Montana and Idaho recently competed on social media to determine which school’s mascot was the best in the Big Sky, with the Griz emerging as the winner with 50.1% of the vote. Despite the rivalry between the two schools, they will not be playing for the Little Brown Stein this season due to the Big Sky’s rotating schedule.
Montana has been picked as the 2024 Big Sky preseason favorite, while Idaho was selected third by both coaches and the media. Both teams are expected to be national contenders, with the Griz ranked third and the Vandals ranked seventh in the national poll by Hero Sports.
The games between Montana and Idaho have become intense and aggressive, with the teams facing each other 89 times, making it the second-most played opponent for Montana. While Idaho leads the series, Montana has won eight of the past nine meetings, with head coach Bobby Hauck boasting a 5-1 record against the Vandals.
Despite missing out on playing Idaho this year, Montana will face Eastern Washington, another rival in Week 5. Big Sky schedules are set until 2027, with the Griz hosting Idaho in 2025 and playing at Idaho in 2026. Idaho coach Jason Eck has suggested a solution where UM and UI could play each other annually without changing the league size.
As both teams look to compete for the Big Sky and FCS titles, the rivalry between Montana and Idaho will continue to be a highlight in college football.
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Photo credit 406mtsports.com
