Big Sky Breakdown

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.

Montana State inside linebacker Neil Daily suffered an injury that knocked him out of MSU's 59-13 loss to Oregon. Cole Taylor, a sophomore from Great Falls who was a QB at CMR High, stepped in and performed well.  Taylor joined Colter Nuanez of Skyline Sports & ESPN MT to break down his standout performance.

Former Bobcat player & coach Mike Rider joins Colter Nuanez to break down Montana State's Week 1 loss at Oregon and preview the FCS game of the week between MSU and South Dakota State.

Former Montana Griz linebacker Jordan Tripp, who was an NFL draft pick out of UM, is now the color commentator for Griz football games on Scripps Sports broadcasts this fall. He joined Colter Nuanez of Skyline Sports to talk about all things Griz, broadcasting and more.

Montana head coach Bobby Hauck will open his 14th season leading his alma mater in Missoula on Saturday evening against Central Washington of the Division II Lone Star Conference. 

Montana State 5th-year head coach Brent Vigen hosted his weekly press conference on Monday to help preview his team's home opener against No. 2 South Dakota State. The Bobcats lost 59-13 to No. 7 Oregon. The Jackrabbits beat Sacramento State 20-3. 

Montana State opened the 2025 season with a 59-13 loss to No. 7 Oregon. The 46 points is the largest margin of defeat suffered by the Bobcats since a 69-10 loss at Kansas State in 2008. Following the loss, MSU head coach Brent Vigen along with junior WR Taco Dowler & DT Alec Eckert addressed the media. 

Former Montana State player and coach Michael Rider is back for another season breaking down all things Bobcat football with Colter Nuanez of Skyline Sports. Montana State opens its 2025 season in Eugene against the No. 7 Oregon Ducks on Saturday. The Bobcats went 15-1 but lost their final game of 2024 in the FCS national title game, falling 35-32 to North Dakota State.

In this week's Akem's Analysis, Samuel Akem breaks down all of the biggest games happening in the Big Sky Conference this week. A few of the teams out of the Big Sky played in Week 0, but now we get to see more of the conference live in action.  The biggest game of the weekend is Sacramento State vs South Dakota State. It could have big playoff ramifications later in the season. Montana State will...

Tyson Alger has been covering the Oregon Ducks for more than a decade with stops at the Oregonian, The Athletic & the I-5 Corridor. He now covers Oregon football for Lookout Eugene-Springfield. No. 7 Oregon opens with Montana State on Saturday in Eugene. Tyson joined Colter Nuanez to preview the Ducks' season.