2023 Montana State Bobcats football team

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.

2023 Montana State Bobcats football
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
Ranking
STATSNo. 9
FCS CoachesNo. 8
Record8–4 (6–2 Big Sky)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTaylor Housewright (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorWillie Mack Garza (2nd season)
Home stadiumBobcat Stadium
2023 Big Sky Conference football standings
ConfOverall
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

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 finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Montana State 120 (10)
2 UC Davis 96 (1)
3 Sacramento State 94 (1)
4 Weber State 91
5 Idaho 89
6 Montana 84
7 Eastern Washington 52
8 Portland State 45
9 Northern Arizona 44
10 Northern Colorado 37
11 Cal Poly 25
12 Idaho State 15
Media poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Montana State 447 (26)
2 Idaho 410 (8)
3 Montana 359 (2)
4 Sacramento State 334 (3)
5 UC Davis 330
6 Weber State 320
7 Eastern Washington 216
8 Northern Arizona 178
9 Portland State 167
10 Northern Colorado 109
11 Cal Poly 103
12 Idaho State 69

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. 3
ESPN+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 StateNo. 3
ESPN+W 40–010,905
September 302:00 p.m.Portland StateNo. 3
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 38–2222,017
October 146:00 p.m.Cal PolyNo. 2
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 59–1921,997
October 218:30 p.m.at No. 3 Sacramento StateNo. 2
ESPN2W 42–3016,122
October 282:00 p.m.at No. 9 IdahoNo. 2
ESPN+L 21–2413,073
November 41:00 p.m.Northern ArizonaNo. 6
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 45–2121,297
November 111:00 p.m.Eastern WashingtonNo. 5
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 57–1420,897
November 1812:00 p.m.at No. 3 MontanaNo. 4
ESPN+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
See also: 2023 Utah Tech Trailblazers football team

at No. 1 South Dakota State
See also: 2023 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team

vs Stetson
See also: 2023 Stetson Hatters football team

at No. 10 Weber State
See also: 2023 Weber State Wildcats football team

vs Portland State
See also: 2023 Portland State Vikings football team

vs Cal Poly
See also: 2023 Cal Poly Mustangs football team

at No. 3 Sacramento State
See also: 2023 Sacramento State Hornets football team
No. 2 Montana State Bobcats (5–1) at No. 3 Sacramento State Hornets (5–1) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 2 Bobcats 0 14 72142
No. 3 Hornets 7 0 101330

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 StatePassingTommy Mellott9/14, 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
See also: 2023 Idaho Vandals football team
No. 2 Montana State Bobcats (6–1) vs No. 9 Idaho Vandals (5–2) – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 2 Bobcats 0 0 14721
No. 9 Vandals 3 7 01424

at Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID

  • Date: October 28, 2023
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game attendance: 13,073
  • TV: ESPN+

vs Northern Arizona
See also: 2023 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team

vs Eastern Washington
See also: 2023 Eastern Washington Eagles football team

at Montana
See also: 2023 Montana Grizzlies football team and Montana–Montana State football rivalry

Ranking movements
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre123456789101112Final
STATS FCS3333322226545
Coaches3333322228548

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.
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