2024 Montana State Bobcats football team

2024 Montana State Bobcats football
2024 Montana State Bobcats football
Big Sky champion
Conference	Big Sky Conference
Ranking
STATS	No. 2
FCS Coaches	No. 2
Record	11–0 (7–0 Big Sky)
Head coach	Brent Vigen (4th season);
Offensive coordinator	Tyler Walker (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Pro spread
Defensive coordinator	Bobby Daly (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Shawn Howe (1st season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Bobcat Stadium
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Big Sky Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 2 Montana State $^	7	–	0	11	–	0
No. 5 UC Davis	6	–	1	9	–	2
No. 7 Idaho	5	–	2	8	–	3
No. 9 Montana	5	–	2	8	–	3
No. 21 Northern Arizona	5	–	2	7	–	4
Eastern Washington	3	–	4	4	–	7
Idaho State	3	–	4	5	–	6
Weber State	2	–	5	3	–	8
Cal Poly	2	–	5	3	–	7
Portland State	2	–	5	2	–	8
Sacramento State	1	–	6	3	–	8
Northern Colorado	1	–	6	1	–	10

As of November 22, 2024 Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2024 Montana State Bobcats football team represents Montana State University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bobcats are led by fourth-year head coach Brent Vigen and play home games at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana.

Preseason

Polls

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 24	2:00 p.m.	at New Mexico*	No. 4	University Stadium Albuquerque, NM	FS1	W 35–31	17,314
August 31	8:00 p.m.	at Utah Tech*	No. 4	Greater Zion Stadium St. George, UT	ESPN+	W 31–7	5,074
September 7	6:00 p.m.	Maine*	No. 3	Bobcat Stadium Bozeman, MT	ESPN+	W 41–24	21,887
September 21	1:00 p.m.	Mercyhurst*	No. 3	Bobcat Stadium Bozeman, MT	ESPN+	W 52–13	21,547
September 28	4:00 p.m.	at Idaho State	No. 3	ICCU Dome Pocatello, ID	ESPN+	W 37–17	N/A
October 5	2:00 p.m.	Northern Colorado	No. 3	Bobcat Stadium Bozeman, MT	ESPN+	W 55–14	22,007
October 12	8:15 p.m.	No. 7 Idaho	No. 3	Bobcat Stadium Bozeman, MT	ESPN2	W 38–7	21,907
October 19	2:00 p.m.	at Portland State	No. 3	Hillsboro Stadium Portland, OR	ESPN+	W 44–14	3,121
November 2	2:00 p.m.	at Eastern Washington	No. 2	Roos Field Cheney, WA	ESPN+	W 42–28	6,258
November 9	1:00 p.m.	Sacramento State	No. 2	Bobcat Stadium Bozeman, MT	ESPN+	W 49–7	21,987
November 16	6:00 p.m.	at No. 4 UC Davis	No. 2	UC Davis Health Stadium Davis, CA	ESPN+	W 30–28	13,947
November 23	12:00 p.m.	No. 9 Montana	No. 2	Bobcat Stadium Bozeman, MT (Brawl of the Wild)	ESPN+
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Mountain time

^[1]

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Final
STATS FCS	4 (1)	3 (8)	3 (6)	3 (7)	3 (6)	3 (8)	3 (6)	3 (10)	2 (16)	2 (13)	2 (13)	2 (14)	2 (15)
Coaches	4	3 (4)	3 (2)	3 (3)	3 (2)	3 (1)	3 (2)	3 (3)	2 (2)	2 (2)	2 (2)	2 (2)	2 (3)

Game summaries

at New Mexico (FBS)

Game One – No. 4 Montana State Bobcats (0-0) at New Mexico Lobos (FBS) (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 4 Bobcats	0	14	0	21	35
Lobos (FBS)	10	14	7	0	31

at University Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Date: Saturday August 24, 2024
Game time: 2:00 p.m. MDT
Game weather: Sunny, 90 °F (32 °C)
Game attendance: 17,314
Referee: Jonathan Noli
TV announcers (FS1): Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst), and Josh Sims (sideline)
Box score

Game information

First quarter

(10:37) UNM – Christian Ellis 41-yard fumble return (Luke Drzewiecki kick) (New Mexico 7–0)
(4:49) UNM – Luke Drzewiecki 45-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 3:13; New Mexico 10–0)

