University of Montana vs. Montana State University: A Comprehensive Comparison

For prospective college students considering higher education in Montana, the choice often comes down to two prominent institutions: the University of Montana (UM) and Montana State University (MSU). Both universities offer quality education and are situated in locations with access to amazing places. The rivalry between the University of Montana and Montana State University runs deep and has been around for generations.

This article delves into a detailed comparison of these universities, covering academic focus, campus life, athletics, and other essential aspects to aid students in making an informed decision.

Academic Distinctions

The University of Montana (UM) and Montana State University (MSU) are both excellent higher education institutions, but they do have some differences that set them apart from one another.

Montana State University (MSU) is known for its strong science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs, especially in engineering and agriculture. They are also recognized for their architecture and film programs. MSU is classified as an R2 research institution, meaning it has higher research activity. This may affect the kind, scope, and funding of research projects available to undergraduate students at each university.

On the other hand, UM is recognized for its liberal arts programs, such as English, education, journalism, creative writing, and social sciences. UM is considered an R3 research institution, indicating a moderate research activity.

Campus Life and Environment

The two campuses have distinct vibes. MSU, situated in Bozeman, has a more outdoorsy atmosphere with easy access to outdoor recreational activities like skiing, hiking, and fishing. The town has a mix of a small-town feel and a vibrant, growing community that supports local businesses, arts, and culture.

UM, located in Missoula, has a slightly larger population and is also surrounded by nature, with opportunities for outdoor activities. However, it has been described as having more of an urban and eclectic atmosphere, with a focus on arts, culture, and live music events.

MSU has a slightly larger undergraduate population compared to UM, which might impact class size, campus resources, and social interactions. The diversity of the student body is comparable at both universities, but the availability of clubs, organizations, and cultural events might differ as a result of the campus atmosphere and surrounding community.

Athletics and School Spirit

Both institutions participate in NCAA Division I sports; MSU is part of the Big Sky Conference and has a stronger football team, while UM is part of the Mountain West Conference and is known for basketball. School spirit and sports culture differ between the institutions, with MSU leaning more towards football and UM having a more diverse athletic scene.

Rankings and Recognition

News & World Report they have announced the rankings of "The 2025 Best Colleges". The best "National University" is Princeton University in New Jersey. The best "National Liberal Arts College" is Williams College in Massachusetts.

Montana's two universities are on the list. Coming in at number 296 in National Universities and 161 in top Public Schools is Montana State University. The University of Montana comes in at 377 in National Universities and 200 in top Public Schools. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Montana State University is ranked No. #318 in National Universities. It's also ranked No. #170 in Top Public Schools.

Enrollment Trends

This year the University of Montana has seen one of its biggest enrollment jumps in over a decade. UM Enrollment Boasts Its Largest Leap in the Last 15 Years.

Tuition and Financials: Montana State University

Montana State University is a public institution that was founded in 1893. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 14,872 (fall 2023), and the campus size is 956 acres. The student-faculty ratio at Montana State University is 18:1. Montana State University has a test-optional admissions policy. The school's in-state tuition and fees are $8,083; out-of-state tuition and fees are $31,337. The average net price for federal loan recipients is $19,600. The four-year graduation rate is 36%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $44,757.

The Brawl of the Wild: A Storied Rivalry

An open secret for Montana residents, the University of Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State Bobcats have one of the most intense and exciting rivalries in college football. If you ever have the chance to attend a Brawl of the Wild game, you should definitely take it. You will witness one of college football's most intense and exciting rivalries. The rivalry between the University of Montana and Montana State University is among the oldest in college football, dating back to 1897. Known as the “Brawl of the Wild,” this annual matchup ignites school pride and unites fans across the state. The intensity of the competition has only grown stronger over the decades, making it one of the most anticipated events in Montana sports.

The Montana-Montana State football rivalry is an annual college football rivalry game between the University of Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State University Bobcats. The game is most historically and commonly known as the Cat-Griz game, and sometimes as the Griz-Cat game. The rivalry began in 1897, making it the 31st-oldest in NCAA Division I and the eleventh-oldest west of the Mississippi River. It is also the fourth-oldest Football Championship Subdivision rivalry. As of 2024, the game has been played 123 times.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Early Years and Conference Affiliations (1897-1962)

The series has three distinct periods. From 1897 to 1916, Montana State did not belong to a conference, while Montana was in the Northwest Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In addition to Montana, the Northwest Conference included Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, Idaho, and Whitman College. At times, the two teams would play twice per year. Early seasons had seven games or less, and one season the teams played just one game. Four of the five ties in the series came during this era.

