It was the game that basically every football fan in Montana had circled, highlighted, and then probably dreamt about for months. The first-ever playoff meeting between the Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State Bobcats. But if you’re looking for a happy um griz football score to cap off the 2025 season, you won't find it in the history books for that December afternoon in Bozeman. On December 20, 2025, the Griz fell 48-23 to their arch-rivals in the FCS Semifinals, ending a season that had been, up until that point, a absolute masterclass in offensive dominance.
Honestly, the scoreline doesn't even tell the whole story of how loud Bobcat Stadium was or how quickly things spiraled.
Breaking Down the Last UM Griz Football Score
The Griz entered the postseason as a legit juggernaut. They had just dismantled South Dakota State 50-29 and crushed the South Dakota Coyotes 52-22 in the quarterfinals. People were starting to whisper about a national title run. Then came the "Super Brawl."
In that semifinal matchup, Keali’i Ah Yat did what he could, throwing for 251 yards, but the Bobcats were just relentless. Justin Lamson and Adam Jones combined for a ground game that Montana simply couldn't plug. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the 48-23 deficit felt like a mountain that even the most die-hard Griz fan knew they weren't climbing.
The 2025 Season at a Glance
If you look at the full 2025 campaign, it's actually wild how good this team was despite the two losses to MSU. They finished 13-2. That’s a massive winning percentage, but in Missoula, 13-2 with two losses to the Cats feels a little like a beautiful car with a flat tire.
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They started the year by rolling over Central Washington 42-17 and then survived a nail-biter against North Dakota, winning 24-23. By late September, they were clicking. They beat Idaho 41-30 in a physical battle for the Little Brown Stein and hung 63 points on Portland State. The offense was a machine, led by Eli Gillman’s vision and Michael Wortham’s explosive playmaking.
But then came November 22. The regular-season Brawl of the Wild in Missoula ended in a 31-28 heartbreak. It was the first sign that the Bobcats might have the Grizzlies' number this year.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Griz Football Schedule
So, where do we go from here? The 2026 schedule is already out, and it looks significantly different thanks to some Big Sky expansion and the NCAA adding an extra week to the calendar. The Griz are going to play 12 games this time around, starting much earlier than usual.
Basically, the 2026 season kicks off in August. Here is how the front half of the schedule shakes out:
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The Griz open up at home on August 29 against Southern Utah. This is actually a Big Sky game right out of the gate because the Thunderbirds are back in the conference. After that, they host Drake on September 5 and Utah Tech on September 12.
The real test, though, happens on September 19. The Grizzlies are heading to Corvallis to face Oregon State. It’s been years since Montana took down an FBS giant—remember the Washington game in 2021?—and Griz Nation is already eyeing this as a potential "giant killer" moment.
Key Matchups to Watch in 2026
- The Oregon State Trip (Sept 19): This is the game that puts the Griz on the national map. If they can keep it close or pull the upset, the hype train will be off the tracks.
- Homecoming vs. Northern Colorado (Oct 3): Always a massive atmosphere in Missoula.
- The Little Brown Stein vs. Idaho (Oct 17): The Vandals are visiting Washington-Grizzly Stadium for the second year in a row. It’s a rare back-to-back home slate for this trophy game.
- The 125th Brawl of the Wild (Nov 21): The regular season ends in Bozeman. After the way 2025 ended, this game is going to be personal.
What the Experts are Saying About the Griz
Bobby Hauck has a lot of rebuilding to do on the defensive side of the ball. Last year's unit was turnover-obsessed, led by guys like Payton Wing and TJ Rausch, but they got exposed a bit in the secondary during the playoffs.
The 2025 Griz offense was statistically one of the best in program history. However, as Kyle Hansen of MTN Sports noted in his season review, "Championship or bust" is the only metric that matters in Missoula. A semifinal run is great for most schools, but when you lose twice to your rival in a single month, the offseason feels a lot longer.
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The nuance here is that the Big Sky is getting tougher. With UC Davis and Idaho consistently ranking in the Top 10, there are no "easy" Saturdays anymore. The 2026 schedule doesn't have a bye week until late October, which means depth is going to be the biggest factor in whether the Griz can return to Frisco.
Actionable Next Steps for Griz Fans
If you're already counting down the days until that August 29 kickoff, here’s how to stay prepared:
- Check your season ticket renewals early. With a seven-game home slate in 2026, Washington-Grizzly Stadium is going to be packed, especially for the Southern Utah opener.
- Track the transfer portal through the spring. The Griz need to find a way to shore up that secondary if they want to stop the explosive passing attacks of the Bobcats and Vandals.
- Book travel for Corvallis now. Oregon State's Reser Stadium isn't huge, and Griz fans travel better than almost anyone in the FCS. If you want to see that FBS matchup, don't wait until September.
The final um griz football score of 2025 was a tough pill to swallow, but the 12-game marathon of 2026 offers a fresh chance at redemption.