Honestly, if you’re a Griz fan, the last few weeks have been a bit of a blur. We all expected a deep run. We saw the dominance throughout the regular season. But when you look up the final score of the Montana Griz game from that icy December afternoon in Bozeman, the numbers 48-23 just stare back at you like a bad dream.
It wasn't just a loss. It was a 25-point gap in the FCS Semifinals against the one team Montana fans can't stand losing to.
Montana State didn't just win; they slammed the door shut in a fourth-quarter blitz that left the Griz faithful silent in the stands. Going into that game on December 20, 2025, there was this massive sense of destiny. The Griz had just dismantled South Dakota and South Dakota State in back-to-back weeks. They looked invincible. Then, the Brawl of the Wild happened for a second time in a month, and the wheels didn't just wobble—they came off.
Breaking Down the Score of the Montana Griz Game
The game actually started out as a heavyweight fight. You’ve probably seen the highlights of the first half—tight, physical, and exactly what playoff football in the Big Sky is supposed to be. At halftime, it was 20-16. The Grizzlies were right there. Even deep into the third quarter, Montana grabbed a 23-20 lead.
Then the avalanche started.
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Montana State scored 28 unanswered points. Justin Lamson and Adam Jones basically turned the Bobcat Stadium turf into their personal playground. When a kid nicknamed "Taco" (MSU's Taco Dowler) house-called an 80-yard touchdown on a 3rd-and-20, everyone in Missoula knew it was over. The score of the Montana Griz game ballooned so fast it felt like a glitch in the scoreboard. From 23-20 to 48-23 in what felt like the blink of an eye.
Why the 4th Quarter Was a Disaster
If you’re looking for someone to blame, you’ll find plenty of fingers pointing at the turnover battle. Keali'i Ah Yat had been steady most of the year, but the Bobcat pass rush finally got home.
- Turnovers: The Griz gave it away when it mattered most.
- The 3rd & 20: That 80-yard touchdown was the emotional dagger.
- Depth: Montana looked gassed by the time the sun started dipping behind the mountains.
It's weird. Montana beat nearly everyone else in their path, but they went 0-2 against the Bobcats in 2025. Losing 31-28 in the regular season was one thing. Getting doubled up in the playoffs? That’s the kind of thing that keeps coaches up until 4 a.m.
The Transition to the Hardwood
Because the football season ended on such a sour note, a lot of fans immediately shifted their eyes to the basketball court. But the "Cat-Griz" curse seems to have followed them there, too. Just yesterday, January 17, 2026, the Griz men's basketball team headed to Bozeman looking for some sort of revenge.
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They didn't get it.
The final score was 76-67 in favor of Montana State. Davian Brown went off for 24 points for the Cats, and even though Money Williams tried to carry the Griz with 17, it wasn't enough. It’s a tough pill to swallow when your biggest rival is sweeping the floor with you across multiple sports in the same winter.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Football Schedule
The sting of that 48-23 playoff score won't go away until the Griz get back on the field. The 2026 schedule is already out, and it looks like a gauntlet.
- August 29: Southern Utah comes to Missoula.
- September 19: A massive road trip to Corvallis to play Oregon State.
- November 21: The rematch everyone is circling—the Brawl in Bozeman.
Bobby Hauck isn't the type of guy to let a 25-point playoff loss sit quietly. You can bet the recruiting trail has been aggressive. The Griz are losing some key seniors, but the core of that defense that smothered South Dakota is still largely intact. They need to find a way to finish games. That’s been the narrative all off-season. You can't lead in the third quarter of a semifinal and lose by three scores.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the Griz as they rebuild for 2026, here is what you actually need to do:
- Watch the Portal: With the spring transfer window, keep an eye on offensive line depth. The Griz got bullied in the trenches during the 4th quarter of the MSU game.
- Basketball Bounce Back: The Griz (9-9) play Northern Arizona on Monday, January 19. They need a win to stop the bleeding after the rivalry loss.
- Season Tickets: Renewal notices for the 2026 football season at Washington-Grizzly Stadium usually go out in February. If you want to be there for the Idaho game in October, don't wait.
The score of the Montana Griz game might have been a heartbreak, but in Missoula, the obsession never stops. You take the lumps, you complain about the officiating on Reddit, and then you show up in August ready to do it all over again.
Check the official Big Sky standings for updated basketball seeds as the Griz try to claw back into the top four before the tournament in Boise.