2023 Montana State Bobcats football team

Last updated

2023 Montana State Bobcats football
Montana State Bobcats M Logo.png
Conference Big Sky Conference
Ranking
STATSNo. 9
FCS CoachesNo. 8
Record8–4 (6–2 Big Sky)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Taylor Housewright (3rd season)
Offensive scheme Pro-style
Defensive coordinatorWillie Mack Garza (2nd season)
Base defense 4–2–5
Home stadium Bobcat Stadium
Seasons
  2022
2024  
2023 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 2 Montana $^  7 1   13 2  
No. 8 Idaho ^  6 2   9 4  
No. 9 Montana State ^  6 2   8 4  
Northern Arizona  5 3   5 6  
No. 24 UC Davis  5 3   7 4  
No. 13 Sacramento State ^  4 4   8 5  
Portland State  4 4   5 6  
Weber State  4 4   6 5  
Eastern Washington  3 5   4 7  
Idaho State  3 5   3 8  
Cal Poly  1 7   3 8  
Northern Colorado  0 8   0 11  
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2023 Montana State Bobcats football team represented Montana State University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bobcats were led by third-year head coach Brent Vigen and played home games at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana. The Montana State Bobcats football team drew an average home attendance of 21,610 in 2023.

Contents

Preseason

Polls

On July 23, 2023, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Bobcats were predicted to finish first in the Big Sky by both the coaches and media. [1]

Coaches poll
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Montana State120 (10)
2UC Davis96 (1)
3Sacramento State94 (1)
4Weber State91
5Idaho89
6Montana84
7Eastern Washington52
8Portland State45
9Northern Arizona44
10Northern Colorado37
11Cal Poly25
12Idaho State15
Media poll
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Montana State447 (26)
2Idaho410 (8)
3Montana359 (2)
4Sacramento State334 (3)
5UC Davis330
6Weber State320
7Eastern Washington216
8Northern Arizona178
9Portland State167
10Northern Colorado109
11Cal Poly103
12Idaho State69

Roster

2023 Montana State Bobcats football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 0Javonte KingFr
WR 1Marqui JohnsonJr
WR 2Clevan Thomas Jr.GS
RB 3Jared White Redshirt.svg  Fr
QB 4 Tommy Mellott Jr
RB 5Garrett CoonSo
WR 6Ty McCullouchJr
WR 7Lonyatta Alexander Jr.So
TE, FB 8Derryk SnellSr
QB 9Luke Abshire Redshirt.svg  Fr
QB 10Sean ChambersSr
RB 11Elijah ElliottJr
QB 12Jordan Reed Redshirt.svg  Fr
QB 13Chance WilsonFr
WR 14Taco DowlerSo
QB 15Patrick DuchienFr
WR 16Zachary Dodson-Greene Redshirt.svg  Fr
WR 17Christian Anaya Redshirt.svg  Fr
WR 18Garrett WalchliJr
WR 19Tom CarterFr
RB 22Scottre HumphreyFr
RB 23Adam JonesFr
RB 24Lane SumnerSr
WR 25Jacob TrimbleFr
RB 28Colson CoonFr
RB 32Julius DavisJr
TE 36Luke SmithFr
FB 48Max Murphy Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 54Zac NylandFr
G 55J. T. ReedJr
G, C 56Cole SainSr
OL 57Everett CarrFr
G 58Aaron RichardsSo
OL 60Tommy Nilson Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 62Bear Old Redshirt.svg  Fr
OT, G 63Rush ReimerJr
OL 64Burke Mastel Redshirt.svg  Fr
C 65Justus PerkinsJr
OT 66Titan Fleischmann Redshirt.svg  Fr
G 68Omar AigbedionSo
G 70Holden SampsonJr
OT 72Connor Moore Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 73Cedric JeffersonFr
OL 74Jaden Perkins Redshirt.svg  Fr
OL 75Jacob KettelsSo
OT 76 Marcus Wehr Jr
OL 79Jonathan LuhmannFr
TE 80Treyton PickeringSr
WR 81Tayvian WilliamsSr
TE 82Elijah Reynolds Redshirt.svg  So
WR 85Aidan GarriganSo
TE 86Hunter ProvienceFr
TE 87Ryan LonerganJr
TE 88Rylan Schlepp Redshirt.svg  Fr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
S 0Blake StillwellSo
DB 1Andrew PowdrellFr
S 2Dru PolidoreSo
CB 4Jon JohnsonJr
S, NB 5Caden DowlerSo
CB 6Miles JacksonJr
DB 7Tayden GrayFr
S, NB 8Level Price Jr.Sr
CB 9Simeon WoodardJr
DE 10Brody GrebeJr
DE 11Kenneth Eiden IVSo
CB 12Devin DavisSo
CB 13Jackson HarmonSo
LB 15Bryce GrebeFr
S 16Michael Armstrong Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 17Taki UluilakepaFr
S 18Kendric BaileyJr
LB 19Neil DailySo
S 20Tyson PottengerSo
DB 22Takhari Carr Redshirt.svg  Fr
S 23Aidan ParksSo
DB 24Colter PetreFr
S, NB 26Rylan OrttJr
DB 27Brock Steel Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 29JJ DolanFr
LB 30Danny UluilakepaJr
LB 31Jace FitzgeraldSo
DT 33Blake HehlSr
LB 34Cole TaylorFr
DB 35Kade Cutler Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 40Cole BullockJr
LB 41Nolan AskelsonSr
LB 42Ryan Krahe Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 43McCade O'ReillyJr
DE 44Jake Vigen Redshirt.svg  Fr
DE 45Hunter ParsonsSo
DE 46Logan Fredericksen Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 47Eli AbySo
LB 49Zac Waible Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 50Zack BlackSo
DL 51Nicholas KoromJr
DE 59Dominic SolanoFr
DT 69Jaren Perkins Redshirt.svg  Fr
DL 89Ryder TrujilloFr
DT 90Hunter SharbonoFr
DE 91Zac CrewsFr
DT 92Blake SchmidtJr
DE 94David AlstonSr
DT 95Sebastian ValdezJr
DL 96Paul BrottSo
DE 98Ben SeymourSr
DL 99Talon MarshFr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K, P 38Casey Kautzman Redshirt.svg  Fr
LS 71Tommy SullivanJr
P, K 93Brendan HallJr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster
Last update: December 7, 2024