Second quarter

(13:45) UNM – Trace Bruckler 12-yard pass from Devon Dampier (Luke Drzewiecki kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:23; New Mexico 17–0)
(10:36) MTST – Rylan Schlepp 5-yard pass from Tommy Mellott (Myles Sansted kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:09; New Mexico 17–7)
(4:37) MTST – Ty McCullouch 17-yard pass from Tommy Mellott (Myles Sansted kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 4:43; New Mexico 17–14)
(1:33) UNM – Devon Dampier 24-yard run (Luke Drzewiecki kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:04; New Mexico 24–14)

Third quarter

(13:03) UNM – Noah Avinger 13-yard fumble return (Luke Drzewiecki kick) (New Mexico 31–14)

Fourth quarter

(1:33) MTST – Tommy Mellott 15-yard run (Myles Sansted kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:30; New Mexico 31–21)
(1:33) MTST – Adam Jones 93-yard run (Myles Sansted kick) (Drive: 1 play, 93 yards, 0:37; New Mexico 31–28)
(1:33) MTST – Scottre Humphrey 4-yard run (Myles Sansted kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 89 yards, 1:49; Montana State 35–31)

Statistics	MTST	UNM
First downs	27	19
Total yards	567	324
Rushing yards	47–362	28–152
Passing yards	205	172
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	21–32–0	18–26–0
Time of possession	34:40	25:20

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Montana State	Passing	Tommy Mellott	21/32, 205 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Adam Jones	17 carries, 167 yards, TD
	Receiving	Ty McCullouch	7 receptions, 66 yards, TD
New Mexico	Passing	Devon Dampier	18/26, 172 yards, TD
	Rushing	Eli Sanders	17 carries, 87 yards
	Receiving	Luke Wysong	6 receptions, 95 yards

Entering the game, the Bobcats were double-digit favorites to win the game. It was the first time since 2013 that an FCS team was a double-digit favorite to win against an FBS opponent.^[2]

at Utah Tech

Game Two – No. 4 Montana State Bobcats (1–0) at Utah Tech Trailblazers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 4 Bobcats	7	7	10	7	31
Trailblazers	0	0	0	7	7

at Greater Zion Stadium • St. George, UT

Date: Saturday August 31, 2024
Game time: 4:00 p.m. MDT
Game weather: Sunny, 93 °F (34 °C)
Game attendance: 5,074
Referee: John Kellermeier
TV announcers (ESPN+): Rod Zundel (play-by-play), Max Christensen III (color commentator)

Game information

First quarter

(2:35) MTST - Adam Jones 17-yard run (Myles Sansted kick) (Montana State 7-0)

Second quarter

(13:13) MTST - Tommy Mellott 47-yard run (Myles Sansted kick) (Montana State 14-0)

Third quarter

(12:24) MTST - Rohan Jones 45-yard pass from Tommy Mellott (Myles Sansted kick) (Montana State 21-0)
(7:45) MTST - Brendan Hall 28-yard field goal (Montana State 24-0)

Fourth quarter

(14:02) MTST - Tommy Mellott 1-yard run (Myles Sansted kick) (Montana State 31-0)
(13:03) UTTU - Deacon Hill 24-yard run (Ilya Uvaydov kick) (Montana State 31-7)

Statistics	MTST	UTU
First downs	25	6
Total yards	481	176
Rushing yards	329	73
Passing yards	152	103
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	14-24-0	12-26-0
Time of possession	44:36	15:24

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Montana State	Passing	Tommy Mellott	14/21, 152 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Scottre Humphrey	20 carries, 107 yards
	Receiving	Rohan Jones	4 receptions, 66 yards, TD
Utah Tech	Passing	Deacon Hill	11/23, 104 yards
	Rushing	Deacon Hill	2 carries, 25 yards, TD
	Receiving	Fisher Jackson	1 reception, 37 yards

vs. Maine

Game Three – Maine Black Bears (1–0) vs No. 3 Montana State Bobcats (2–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Black Bears	0	0	0	0	0
No. 3 Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
Game time: 8:00 PM EST
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	ME	MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Maine	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Montana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Mercyhurst

Game Four – Mercyhurst Lakers (1–2) vs No. 3 Montana State Bobcats (3–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lakers	0	0	0	0	0
No. 3 Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
Game time: 3:00 PM EST
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MERC	MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mercyhurst	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Montana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Idaho State

Game Five – No. 3 Montana State Bobcats (4–0) at Idaho State Bengals (2–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 3 Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0
Bengals	0	0	0	0	0

at ICCU Dome • Pocatello, ID

Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
Game time: 4:00 PM MST
Game weather: None (Indoor stadium)
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MTST	IDST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Montana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Idaho State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Northern Colorado

