From the Fringe ... Montana is the epicenter of the Big Sky, and it's not close

When it comes to men's athletics in the Big Sky Conference, there's really three things anyone really cares about.

Football is, and will always be king in the Big Sky, so when it comes to that sport, it's about winning a Big Sky championship and playing in the FCS national championship game.

In that regard, the last 12 months has completely belonged to the state of Montana. The Montana Grizzlies won the outright Big Sky championship in 2023, the first time since 2009. That meant that, once again, the Big Sky's dominant football program was inside the Treasure State.

And yet, had Montana not hoisted the trophy, as far as the 406 was concerned, it wouldn't have mattered. That's because, had Montana State won the Brawl of the Wild back in November, the Cats would have also been Big Sky champions. Yes, by the time we even got to the Brawl last season, the Big Sky title was already staying in Big Sky country. And though it may be way too early to prognosticate, the same thing is likely to unfold again this fall.

Montana schools though, were looking at a bigger stage and the Grizzlies achieved that. As we all see, Montana went on a magical playoff run last December, and wound up on the biggest stage there is in Mid-Major College Football - the FCS chipper in Frisco, Texas. 

Sure, the Griz came up short against South Dakota State in the title game back in January, but, they were there, on ABC, and their run in football this past season, once again put the state of Montana so far out in front in the Big Sky, no one is likely to catch up anytime soon.

And then there's basketball.

During much off the regular season, it looked like Montana might not be the mountain top of Big Sky hoops this season. But, all became right with the world on Wednesday night when the Bobcats and Grizzlies squared off in the Big Sky men's championship game in Boise.

No, you couldn't write a better script. Both the Big Sky football and basketball championships coming down to one game between the Cats and Griz. It's too perfect.

And with MSU's third straight Big Sky championship, it means that, the only thing people really care about when it comes to Big Sky college hoops - getting to the NCAA tournament - will once again have a Montana team in it.

Yep, the Bobcats are going to their third straight March Madness, and before that, the Griz went to two straight. So, while the regular season may not always play out that way, Montana truly does own Big Sky men's basketball right now.

And that fact is just part of a larger story.

With how good UM and MSU's football and men's basketball programs are, and add to that how strong both women's basketball programs are every year, the state of Montana really is the be-all-end-all of Big Sky Conference athletics.

In fact, Montana is so dominant when it comes to Big Sky titles, they really should consider moving Big Sky head quarters from Ogden to somewhere like Billings. It really would make sense since the Big Sky State really does own the Big Sky these days, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.