wet his pants and was alleged to have slurred his speech while his breath reeked of alcohol, according to the affidavit.
Both drivers had pulled over to the gas station in Missoula after their crash, which resulted in no injuries, the affidavit read.
Howard then moved the beer can into the center console of his vehicle, according to the document.
When Van Kerkove asked for it, Howard handed it over and said it contained urine, not suds. He told the trooper he’d rear-ended the other car while attempting to relieve himself into the can, the affidavit read.
The Volkswagen’s driver, Scott Drury, told officers he had exited I-90 and stopped at a light on North Reserve Street when he saw headlights approaching rapidly in his rearview mirror.
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He “told his girlfriend to brace for impact” before the vehicle was hit, the filing notes.
Van Kerkove reported a “strong smell of alcoholic beverage coming from Howard’s breath,” and that Howard’s speech was “slow and slurred,” according to the affidavit.
Howard was arrested after his Chevrolet Suburban plowed into the back of a Volkswagen at an Interstate 90 exit ramp in Missoula. Stephen Fore – stock.adobe.com
The trooper also noted that “Howard’s pants were wet with urine.”
Howard stated he had consumed one beer. He also said he had “more than a couple of DUIs” and was not supposed to be driving.
Howard did not agree to perform the walk-and-turn or one-legged-stand tests, stating, “I just can’t do it,” according to the filing.
A preliminary alcohol screening test showed Howard had a breath alcohol concentration that was more than three times Montana’s legal limit, it was alleged in the document.
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A check of Howard’s criminal record showed one impaired-driving conviction in North Dakota earlier this year as well as three others in Montana in 1994, 1995 and 2007.
Howard was arrested on charges of aggravated DUI, driving while his license was suspended or revoked and careless driving, according to the affidavit and charging information.
The Post has sought comment from Howard and Drury.
