After receiving the opening kickoff on Saturday afternoon, the Bobcats drove down the field 51 yards with their drive culminating in a successful 39 yard field goal from Myles Sansted.

Montana immediately got themselves in great field position to start their day with Michael Wortham returning the ensuing kickoff 44 yards to the UM 46 yard line. Wortham added another explosive play moments later, taking the direct snap and rushing for 35 yard and a first down. The drive ended with a 14 yard touchdown pass from Keali’i Ah Yat to Brooks Davis, putting Montana on top 7-3 midway through the opening quarter.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME @brooksdavis_3 🤯

TOUCHDOWN, MONTANA! #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/wExMkmP5rK

— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB) November 22, 2025

Montana State responded with a touchdown of their own, putting together a 7 play drive spanning 77 yards with Adam Jones scoring on a one yard rush.

The Grizzlies were forced to punt on their second possession of the day, the first non-scoring drive of the day by either side. That would start a stretch of three consecutive punts between the two sides, a streak that ended on Montana State’s fourth possession of the day when QB Justin Lamson hit Dane Steel for a 27 yard touchdown pass, upping the Bobcats’ advantage to 17-7 with five minutes left in the opening half.

Justin Lamson finds Dane Steel for a huge touchdown in Missoula 🤩

📺 Scripps/ESPN+@justin_lamson10 x @dane12steel | #BobcatBuilt pic.twitter.com/NB1V0mf2gq

— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) November 22, 2025

Montana answered in kind on their next drive, eating up 72 yards on 10 plays with Ah Yat’s 18 yard rushing touchdown cutting the deficit to 17-14 with just 75 seconds left in the first half.

😤 @kealiiahyat won’t be denied!

TOUCHDOWN, MONTANA! #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/CGh6q3Z8QU

— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB) November 22, 2025

***

Check here during and after the game for the latest information, highlights and reaction from the 124th Brawl of the Wild rivalry football game between Montana and Montana State.

This weekend’s contest in Missoula marks the 124th overall meeting but the first time in rivalry history that both teams enter the contest ranked inside the top three of the national poll. 

The No. 2 ranked Grizzlies enter action with a perfect 11-0 record. The No. 3 Bobcats are 9-2 this season but have won nine straight since opening the season with losses to Oregon and South Dakota State.

Saturday’s winner will claim the outright Big Sky Conference title and should be locked in as the No. 2 seed for the FCS playoffs, meaning the all-important home field advantage all the way to Nashville.

Montana leads the overall series 74-43-5 since the first meeting in 1897. The Grizzlies are 33-18-1 during games played in Missoula with a 14-5 mark inside of Washington-Grizzly Stadium.