You can feel the vibration in the air before you even see the stadium. It’s a specific kind of hum—part diesel exhaust from tailgates, part sub-zero wind, and part pure, unadulterated loathing. In Montana, we don't call it a rivalry. It's the Brawl of the Wild. If you grew up here, you were basically assigned a side at birth. You’re either a Grizzly or a Bobcat, and that choice dictates who you talk to at Thanksgiving.
The 2025 season wasn't just another chapter. It was a complete rewrite.
Honestly, we’ve seen some wild Cat Griz football game finishes over the last 125 years, but 2025 gave us something we’d never seen before: two matchups in a single month. One for the Big Sky title, and one for a seat at the national championship table. If you thought the tension was high in 1897 when this all started, you haven't seen 25,000 people in Bozeman screaming until their lungs gave out in late December.
The Regular Season Heartbreaker in Missoula
It started on November 22, 2025. Washington-Grizzly Stadium was a sea of maroon. The Griz came in ranked No. 2, undefeated, looking like a freight train. The Bobcats were No. 3. This wasn't just for bragging rights; it was for the outright Big Sky Conference championship and the Great Divide Trophy.
The game was a defensive slugfest that turned into a fourth-quarter track meet.
Montana State’s Justin Lamson was efficient, going 18-for-20 through the air. But the real story was the Griz fighting back. Eli Gillman—who is basically a human highlight reel at this point—busted a 52-yard touchdown run that had Missoula convinced a comeback was happening. The Griz pulled within three.
Then came the moment that still haunts Missoula. Zac Crews, a kid from Missoula Sentinel playing for the other side, blocked a 44-yard field goal attempt. It was a gut punch. The Bobcats walked out of Washington-Grizzly with a 31-28 win and the trophy.
I remember talking to a buddy in the stands who said it felt like the air just left the valley. Little did we know, the sequel was going to be even bigger.
A Historic Playoff Rematch: The Second Brawl
December 20, 2025. Mark that date. For the first time in the history of these two programs, they met in the FCS Semifinals. It was the "Brawl of the Wild: Playoff Edition."
💡 You might also like: Who Won the MVP of the Super Bowl: What Most People Get Wrong
The setting shifted to Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman. A record crowd of 25,437 people. The temperature was exactly what you’d expect—brutal.
Montana actually looked like they had the momentum early in the second half. Keali’i Ah Yat, the sophomore QB for the Griz, led an 80-yard drive that put Montana up 23-20. For a second there, the Bozeman crowd went silent. It felt like the Grizzlies were finally going to exorcise the demons of November.
Then, Taco Dowler happened.
The Play That Broke the Griz
With the game hanging in the balance in the fourth quarter, Dowler caught a pass, found a seam, and turned on the jets for an 87-yard touchdown. It wasn't just a score; it was a back-breaker. Bobcat head coach Brent Vigen later called it one of the greatest plays in program history. He’s not wrong.
The Bobcats exploded for 21 points in the fourth quarter. Final score: Montana State 48, Montana 23.
The Bobcats didn't just win; they clinched a trip to Nashville for the title game. They eventually beat Illinois State 35-34 in overtime to take the whole thing, but for most folks in Montana, the season peaked that afternoon in Bozeman.
💡 You might also like: How to Find a Detroit Tigers Live Stream Radio Without Losing Your Mind
By the Numbers: Where the Rivalry Stands Now
It's easy to get lost in the emotion, but the record books don't lie. Even with the Bobcats' recent dominance, the Griz still hold the lead. It's kinda crazy when you look at the total history.
- All-Time Record: Montana leads 74–45–5.
- The "Great Divide" Era: Since the trophy was introduced in 2001, the series is tied 11-11 (excluding a vacated Griz win).
- Recent Momentum: Montana State has won eight of the last ten meetings.
- The Streak: Montana still holds the record with 16 straight wins from 1986 to 2001.
Some people argue that the rivalry is becoming one-sided. I disagree. If you look at the 31-28 game in November, you see two teams that are mirror images of each other. The Bobcats are just currently better at closing the door.
What Most People Get Wrong About Cat Griz
People from out of state think this is just about football. It’s not. It’s about the economy, the culture, and the "Made in Montana" identity.
In 2025, the Griz roster had 32 Montana natives. The Bobcats had a similar core. When these guys hit each other on the field, they aren't just hitting a jersey—they're hitting guys they played against in high school in places like Kalispell, Billings, or Great Falls.
There's a misconception that there's no respect between the fans. Honestly, most families are split. You’ll see a "House Divided" flag on every third porch in Helena. We hate each other for 60 minutes, but we all know that both programs being elite is good for the state. Having both teams in the top three nationally in 2025 brought more eyes to Montana than a thousand episodes of Yellowstone.
Why This Game Matters for the FCS
The 2025 playoff matchup proved that the Big Sky is the center of the FCS universe right now. For years, the road to the title went through North Dakota State or South Dakota State.
The Griz actually beat South Dakota State 50-29 earlier in those playoffs. They also hammered South Dakota 52-22. The fact that Montana could dismantle the traditional powerhouses but couldn't solve the Montana State puzzle tells you everything you need to know about the level of play in the Brawl.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're planning on attending or betting on the next Cat Griz football game, here is the reality of the situation:
- Watch the Quarterback Development: Keali’i Ah Yat is only going to get better. He threw for over 300 yards against North Dakota early in 2025. If he cuts down the interceptions (he had two in the playoff loss), the Griz are terrifying.
- Home Field is Real, but Fading: The home team won five straight until the Bobcats broke that streak in Missoula this past year. Don't assume Washington-Grizzly is an automatic win anymore.
- Book Your Travel Now: The 2026 game is scheduled for November 21 in Missoula. Hotels in a 50-mile radius will be booked by July. If you aren't local, start looking at rentals in Frenchtown or Lolo.
- The "Transfer Portal" Factor: Coach Bobby Hauck has been vocal about NIL and the "magic rainbow" of transfer agents. Keep a close eye on the spring window; both teams are losing key seniors and will be looking to reload quickly.
The 125th meeting was a peak for the rivalry. The energy in the state was at an all-time high. Whether you wear the maroon and silver or the blue and gold, you have to admit—there isn't another Saturday in sports that feels like this.
The 2025 season might be over, but the sting of those two losses will be the primary fuel for the Griz all through the 2026 off-season. Expect the next meeting to be even more physical, if that's even possible.