Grizzlies announce 2013 football schedule

The University of Montana will have a 12-game football schedule in 2013, which features six home games, and match-ups against five teams currently ranked in the Football Championship Subdivision's top 25 national poll.

The Grizzlies open at home with one of the premier teams in the FCS on Aug. 31, hosting the Appalachian State Mountaineers. ASU is currently 7-3 overall and ranked 12th in The Sports Network's Top 25 weekly poll (Nov. 5). Montana lost 35-27 at Appalachian State in its second game this season.

Montana plays four Big Sky Conference home games, beginning with the Portland State Vikings on Oct. 5 in its annual homecoming game. The Griz and Vikings did not play each other this year.

UM plays back-to-back home league games against two teams currently ranked in the FCS, in the Cal Poly Mustangs (Oct. 19) and Eastern Washington Eagles (Oct. 26).

The final home league contest is against long-time foe Weber State on Nov. 16. Last Saturday (Nov. 3), the Griz edged the Wildcats 24-21 in Ogden.

The Griz host the Division II Panhandle State Aggies of Goodwill, Okla., on Sept. 21.

Montana's first Big Sky road game is Sept. 28 at 11th-ranked Northern Arizona. The Lumberjacks currently lead the league with a 6-0 record and are 8-1 overall. NAU defeated the Grizzlies 41-31 in Missoula earlier this season.

The Griz are on the road for two league games against two teams they did not play this season, beginning with UC Davis on Oct. 12 and then Sacramento State on Nov. 2. The final regular-season contest is against Montana State Nov. 23 in Bozeman.

The two non-league road games are at North Dakota (Sept. 14) and at South Dakota (Nov. 9). UM's game in Grand Forks is a return game for a home-and-home (UND played in Missoula in 2010) contract that the teams scheduled before UND joined the Big Sky, therefore it will not be a conference game.

Game times for the Grizzlies' 2013 football games will be announced in late spring or early in the summer.

2013 Montana Football Schedule

Aug. 31 -- Appalachian State

Sept. 7 -- Open

Sept. 14 -- at North Dakota

Sept. 21 -- Oklahoma Panhandle State

Sept. 28 -- at Northern Arizona *

Oct. 5 -- Portland State * (Homecoming)

Oct. 12 -- at UC Davis *

Oct. 19 -- Cal Poly *

Oct. 26 -- Eastern Washington *

Nov. 2 -- at Sacramento State *

Nov. 9 -- at South Dakota

Nov. 16 -- Weber State *

Nov. 23 -- at Montana State *