If you walked into the ICCU Dome in Pocatello last October, you probably expected a blowout. Most people do when the Montana Grizzlies roll into town. On paper, it looks like a mismatch every single year. But honestly, if you actually watched that 42-38 thriller in 2025, you know the score doesn't tell the whole story of how hard the Idaho State Bengals actually push the Griz.
There is this weird misconception that Montana vs Idaho State football is just a scheduled win for Missoula. People see that 16-game (now 17-game) winning streak and assume it’s a snooze fest. It’s not. The 2025 matchup was a seesaw that basically left everyone in the stands breathless.
The 2025 Barnburner: Why We Can’t Look Away
Let’s talk about that October 4th game. Montana was ranked No. 4 in the country. They were supposed to steamroll a 3-3 Bengals team. Instead, Idaho State’s Jordan Cooke decided to play like a man possessed, throwing for 421 yards.
You’ve got to feel for the Bengals sometimes. They had a 31-18 lead in the third quarter. For a minute there, it really looked like the "Pocatello Curse" for Montana was finally going to strike. But the Grizzlies have this guy Michael Wortham who is basically a human Swiss Army knife. He didn't just play receiver; he threw a touchdown pass on a trick play, caught six balls for over 100 yards, and then ran in the winning touchdown with about three minutes left.
It’s that kind of chaos that makes Montana vs Idaho State football way more interesting than the lopsided record suggests.
The Statistical Reality (It’s Gritty)
Montana leads the all-time series 50-14. That sounds dominant because it is. But when you look at the games in Pocatello, the Griz are 17-12. Still winning, sure, but it’s a lot tighter when they have to travel south.
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- First Meeting: 1921 (Montana won 25-0)
- Last Bengals Win: 2003 (A 43-40 double-OT heartstopper)
- The Streak: 17 straight wins for the Griz
- Total Points: Montana has put up nearly 2,000 points in this series history
The Bengals haven't beaten the Griz since 2003. Think about that. There are college seniors today who weren't even born the last time Idaho State took down Montana. But that 2025 game showed the gap is closing, or at least, the Bengals have figured out how to make it hurt.
Why the Bengals Always Seem "Almost There"
Idaho State is sort of the "trap game" king of the Big Sky. They have this high-flying, air-raid style offense that can score 30 points before you've even finished your halftime hot dog. In the 2025 game, they out-gained Montana in total yardage. Cooke was slicing up the secondary.
The problem? Finish.
Montana has this institutional memory of winning. Bobby Hauck has built a culture where, even when they’re down by two scores in the fourth quarter—like they were in Pocatello—they don't panic. Keali'i Ah Yat, the Griz QB, just kept finding Eli Gillman and Wortham. They capitalize on the one or two mistakes the Bengals inevitably make. In the last game, it was an incomplete pass on 4th down with 38 seconds left that sealed it.
The Atmosphere at the ICCU Dome vs. Washington-Grizzly
If you've never been to a game in Missoula, it’s a religious experience. 25,000+ people screaming their heads off. It’s intimidating.
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But the ICCU Dome (formerly Holt Arena) is weird in its own right. It’s an indoor stadium, and when it’s loud, the acoustics make it sound like you're inside a jet engine. Bengals fans are a loyal, albeit often frustrated, bunch. When they get a lead on a big dog like Montana, that place gets absolutely electric.
Key Players Who Defined the Matchup
You can't talk about Montana vs Idaho State football without mentioning the names that keep showing up in the record books.
- Michael Wortham (Montana): The 2025 MVP of this matchup. He accounted for three scores in three different ways.
- Jordan Cooke (ISU): His 421-yard performance in 2025 was one of the best passing displays in the history of the series, even in a loss.
- Keali'i Ah Yat (Montana): Following in the footsteps of Griz legends, he showed he has the "clutch" gene by leading that 13-point comeback.
- Eli Gillman (Montana): A consistent thorn in the Bengals' side, he’s the guy who usually grinds out the tough yards when the flashy plays aren't there.
The "Little Brown Stein" Confusion
A lot of casual fans get Montana vs Idaho State football confused with the "Little Brown Stein" game. To be clear: the Stein is the trophy for the Montana vs. University of Idaho (Vandals) game.
The Bengals don’t have a specific trophy game with the Griz, but there’s a different kind of tension here. It’s the "Big Brother vs. Little Brother" dynamic. Idaho State is constantly trying to prove they belong at the top of the Big Sky, and beating Montana is the ultimate litmus test for that.
What to Watch for in the Next Matchup
When these two meet again, don't just look at the rankings. If the game is in Pocatello, throw the record book out the window.
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- Quarterback Play: Can the Bengals find a way to protect the ball in the final five minutes?
- The "Wortham" Effect: How do teams account for a player who can throw, catch, and run at an elite level?
- Special Teams: This is where Bobby Hauck usually wins games. Montana’s return game and kicking are almost always superior, which provides a "hidden" 7-10 points.
Honestly, the Bengals are eventually going to break this streak. It’s inevitable. They’ve come within a touchdown or a field goal so many times in the last decade. Whether it’s 2026 or beyond, the day Idaho State finally knocks off the Griz, Pocatello might actually run out of beer.
Moving Forward: How to Follow the Rivalry
If you're looking to keep tabs on this series, your best bet is to follow the Big Sky Conference's official stats pages rather than just relying on national sports tickers which often overlook FCS games.
Watch the recruiting trails in the Pacific Northwest and California. Montana has a massive reach, but Idaho State has been pulling some serious talent from the portal lately. The talent gap is shrinking, and that’s going to make the Montana vs Idaho State football matchups of the late 2020s some of the most competitive we've seen in fifty years.
Check the schedules for late September and early October. That's usually when these two collide. Keep an eye on the injury reports for the Griz secondary—if they're thin, a high-volume passer like the Bengals usually employ will have a field day.
Stop treating this as a "gimme" game for Montana. If 2025 taught us anything, it's that the Bengals are tired of being a footnote in the Grizzlies' season.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Travelers: If you're heading to Pocatello, book your hotel near the ICCU Dome early; the city fills up fast when the Griz fans travel south.
- Betting/Analysis: Always look at the "Points For" vs. "Points Against" specifically for the Bengals at home. They historically play about 10-14 points better in the Dome than they do on the road in Missoula.
- Media: Tune into local Missoula or Pocatello radio for the most nuanced pre-game coverage; national outlets rarely capture the local intensity of this Big Sky rivalry.