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 26:00 p.m. Utah Tech *No. 3 ESPN+ W 63–2021,967
September 95:00 p.m.at No. 1 South Dakota State *No. 3ESPN+L 16–2019,332
September 161:00 p.m. Stetson *No. 3
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 57–2021,487
September 236:00 p.m.at No. 10 Weber State No. 3ESPN+W 40–010,905
September 302:00 p.m. Portland State Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 3
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 38–2222,017
October 146:00 p.m. Cal Poly No. 2
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 59–1921,997
October 218:30 p.m.at No. 3 Sacramento State No. 2 ESPN2 W 42–3016,122
October 282:00 p.m.at No. 9 Idaho No. 2ESPN+L 21–2413,073
November 41:00 p.m. Northern Arizona No. 6
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 45–2121,297
November 111:00 p.m. Eastern Washington No. 5
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 57–1420,897
November 1812:00 p.m.at No. 3 Montana No. 4ESPN+L 7–3727,178
December 21:00 p.m.No. 8 North Dakota State *No. 5
ESPN+L 34–35 OT17,247

[2]

Game summaries

vs Utah Tech

at No. 1 South Dakota State

No. 3 Montana State Bobcats (1–0) vs No. 1 South Dakota State (1–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 3 Bobcats730616
No. 1 Jackrabbits0071320

at Dana J. Dykhouse StadiumBrookings, SD

  • Date: September 9, 2023
  • Game time: 5:00 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), Sunny, Wind NE 10 mph (16 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 19,332
  • Referee: Rick Warne
  • TV announcers (ESPN+/MTN-CW/MidCo): Tom Nieman, Kurtiss Riggs, Darron Wallace
StatisticsMSUSDSU
First downs1720
Total yards298341
Rushing yards211157
Passing yards87184
Turnovers10
Time of possession35:2324:37
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Montana StatePassingSean Chambers3/9, 53 yards, INT
RushingSean Chambers20 carries, 90 yards, TD
ReceivingDerryk Snell3 receptions, 38 yards
South Dakota StatePassing Mark Gronowski 13/22, 184 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Isaiah Davis 12 carries, 66 yards
ReceivingGriffin Wilde2 receptions, 49 yards, TD

vs Stetson

at No. 10 Weber State

vs Portland State

vs Cal Poly

at No. 3 Sacramento State

No. 2 Montana State Bobcats (5–1) at No. 3 Sacramento State Hornets (5–1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 2 Bobcats01472142
No. 3 Hornets70101330

at Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, CA

  • Date: October 21, 2023
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: SW 9 mph • Sunny
  • Game attendance: 16,122
  • Referee: Jim Crowley
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Play-by-Play: John Schriffen • Analysis: Rocky Boiman • Sideline: Dawn Davenport
  • Sources: [3] [4] [5]
Game information
StatisticsMTSTSAC
First downs2625
Total yards448434
Rushing yards328200
Passing yards120234
Passing: Comp–Att–Int10–16–126–42–2
Time of possession32:4027:20
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Montana StatePassing Tommy Mellott 9/14, 99 yards
RushingJulius Davis12 carries, 110 yards, TD
ReceivingTy McCullough4 receptions, 53 yards, TD
Sacramento StatePassingKaiden Bennett26/42, 234 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingElijah Tau-Tolliver8 carries, 100 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingDevin Gandy5 receptions, 59 yards, TD

at No. 9 Idaho

No. 2 Montana State Bobcats (6–1) vs No. 9 Idaho Vandals (5–2) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 2 Bobcats0014721
No. 9 Vandals3701424

at Kibbie DomeMoscow, ID

  • Date: October 28, 2023
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game attendance: 13,073
  • TV announcers (ESPN+/MTN-CW/SWX NW): Ben Creighton, Ty Gregorak, Scott Breen

vs Northern Arizona

vs Eastern Washington

at Montana

1234Total
No. 4 Bobcats00707
No. 3 Grizzles14610737

NCAA Division I playoffs

No. 8 North Dakota State (second round)

No. 8 North Dakota State Bison (9–3) vs. No. 5 (6) Montana State Bobcats (8–3)
Quarter1234OTTotal
No. 8 Bison01477735
No. 5 (6) Bobcats77140634

at Bobcat Stadium, Bozeman, MT

  • Date: December 2, 2023
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. (CT)
  • Game weather: Sunny; 36 °F (2 °C); Wind: W 15 mph
  • Game attendance: 17,247
  • Referee: Bruce Austin
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Noah Reed, Charles Arbuckle
StatisticsNorth Dakota StateMontana State
First downs1821
Plays–yards57–37459–509
Rushes–yards43–29640–279
Passing yards78230
Passing: compattint6–14–014–19–1
Time of possession29:4330:17
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
North Dakota StatePassing Cam Miller 5/13, 66 yds, TD
RushingTaMerik Williams11 car, 162 yds, 2 TD
ReceivingEli Green4 rec, 63 yds
Montana StatePassingTommy Mellott13/17, 204 yds, 2 TD, INT
RushingTommy Mellott18 car, 151 yds, 2 TD
ReceivingTy McCullouch4 rec, 92 yds TD
Scoring summary
QuarterTime Drive TeamScoring informationScore
Plays Yards TOP NDSUMTST
1st1:573631:11MTSTTy McCullouch (#6) 34-yard touchdown reception from Tommy Mellott (#4), Casey Kautzman (#38) kick good07
2nd8:525392:56NDSUZach Mathis (#0) 3-yard touchdown reception from Cam Miller (#7), Griffin Crosa (#39) kick good77
2nd4:075932:58NDSUTaMerik Williams (#22) 44-yard touchdown run, Griffin Crosa (#39) kick good147
2nd1:056713:02MTSTTommy Mellott (#4) 6-yard touchdown run, Casey Kautzman (#38) kick good1414
3rd14:501750:10NDSUTaMerik Williams (#22) 75-yard touchdown run, Griffin Crosa (#39) kick good2114
3rd13:562860:48MTSTTommy Mellott (#4) 76-yard touchdown run, Casey Kautzman (#38) kick good2121
3rd8:088694:11MTSTClevan Thomas Jr. (#2) 9-yard touchdown reception from Tommy Mellott (#4), Casey Kautzman (#38) kick good2121
4th2:339894:48NDSUTK Marshall (#28) 29-yard touchdown run, Griffin Crosa (#39) kick good2828
OT525NDSUCam Miller (#7) 3-yard touchdown run, Griffin Crosa (#39) kick good3528
OT125MTSTScottre Humphrey (#22) 25-yard touchdown run, Casey Kautzman (#38) kick blocked3534
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.3534

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre123456789101112Final
STATS FCS 3333322226545
Coaches 3333322228548

References

  1. "Montana State Tabbed Preseason Football Favorites". July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  2. "2023 Montana State Football Schedule". msubobcats.com. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  3. "Football vs Montana State on 10/21/2023 - Box Score - Sacramento State". October 21, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  4. "Football Falls To No. 2 Montana State, 42–30". October 21, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  5. "Mellott runs for 2 TDs to help FCS No. 2 Montana St. beat No. 4 Sacramento St. 42–30". ESPN . October 21, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.