George Ferguson Column: It's over for the Griz, but it's all there for the Bobcats

I'll just get this out of the way right now. The Montana Grizzlies aren't going to beat the South Dakota State Jackrabbits this Saturday in Brookings, South Dakota.

Period.

And thus, a weird, wacky and truly disappointing Grizzly football season will come to an end as a result of a beatdown at the hands of the defending FCS champions - in what was a rematch from the 2024 title game.

In the immortal words of Forrest Gump: "That's all I have to say about that."

However, rest easy Treasure State. For the second time in 12 months, Montana has an FCS team poised to reach Frisco, Texas, and the FCS chipper.

Now, it's Montana State's turn. Only 2024 should be dramatically different than Montana's run to last year's title game.

How different? Simply stated, the Bobcats are easily the best team in the country. And the evidence supports that sttatement.

Going into the FCS second round this weekend against a completely out-manned Tennessee-Martin squad, the Bobcats are 12-0, beat an FBS team on the road, won the Big Sky championship outright, destroyed arch rival Montana, have the Eddie Robinson award winner in Brent Vigen, have the more than likely Payton Award winner in Tommy Mellott, not to mention home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

In other words, Montana State is a heavy, heavy favorite to finally win a national championship, something MSU hasn't done since 1984. And all due respect to the Jackrabbits or mighty North Dakota State Bison, this is the year of the Bobcat.

It really is. Montana State has the best coach and best player in the country. The Cats' running game is as close to unstoppable is it gets in football. They have future NFL players on the offensive line, and a hard-hitting defense that balances out that high-powered offense.

Again, no offense NDSU, no offense SDSU, sorry South Dakota, but this this playoff is MSU's to lose. And lose is something MSU hasn't done this season, and the Cats don't look like they're going to this season either.

Yes, you have to play em' all. No, MSU can't afford to look ahead, and yes, there are other really good teams in the bracket. But, if the Bobcats do what they've been doing all season long, and they don't do what the Grizzlies did in the 2009 national championship game, which was the last time either school was favored to actually win it all, then the Cats will be hauling the big trophy home from the big state of Texas!

So, while the playoffs, and the season are ending for one Montana school this weekend, the march to a seemingly inevitable national title, begins for the other this Saturday in Bozeman.

And while it won't be easy, again, the chipper is Montana State's to lose. And the Cats need to make sure they don't lose it. You only get one Tommy Mellott, just like the Griz only got one Dave Dickinson. So, it's now or maybe not ever, but now or a long time from now, MSU.

Good luck!