Cats, Griz both setting the bar high this season

After seven long months, big time college football is about to return to Montana.

And when we say bigtime, we mean Montana and Montana State football. And the wait for the new season is finally over.

Both the Bobcats, the reached the FCS semifinals a year ago, and the Grizzlies, who reached the second round of the FCS playoffs, kick their seasons off at home this Saturday. Montana hosts Pioneer League stalwart Butler Saturday at Noon in Missoula, while the Bobcats kick off the new season against Utah Tech Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Bozeman.

And after last year, both teams come in with sky-high expectations, but perhaps none more so than MSU. In head coach Brent Vigen's first two seasons, the Cats have went to an FCS championship game, and a semifinal appliance a year ago. They begin the season ranked No. 3 and are the heavy favorite to win the Big Sky championship. And they should be.

Led by Preseason All-American Tommy Mellott and fellow quarterback Sean Chambers, the Cats have one of the most dynamic rushing attacks in the country. A stable of backs led by Elijah Elliot and Lane Sumner, as well as a pair of All-American tight ends, and perhaps the best offensive line outside of South Dakota and North Dakota, all add up to MSU possessions a truly powerful offense.

The Bobcats though, aren't slouches on defense either. DT Sebastian Valdez leads what should be the best DL in the Big Sky, while safety Rylan Ortt leads a rebuilt back seven. The Cats are also outstanding in the kicking game, and one of the top teams in turnover margin from a year ago, and all that means, they'll be very hard to beat, evenw with a schedule that includes a non-confereece road trip to defending national champion SDSU next week, as well as Big Sky road games at Weber State, Sacramento State and Idaho, not to mention a trip to Missoula to end the regular season.

Speaking of Missoula, despite reaching the FCS playoffs again, the 14th-ranked Grizzlies felt they underachieved last season. A early home loss to Idaho, one-poession defeats at Sacramento State and Weber State and an embarrassing loss at arch rival MSU led to just a sixth-place finish in the Big Sky. And an exit at North Dakota State in the second round of the playoffs.

However, head coach Bobby Hauck's squad has renewed optimism this fall, with new quarterback Sam Vidlak, an Oregon State and Boise State transfer at the helm, as well as what Hauck said is the best offensive line the Griz have had in a decade. Montana also has a beast of a running back room, speed at wide receivrer, and a defense that features All-American Alex Gubner at NT, incredible linebacker and three senior safeties. And all that means is the Griz should be stout in all phases of the game.

Still, another brutal road schedule lingers as Montana plays at Idaho and UC Davis on back-to-back weeks, as well as at a much-improved Northern Arizona squad late to open league play.

Of course, should the Griz survive another tough schedule, they get the Bobcats in Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Nov. 18. MSU has won five of the last six in the bitter rivalry, though the Griz did blow the Cats out the last time the game was played in Missoula.

November though, is a long time off. First, the Griz will open their season Saturday at Noon against the Butler Bulldogs in Missoula. The game will be televised on all Montana ABC/Fox Affilates. The same is the case for Saturday night's game between the Bobcats and Utah Tech in Bozeman. All Cats and Griz games this season will be also be steamed live on ESPN+.