Brawl of the Wild: No. 111

Bobcats look to spoil Grizzlies run to playoffs in 111th Cat/Griz matchup

By Taylor Anderson
Big Sky Weekly Assistant Editor

Fans going to the 111th meeting between the Montana State Bobcats and Montana Grizzlies Nov. 20 in Bozeman can expect a bit more than a classic rivalry.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s another tally one of the oldest college football rivalries in NCAA history. But in a narrower scope, the one that really matters to each team, it’s a chance for the No. 1 Bobcats (8–0 in Big Sky Conference) to sour the No. 6 Grizzlies’ (7–1) run to the playoffs a year after the Cats ended Montana’s playoff hopes a year ago.

In a minus 20-degree game in Missoula last November, and amidst a less-than-stellar Montana season in head coach Robin Pflugrad’s first season, the Montana State shamed the Grizzlies and ended any chance at making the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs for the first time in decades.

The Grizzlies now tail the Cats by a half game heading into the meeting, which will determine this year’s Big Sky Conference champion.

Both teams will make the playoffs this season and could potentially face each other again before the end of the playoffs.