From the Fringe... What a season, and now, we're just one game away

I just can't believe it, but it's true, we're one game away from the Brawl of the Wild.

And yet, the games the Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats play this weekend could have a drastic impact on just how huge next Saturday's Cat-Griz game will be.

Let's be honest, no-one thought that, on Nov. 11, the Montana Grizzlies would be playing at Portland State as the No. 3 team in the FCS, and ranked two spots ahead of the Bobcats in the national polls. But thanks to three wins over Top 10 teams, and no losses since Sept. 21, the Griz have all but locked up an FCS playoff berth and are line win away from making the Cat-Griz game mean the Big Sky title is on the lone. If the Griz can get by Portland State on Saturday night, and it's a big if, because the Griz are starting at a classic letdown game, then, it will all but ensure the Cat-Griz game is a Top 5 matchup as well.

Of course, that's also assuming the Bobcats do their part, and I think they will.

MSU had its toughest game at Idaho, and it's really no big deal. All is still in front of the Bobcats. Their goals of winning the Big Sky title, beatinng the Griz, and earning home field advantage throughout the playoffs are all still attainable, provided they beat arch rival Eastern Washington Saturday in Bozeman. And the Cats should because EWU is a hot mess on defense, and the Cats are an offensive juggernaut.

So, with the Cats' win all but a given, just imagine what will happen if the Griz win Saturday night in Portland. That would set up perhaps a No. 2 or 3 Montana verses a No. 4 or 5 Montana State team next Saturday in Missoula. It will set up a chance for the Cats to share the Big Sky title with Idaho, or the Griz to share with it with the Vandals. The game could literally have national title implications as well. The winner of the Brawl could end up with the No. 2 overall seed in the FCS, and that's as big as it gets.

So to put all that another way ... if the Griz and Cats both win their games this Saturday, then it sets up perhaps one of, if not the biggest Cat-Griz games in the the storied history of the rivalry. Has both programs had better teams? Yes. Even at the same time? Yes.

But, if all goes according to plan Saturday night, and with how intense, inflated and heated this rivalry already is, then next Saturday will be arguably the biggest football game the state of Montana has ever seen.

Montana State hosts EWU Saturday at 1 p.m. in Bozeman. The Griz play at Portland State Saturday night at 7 p.m. Both games will televised statewide, or streamed on ESPN+.