Montana State Routs Cal Poly 61-7
Montana State scored seven first-half touchdowns in a Big Sky Conference win over Cal Poly.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football
Montana State defeated Cal Poly 61-7 in a Big Sky Conference game. Cal Poly lost its fifth-year quarterback starter, Anthony Grigsby Jr., after the team fell behind 41-0.
Why it matters
The loss matches Cal Poly's 54-point defeat to the University of Utah in 2025 and drops the Mustangs to 3-4 in Big Sky play. Montana State, ranked third in FCS and tied for first in the Big Sky, strengthened its position at the top of the conference standings.
Montana State led 14-0 within the first five minutes and scored seven first-half touchdowns, while Cal Poly managed a single touchdown by Tayvion McCoy. Cal Poly has gone 1-4 since linebacker Mikey D'Amato's injury, which has sidelined him for the past five games.
The players
Montana State University
The Bobcats are a member of the Big Sky Conference and an FCS program based in Bozeman, Montana.
Cal Poly
The Mustangs are the athletic program of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, competing in the Big Sky Conference.
Anthony Grigsby Jr.
Grigsby Jr. is a fifth-year quarterback who started for Cal Poly and was replaced after the team trailed 41-0.
The details
Montana State scored on its first possession about 20 seconds into the game, and Cal Poly committed two false starts on its first two plays. Montana State's touchdowns came largely on long runs through gaps in the Cal Poly defense, and Jaden Green and Fidel Pitts did not play.
Timeline
Oct. 31, 2026: Montana State defeated Cal Poly 61-7.
Nov. 7, 2026, at 2 p.m.: Cal Poly hosts No. 7 Northern Arizona University.
Season Trajectory
Cal Poly's 61-7 loss places it at 3-4 in Big Sky play, matching the magnitude of its 2025 defeat to Utah and deepening a slide that has seen it go 1-4 since D'Amato's injury. Montana State's win strengthens its tie for first place in the conference while Cal Poly faces a November home game against No. 7 Northern Arizona.
Fantasy managers relying on Montana State's rushing attack should note that its touchdowns came largely on long runs through Cal Poly's defensive gaps. Cal Poly's absence of Jaden Green and Fidel Pitts may affect its upcoming lineup decisions.
The takeaway
Cal Poly's 1-4 run since losing D'Amato highlights how a single injury can reshape a Big Sky team's season, and Montana State's early scoring pace shows how quickly a conference race can tilt.
What happens next
Cal Poly hosts No. 7 Northern Arizona University on Nov. 7 at 2 p.m.
Further reading
For more Big Sky action, see our Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mustang News.