Montana State joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) in 1917, and Montana joined the Pacific Coast Conference (today's Pac-12 Conference) in 1924. The RMAC included several teams that later became Mountain West Conference members. When MSU joined the RMAC, it included Colorado, Colorado State, Utah, Utah State, and Brigham Young. When UM joined the PCC, it included Stanford, California, UCLA, USC, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, and Idaho.

The Bobcats were a member of the RMAC, which moved into the NAIA, in 1938 and remained a member through 1956. The Grizzlies were a member of the PCC through the 1949 season before joining the Skyline (a.k.a., Mountain States) Conference, which included Colorado, Utah State, Denver, Utah, Colorado State, Brigham Young, New Mexico and Wyoming from 1951 to 1961. MSU was independent from 1957 to 1962 and UM was independent in 1950 and 1962. Both schools entered the Big Sky Conference as charter members in 1963, with Montana then holding a 43-16-5 (.711) series lead. Prior to that, UM was in conferences with what are now FBS and Power 5 conference schools, while MSU was either not in a conference or in a NAIA conference, for 49 of the 59 games played. UM holds a 37-7-5 (.806) advantage in those games.

Montana State's Rise in the Big Sky (1963-1985)

In the first 23 years of the Big Sky Conference, Montana State enjoyed its most successful run in the Cat-Griz rivalry with a 17-6-0 (.739) record and two national titles, in Division II (1976) and Division I‑AA (1984).

"The Streak" and the Great Divide Trophy (1986-2000)

A new period began in 1986, often known in Montana as "The Streak," in which the Grizzlies won sixteen straight in the series; a few games were close, but most gave a strong indication that the programs were going in very different directions. The Great Divide Trophy was created in 2001 by Dave Samuelson, and was made possible by numerous donations. The winner of each game possesses the trophy for one year.

Memorable Games and Moments

Over the years, the Montana vs. Montana State rivalry has produced many memorable moments. One of the most iconic came in 1986 when Montana State won the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship. The Grizzlies have had their share of national success, too, with championships in 1995 and 2001. The rivalry isn’t just about bragging rights; it has influenced the legacies of both programs. The winner of the Brawl of the Wild takes home the Great Divide Trophy, a symbol of the fierce competition between the two schools. Introduced in 2001, the trophy has since become a coveted prize, representing the yearlong bragging rights at stake. Bringing the trophy back to their school is a point of pride for players and coaches.

1968: A Monumental Comeback. In 1968, quarterback Dennis Erickson, flanker Ron Bain, and running back Paul Schafer lead a monumental comeback as the Bobcats clinched a tie for the Big Sky championship-their third straight. Trailing 24-9 in the fourth quarter, Montana State scored twenty points in the last nine minutes and won 29-24 when Schafer, who had 58 carries for 234 yards in the game, dove into the end zone with twelve seconds left. In all, 34 points were scored in the final quarter. Bain's brother, Doug of the Grizzlies, gave Montana a 17-9 lead early in the quarter on a pass from Ray Brum. After another UM touchdown made the score 24-9 with just over 10 minutes to go, it looked as if the Grizzlies would win going away, but the Bobcats rallied. After Schafer's touchdown, the Grizzlies nearly spoiled things for MSU. UM took over at the 20. Speedy receiver Ron Baines gained 15 yards, on top of which another 15 were tacked on for an unnecessary roughness penalty.

Last-Second Heartbreak (and Redemption). In another exciting finish in the series, Montana State fought back from a 21-7 halftime deficit only to lose 27-25 on an improbable last-second field goal by Kris Heppner. Just as the first half ended, MSU was whistled for having too many men on the field, which gave Montana one extra play. The Grizzlies made the Bobcats pay for this mistake by scoring a touchdown on a long TD pass by Brian Ah Yat to end the half. Behind the passing of Rob Compson MSU methodically worked its way back into the game and took a 25-24 lead on a three-yard run by Eric Kinnamon with 22 seconds to play in Bobcat Stadium. Thanks to a kickoff that sailed out of bounds, Montana got the ball on its own 35-yard line with no time expended from the clock. After an incomplete pass, UM quarterback Brian Ah Yat found receiver Justin Olsen for a completion of 46 yards to the MSU 19 with eight seconds to play. Ah Yat recovered his own muffed snap on the next play. The Bobcats also misfired on special teams all game.

The Losing Streak Ends. Montana State would get its heart broken again a year later. Leading in this game 21-20, and ahead for most of the second half, the Bobcats fell when Dallas Neil took a pass from Brian Ah Yat and tightroped the sideline for an 18-yard touchdown with just over five minutes to play. The Bobcats would finally put an end to their losing streak against the Griz at 16 games when true freshman quarterback Travis Lulay led them to a 10-7 win in Missoula on a snowy, windy day. The Bobcats held UM quarterback John Edwards to just 8-for-32 and 106 yards passing on the day. Edwards completed just one pass in the first half.

