MISSOULA — The Montana and Montana State football teams will each play a marquee nonconference game in the Vegas Kickoff Classic later this decade.
The Bobcats will take on North Dakota State in 2027 and the Grizzlies will square off against South Dakota State in 2029. The games between the Big Sky Conference and Missouri Valley power programs will take place on Labor Day weekend at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders.
"We're thrilled to have Montana, Montana State and Big Sky football showcased on ESPN as part of the Vegas Kickoff Classic," Big Sky Conference commissioner Tom Wistrcill said in a news release. "Labor Day Weekend is one of college football's great traditions, and these games will demonstrate that the FCS can deliver marquee matchups in world-class destinations like Las Vegas, while creating a one-of-a-kind experience for our fans."
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Some combination of these four teams have played in the FCS national championhsip game each year since 2021. NDSU beat MSU in 2021 and 2024, SDSU topped UM in 2023 and the Jackrabbits beat the Bison in 2022.
NDSU has won 10 of the past 14 titles going back to 2011. SDSU won two titles in that stretch while the two other teams to win in that timeframe are no longer in the FCS. The Big Sky's last champ was Eastern Washington in 2010.
"This is another great opportunity to increase exposure for the University of Montana and provide outstanding experiences for our student-athletes," UM athletic director Kent Haslam said in a news release. "Participating in this showcase event is one more example of how Grizzly football is a national brand, and we are excited and honored to be part of a great lineup of football programs competing in Las Vegas in the coming years."
NFL Meetings
Exterior view of the Allegiant Stadium before the Las Vegas Raiders played the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL game Nov. 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. Montana and Montana State will each play a nonference game there later this decade as part of the Vegas Kickoff Classic. John McCoy, Associated Press
The Vegas Kickoff Classic was first held in 2021, when BYU Beat Arizona, 24-16. The second edition took place in 2024 as No. 23 USC beat No. 13 LSU, 27-20, in front of a stadium-record 63,969 fans.
Miami and Utah are also scheduled to face off in 2027. The games featuring UM and MSU are the first scheduled matchups to have FCS teams.
"After the record-breaking success of our season-opening game last year, it is exciting to announce these future matchups featuring brand-new markets for us with famously passionate fanbases," John Saccenti, executive director of the Vegas Kickoff Classic and Las Vegas Bowl, said in a news release. "We look to make this an annual event and we are already working on more matchups to announce."
This is the Cats' first-known nonconference game for the 2027 season. It's the second for the Griz, who have a home game scheduled against Incarnate Word in 2029.
Specific dates and times of the game have yet to be determined. So too do network details, although the games will be televised on ESPN.
"Labor Day, Las Vegas, College Football — it's the perfect trifecta to celebrate the start of the season," ESPN Vice President of Events Clint Overby said in a news release. "Las Vegas continues to attract high-caliber events and ESPN is proud to work with these great programs and our local partners to kick off the upcoming seasons."
Frank Gogola is the Senior Sports Reporter at the Missoulian and 406 MT Sports. Follow him on X @FrankGogola or email him at frank.gogola@406mtsports.com.
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