Montana Grizzlies Host Portland State in Missoula
Montana, ranked 12th, could clinch its 250th victory inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium against the 2-7 Vikings.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
The 12th-ranked Montana Grizzlies hosted Portland State in Missoula on Saturday, with the home team looking to extend its winning streak after a 42-33 win at Eastern Washington the prior week. Montana improved to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big Sky, while Portland State fell to 2-7 and 2-4.
Why it matters
A win would give Montana its 250th victory inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium, a milestone tied to the program's home record. For Portland State, the game was the first trip to Missoula under head coach Chris Fisk, who succeeded Bruce Barnum.
Montana's 42-33 win at Eastern Washington the prior week lifted it to 6-3 overall, while Eli Gillman's 48-yard reception on the opening drive set up Hashim Jones' 8-yard rushing touchdown. The final result of Saturday's game was not included in the extraction.
The players
Montana Grizzlies
The University of Montana football program competes in the Big Sky Conference and plays home games at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula.
Portland State Vikings
The Portland State University football program competes in the Big Sky Conference and was seeking its first win under new head coach Chris Fisk.
Chris Fisk
Fisk is the Portland State head football coach, hired from Central Washington to succeed Bruce Barnum.
Hashim Jones
Jones is a Montana running back who returned the opening kickoff and scored an 8-yard rushing touchdown on the first drive.
The details
Eight students carried tribal flags onto the field before the national anthem, representing the eight sovereign tribal nations in Montana, as the program celebrated Native American heritage. Hashim Jones returned the opening kickoff to the Grizzly 37-yard line after a penalty, and Montana wore a new helmet decal featuring a turquoise bearpaw outline instead of the traditional script "Griz." Dylan Cook also returned to Missoula to have his "37" flag raised.
Timeline
Saturday afternoon: Montana hosts Portland State in Missoula.
Prior week: Montana beat Eastern Washington 42-33.
Last season (2025): Portland State finished 1-11 overall.
2015: Portland State last posted a winning overall and conference record, going 9-3.
Bye week: Dylan Cook returned to Missoula to have his flag raised.
Season Trajectory
Portland State last posted a winning overall and conference record in 2015, when it finished 9-3, making its 2-7 start in 2026 part of a long stretch without sustained success. Montana, at 6-3 and ranked 12th, is positioning itself for a strong late-season push in the Big Sky race.
For fantasy managers, Eli Gillman's 48-yard reception and Hashim Jones' opening-drive touchdown are the kinds of early production that shape weekly lineup decisions. Local fans can track Montana's remaining Big Sky schedule as the team chases its 250th home win.
The takeaway
Montana's home record and early-season momentum make this matchup a useful gauge of where the Grizzlies stand in the Big Sky race. Watching how the team responds to a ranked-opponent test offers a clear read on its postseason prospects.
What happens next
Montana's regular season finale is scheduled in Bozeman, where a win would add to its late-season Big Sky standing.
Further reading
For more on the Grizzlies' season, see Football coverage across the Missoula area.
