Big Sky Breakdown

Brooks Nuanez joins Colter Nuanez to talk about the grind it is to cover games between mismatched opponents, plus the good and the bad from Montana's 24-23 win over North Dakota and the bright spots and criticisms of Montana State's 41-7 win over San Diego. 

Montana sits at No. 5 in the national FCS polls after rallying for a 24-23 win over North Dakota on September 13, 2025. Andrew Schmidt, a former Griz RB and NFL agent, joins Colter Nuanez weekly to breakdown all things Montana & the Big Sky Conference. This week, Andrew talks about "Bobby Ball magic", UM's OL inconsistencies and has his latest "Schmidt Storm"

No. 4 Montana State earned its first win on Saturday with a 41-7 drubbing of San Diego in Bozeman, Montana. MSU won 15 straight games to begin 2024 but had lost three straight if you include last season's national championship game loss to NDSU. Former Bobcat player & coach Mike Rider joins Colter Nuanez to break down how Montana State has looked through three weeks of this season.

Ty Gregorak, the color commentator for Scripps Sports Montana State and Big Sky Conference TV broadcasts, joins Colter Nuanez to talk about the first three games of the season for MSU, including the first win of the year for the Bobcats last week against San Diego. 

No. 5 Montana earned a thrilling 24-23 win over No. 16 North Dakota behind a breakout performance from QB Keali'i Ah Yat (300 yards, 2 TDs). Montana head coach Bobby Hauck, senior safety Micah Harper and senior kicker/punter Ty Morrison addressed the media ahead of UM's matchup against Indiana State in Missoula on Saturday afternoon.

No. 4 Montana State earned its first win of the season by drilling San Diego 41-7 on Saturday in Bozeman, MT. The Bobcats rolled up 539 yards of total offense as Justin Lamson threw for 293 yards and 3 TDs. MSU fifth-year head coach Brent Vigen addressed the media on Monday ahead of his team's upcoming matchup against Mercyhurst at Bobcat Stadium.

Montana State head coach Brent Vigen along with juniors wide receiver Taco Dowler and safety Caden Dowler addressed the media following MSU's 41-7 win over San Diego in Bozeman on Saturday. 

University of North Dakota head coach Eric Schmidt joins Colter Nuanez to talk about his return to his alma mater and his team's matchup at No. 5 Montana on Saturday afternoon. 

Tom Miller, a sportswriter who's covered North Dakota football for 21 years for the Grand Forks Herald Newspaper, joins Colter Nuanez of ESPN MT and Skyline Sports to talk all things UND, including the Fighting Hawks' football game in Missoula against Montana on Saturday.

Shaun Rainey of SWX Montana television joins Colter Nuanez to give his impressions on Montana's season opening win over Central Washington. 

Montana State fell to 0-2 after a 30-24 double overtime loss to No. 2 South Dakota State in Bozeman on Sept. 6. The loss was Montana State's first regular-season home loss since October of 2019. Former Bobcat player & coach Mike Rider joins Colter Nuanez to break down where MSU sits entering Week 3.

Montana moved up to No. 5 in the national FCS polls thanks in part to a 42-17 win over Division II Central Washington on September 6, 2025. Andrew Schmidt, a former Griz RB and NFL agent, joins Colter Nuanez weekly to breakdown all things Montana & the Big Sky Conference. This week, Andrew talks about Montana's offensive potential, it's talent upgrades and has his latest "Schmidt Storm".

No. 5 Montana posted a 42-17 win over Central Washington on September 6, 2025. Jordan Tripp was an FCS All-American who became an NFL Draft pick during his time at Montana and after graduating from UM. Tripp, now the color commentator for Scripps Sports for Griz broadcasts, joins Colter Nuanez weekly to break down all things Griz football.

Ryan Tootell joins Colter Nuanez to talk about what impressed him most during Montana's season-opening win over Central Washington, his strong evaluation of Montana State despite an 0-2 start and some thoughts on the 1995 Montana Griz national championship team, which will celebrate their 30th anniversary this weekend in Missoula. 

Idaho wide receiver Tony Harste and head coach Thomas Ford Jr. (12:02) join Colter Nuanez to break down Idaho's 37-30 win over St. Thomas, the first win of Ford's career, and to preview UI's game against Utah Tech on Saturday. 

Samuel Akem of Skyline Sports joins Colter Nuanez to talk around the FCS, including the Griz, the Cats and the Big Sky Conference. Sammy gives us his standout teams of the season so far, including thoughts on UC Davis, Idaho and UT Rio Grande Valley. The boys also dive into Montana's 42-17 win over Central Washington and Montana State's 2OT 30-24 loss to South Dakota State.

No. 6 Montana posted a 42-17 home win over Central Washington on September 6, 2025. The Griz host a North Dakota team that beat UM 27-24 in Grand Forks last September.  Montana head coach Bobby Hauck, senior corner Kenzel Lawler (left) and junior running back Eli Gillman addressed the media on Monday. 

Montana State head coach Brent Vigen addressed the media ahead of his team's game against San Diego against Bozeman on Saturday. 

No. 2 South Dakota State made a 4th down stop in double overtime to secure a 30-24 win over No. 3 Montana State in Bozeman on September 6, 2025. Montana pulled away for a 42-17 win over Central Washington in their season opener in Missoula. Brooks Nuanez was in Missoula, Colter Nuanez was in Bozeman. They recap what they saw in Week 2 on both sides of the Continental Divide.

No. 2 South Dakota State made a 4th down stop in double overtime to secure a 30-24 win over No. 3 Montana State in Bozeman on September 6, 2025. A record-setting crowd watched Montana State's first regular-season home loss since 2019. MSU head coach Brent Vigen, DE Hunter Parsons, RBs Julius Davis & Adam Jones addressed the media after falling to 0-2.

Award-winning broadcaster Ryan Tootell joins Colter Nuanez weekly to talk Griz, Bobcats and Big Sky Conference sports. This week, we talk about former Big Sky players in the NFL, Montana State's nationally elite home opener and the Griz getting 2025 underway.

In this Akem's Analysis, Samuel Akem looks forward to some of the Week 2 matchups happening in the Big Sky Conference. Once again, the game of the week in FCS football involves a Big Sky team.  Montana State and SDSU face off after both squads lost major talent, but are still in the conversation as top teams in the country. Montana will get their first chance to hit the field for 2025 after their...

Tanner Castora is a freelance journalist covering South Dakota State with a variety of mediums. He's also the author of "Stig and the Rise of South Dakota State Football", a biography about former SDSU head coach John Stieglemeier. Castora joined Colter Nuanez on the Big Sky Breakdown to discuss SDSU's game at No. 3 Montana State on Saturday

Former Griz RB and NFL Agent Andrew Schmidt joins Colter Nuanez to preview Montana's season opener.