Cats, Griz will play openers under the lights

The Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats will both play their first games of 2018 after dark this season.

Though the Bobcats have not officially announced a kickoff time for their season-opener against Western Illinois, the Thursday, Aug. 30, game is expected to kickoff as a night game at Bobcat Stadium. MSU has played several home-openers, which it calls its Gold Rush Game, on Thursday nights in recent years.

UM did recently announce its kickoff time for its season and home-opener, which is slated for Sept. 2 against Northern Iowa at Washington Grizzly Stadium. That game will kick off at 7 p.m. in Missoula, and marks the return of Bobby Hauck, who is already the winningest coach in Griz history.

Both schools will announce more times soon.