Game Six – Northern Colorado Bears (0–5) vs No. 3 Montana State Bobcats (5–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	0	0	0	0
No. 3 Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
Game time: 2:00 PM MST
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	UNCO	MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northern Colorado	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Montana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. No. 7 Idaho

Game Seven – No. 7 Idaho Vandals (4–2) vs No. 3 Montana State Bobcats (6–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 7 Vandals	0	0	0	0	0
No. 3 Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
Game time: 8:15 PM MST
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN2): Jay Alter (play-by-play) and Rocky Boiman (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	IDHO	MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Idaho	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Montana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Portland State

Game Eight – No. 3 Montana State Bobcats (7–0) at Portland State Vikings (1–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 3 Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0
Vikings	0	0	0	0	0

at Hillsboro Stadium • Hillsboro, OR

Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
Game time: 4:00 PM EST
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MTST	PRST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Montana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Portland State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Eastern Washington

Game Nine – No. 2 Montana State Bobcats (8–0) at Eastern Washington Eagles (2–6) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 2 Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0
Eagles	0	0	0	0	0

at Roos Field • Cheney, WA

Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
Game time: 4:00 PM EST
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MTST	EWU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Montana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Eastern Washington	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Sacramento State

Game Ten – Sacramento State Hornets (3–6) vs No. 2 Montana State Bobcats (9–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Hornets	0	0	0	0	0
No. 2 Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
Game time: 3:00 PM EST
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	SAC	MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sacramento State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Montana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 4 UC Davis

Game Eleven – No. 2 Montana State Bobcats (10–0) at No. 4 UC Davis Aggies (9–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 2 Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0
No. 4 Aggies	0	0	0	0	0

at UC Davis Health Stadium • Davis, CA

Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
Game time: 8:00 PM EST
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MTST	UCD
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Montana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UC Davis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. No. 9 Montana (rivalry)

Game Twelve – No. 9 Montana Grizzlies (8–3) vs No. 2 Montana State Bobcats (11–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 9 Grizzlies	0	0	0	0	0
No. 2 Bobcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
Game time: 12:00 PM MST
Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MONT	MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Montana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Montana State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "2024 Football Schedule". Montana State University Athletics. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
^ "New Mexico vs. Montana State odds, line". CBS Sports. August 24, 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2024.

[1] "2024 Football Schedule". Montana State University Athletics. Retrieved March 18, 2024.

[2] "New Mexico vs. Montana State odds, line". CBS Sports. August 24, 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2024.

[1]

[2]

v t e Montana State Bobcats football
Venues	Gatton Field (1930–1971) Van Winkle Stadium (1972) Bobcat Stadium (1973–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Montana
Culture & lore	Spirit of the West Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees
Seasons	1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906–1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Big Sky Conference football champions
College Division / Division II	Idaho State (1963) Montana State (1964) Weber State & Idaho (1965) Montana State (1966) Montana State (1967) Idaho, Montana State, & Weber State (1968) Montana (1969) Montana (1970) Idaho (1971) Montana State (1972) Boise State (1973) Boise State (1974) Boise State (1975) Montana State (1976) Boise State (1977)
I-AA/FCS	Northern Arizona (1978) Montana State (1979) Boise State (1980) Idaho State (1981) Montana, Idaho, & Montana State (1982) Nevada (1983) Montana State (1984) Idaho (1985) Nevada (1986) Idaho (1987) Idaho (1988) Idaho (1989) Nevada (1990) Nevada (1991) Idaho & Eastern Washington (1992) Montana (1993) Boise State (1994) Montana (1995) Montana (1996) Eastern Washington (1997) Montana (1998) Montana (1999) Montana (2000) Montana (2001) Montana, Montana State, & Idaho State (2002) Montana State, Montana, & Northern Arizona (2003) Montana & Eastern Washington (2004) Eastern Washington, Montana State, & Montana (2005) Montana (2006) Montana (2007) Weber State & Montana (2008) Montana (2009) Montana State & Eastern Washington (2010) Montana State & Montana (2011) Eastern Washington, Montana State, & Cal Poly (2012) Eastern Washington (2013) Eastern Washington (2014) Southern Utah (2015) Eastern Washington & North Dakota (2016) Southern Utah & Weber State (2017) Eastern Washington, UC Davis, & Weber State (2018) Sacramento State & Weber State (2019) Weber State (2020) Sacramento State (2021) Montana State & Sacramento State (2022) Montana (2023) Montana State (2024)
National championships in bold