Playoff Implications. The Grizzlies needed a win in their final regular season game to continue its string of 12 straight conference championships and 17 straight playoff appearances. The Bobcats needed a win to clinch the conference title and a seed in the playoffs. UM advanced the ball inside the MSU 10-yard line twice in the second half, but the Bobcats forced fumbles on both possessions, including one by star running back Chase Reynolds. UM drove to the MSU 14 for a first and 10 with under two minutes to play, but MSU defensive end Dustin O'Connell came through for the Bobcats. O'Connell (who had just returned from a severely broken collarbone) and linebacker Jody Owens dropped Reynolds for a one-yard loss on first down. O'Connell then hurried UM quarterback Justin Roper into throwing an incomplete pass on second down, and batted down a pass intended for a wide-open Kavario Middleton on third down. Roper threw the ball out of bounds on fourth down.

Montana State Ranked No. 1. Montana State entered the 111th clash as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation for the first time since 1985. A safety by UM cornerback Trumaine Johnson helped set up a short TD pass on a fourth-down pass late in the first half to give UM a 12-0 lead. After Montana State scored quickly to start the second half, the Grizzlies answered on the next play with a 79-yard bomb from Jordan Johnson to Jabin Sambrano. UM cruised from there. Montana finished the game with 309 yards rushing.

NCAA Penalties. Coach Pflugrad led Montana to a Big Sky Conference title and a national semifinal appearance in 2011, but the Brawl of the Wild win, the title and semifinal appearance were vacated by the NCAA on July 26, 2013 due to infractions involving booster benefits to players, including bail money and free legal representation. Montana hadn't had a losing season since 1986, the year it moved into Washington-Grizzly Stadium, but that would all change as the Bobcats won 16-7 to take their second straight win and third in six tries in what is arguably the toughest road venue in the FCS. The loss left the Grizzlies with a 5-6 overall mark and a 3-5 conference mark.

Record-Breaking Performance. Montana State, which came into the game with a 3-7 record, went into Missoula and rushed for the most yards (368) by an opponent in Washington-Grizzly Stadium history, as it knocked off Montana, 24-17. The loss eliminated the Grizzlies from the FCS playoffs, by virtue of the Griz's 6-5 season record. The Bobcats found themselves in a 7-0 hole after the first offensive play of the game by UM, as Brady Gustafson hit Justin Calhoun from 58 yards. MSU would allow just one first down the rest of the half, however, and true freshman quarterback Chris Murray scored from eight yards away when he flipped into the end zone on a running play, and again from 48 yards out when he out-raced UM's defenders to give the Bobcats a 14-7 halftime lead. The Grizzlies mounted a comeback with 10 straight points, but surrendered the ball on downs at the MSU 29 with 6:20 to play. The Bobcats, who had gone 3-and-out on their previous two series, were able to drain the clock on the ensuing possession. Murray completed just two passes in the game, but rushed for 142 yards to become the third MSU freshman quarterback to start and win a Cat-Griz game at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

The Greatest Comeback? The greatest comeback in Cat-Griz history occurred in 2018 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula when Montana State rallied from a 22-0 deficit to a 29-25 win when it forced and recovered a fumble after Montana advanced the ball to within one-foot of the goal line with 14 seconds to play. The play was made possible when MSU coach Jeff Choate called a timeout just before the Grizzlies ran a play from the same spot that appeared to give them the go-ahead score. Even though the timeout was not actually taken before the snap. Yet another odd matchup when on-field play did not decide a game. Which makes the claim of “greatest comeback” extremely questionable to say the least. To add to the drama, both teams entered the day with 6-4 records with the winner earning an at-large spot in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Choate called the timeout to get a look at the formation UM was going to set up. The timeout call was met with boos from the large Grizzly crowd who felt the GRIZ had already hiked the ball and a touchdown scored. When the Bobcats re-took the field UM was in the essentially the same formation. Two MSU interior linemen, Tucker Yates and Chase Benson knocked the interior linemen for UM on their heels and middle linebacker Grant Collins dove into UM running back Adam Eastwood. UM scored on its first drive and the Grizzly' defense held MSU to just 50 yards until late in the second quarter, while tacking on two more scores behind the strong passing of quarterback Dalton Sneed to take a 22-0 lead. The Bobcats couldn't do much with the momentum, however, and the two teams trade punts for most of the third quarter before the Bobcats drove inside the Grizzly 10 as the fourth quarter started. MSU quarterback Troy Andersen, who scored the Bobcats' first touchdown, scored again and also ran in a two-point conversion to cap off an 88-yard drive and whittle the lead down to 22-15. After a UM field goal made it 25-15, the Bobcats marched 75 yards and once again got a TD run by Andersen to draw within three points at 25-22. On UM's next possession Collins forced and recovered a Sneed fumble to set up the Bobcats in Montana territory. The Grizzlies would take the kickoff back to the 50-yard line and then worked the ball inside the one-yard line before MSU thwarted them. The win also earned the Bobcats a berth in the FCS playoffs and marked the third straight win in the rivalry. The win matched the 1968 game for biggest fourth quarter comebacks as MSU trailed by 15 points in both games. Sneed finished with 354 yards passing and two touchdown passes in the loss. Two UM receivers Samuel Akem (147) and Keenan Curran (111) had over 100 yards receiving.

ESPN's College GameDay Comes to Bozeman. The 2022 version attracted ESPN's College GameDay to Bozeman. Pre-game festivities attracted fans from around the state representing both schools onto the Montana State campus and many of them stayed up all night to have a spot near the stage. Corso turned out to be correct. After an early 7-7 tie, the Bobcats rattled off 48 unanswered points against Montana, which came into the game with the No. 13 ranking in the nation to MSU's No. 3 ranking. The Bobcats finished with a 55-21 win on the heels of a 439-yard team rushing effort. MSU didn't attempt a pass against the Grizzlies until the second quarter after running the ball on its first 17 plays.

2023: Top 5 Matchup. The 2023 version in Missoula had major implications. For the first time in the history of the Brawl of the Wild, both teams entered the game ranked in the top 5 of the FCS Stats poll.

Game Day Experience

The passion surrounding the Montana vs. Montana State football rivalry is unmatched. When the Grizzlies and Bobcats clash, the stadium fills with a sea of maroon and gold (Montana) and blue and gold (Montana State). Fans come from all over to cheer for their teams. The game isn’t just about football; it showcases loyalty and pride for the two schools. For many families in Montana, the rivalry is a tradition passed down from generation to generation.

Game day is a special experience, with stadiums packed and tailgates bustling with activity. The energy is palpable as fans gather early, enjoying food, games, and camaraderie before kickoff. The Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman and Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula each provide unique settings that heighten the game-day thrill.

Tailgating Traditions

Tailgating is an essential part of the rivalry experience. Both Montana and Montana State fans are known for their creative setups, from elaborate barbecue spreads to RVs decked out in school colors. It’s a time to connect, share stories, and get excited for the game. The sense of camaraderie extends beyond just fans of the same team.

Economic and Community Impact

The rivalry substantially impacts local communities, bringing economic benefits and increasing visibility for the schools. Hotels fill up, restaurants see a surge in business, and local vendors enjoy a boost in sales as fans flock to the area. The rivalry's positive atmosphere and economic activity make it a momentous annual tradition for Missoula and Bozeman.

The Journey and Alumni Support

The University of Montana in Missoula and Montana State University in Bozeman are about 200 miles apart, a three-hour drive many fans make to attend the annual game. The journey is a rite of passage for die-hard supporters, adding to the sense of adventure and commitment. Traveling to the game enhances the excitement, with caravans of fans hitting the road.

Alumni play a significant role in keeping the rivalry alive. Graduates from both schools remain passionate supporters, often traveling long distances to attend the game or hosting viewing parties with fellow alums. The rivalry is a way to stay connected to their alma mater and relive the excitement of college life.

Recent Game: Bobcats Reclaim the Trophy (2023)

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- - Adam Jones ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns and Montana State ran over Montana 34-11 on Saturday to reclaim the Brawl of the Wild trophy. The Bobcats (12-0, 8-0 Big Sky Conference) wrapped up the 123rd meeting in this rivalry with 420 yards, 326 on the ground. Montana State capped its first unbeaten season and can match the school record for consecutive wins with a playoff win in two weeks. The Bobcats, ranked second in the FCS coaches poll, should be the top seed in the playoffs after top-ranked North Dakota State lost its finale to fifth-ranked South Dakota. Montana (8-4, 5-3), ranked 10th, is expected to add to its record 27 FCS playoff appearances but will not have a first-round bye in the 24-team bracket. Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott was 6-of-12 passing for 94 yards with a touchdown in poor conditions and added 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He has helped the Bobcats score at least 30 points in every game this season Mellott had a 5-yard touchdown run on MSU's first possession and Mellott found Jones for a 35-yard touchdown early in the second quarter for a 14-3 lead. Myles Sansted had two field goals in the final two minutes, including a 49-yarder as time expired for a 20-3 halftime lead. Jones dominated the second half and scored two short touchdowns. Eli Gillman scored on a 1-yard run for Montana's touchdown between the Jones' touchdowns. The Grizzlies had just 234 yards and went 2 of 12 on third down.

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