Big Sky Breakdown

Skyline Sports analyst Andrew Schmidt, who played for Bobby Hauck from 2004 until 2008, joins Colter Nuanez to break down Hauck's announcement that he is retiring as the head coach at Montana.

Longtime Montana head football coach Bobby Hauck and UM athletic director Kent Haslam addressed the media following Hauck's abrupt retirement on Wednesday February 4, 2026.

In this week's Akem's Analysis, the main topic is the discussion of how important Justin Lamson was to the success of the Montana State offense in the 2025 season. That, along with some other really good topics. Like and comment your thoughts down below! SUBSCRIBE BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!! 0:00 - Intro2:12 - Is Justin Lamson A Game Manager? 20:23 - FCS Teams With Momentum Into 202633:26 - FCS Players At The 2026 NFL Combine39:42 - Changes Coming To The CFB Targeting Rules? 46:38 - Top FCS Games of 202554:56 - Final Thoughts56:25 - EndFollow My Socials: Twitter/X:https://x.com/s_akem18?s=21INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/s_akem18?igsh=NWp2Njdta216OTZq&utm_source=qrTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samuelakem18?_t=8kcXTSonq6E&_r=1

Samuel Akem joins Colter Nuanez to talk national championship game reactions, NCAA transfer portal strategies and the near future for Montana and Montana State.

In this week's Akem's Analysis, I talk about the best team in each FCS conference ahead of the 2026 season. I also talk about high school recruitment vs. the transfer portal as it pertains to college recruiting. I looked at the numbers for the last 11 FCS national champions and discussed where real contenders sit in those numbers. All of this and more in this week's Akem's Analysis. Stay tuned for the entire episode.0:00 - Intro3:26 - High School Recruitment vs Transfer Portal15:33 - My Top Returning FCS Team In Each Conference25:29 - What Numbers Do Real Contenders Have?40:04 - NCAA Approves Commercial Jersey Patches43:35 - 2025 Transfer Portal Success Stories 54:50 - Final Thoughts55:29 - End

Andrew Schmidt joins Colter Nuanez to talk Griz football, the transfer portal extravaganza and the University of Montana in search of a new president - how will it impact athletics?

In this week's Akem's Analysis, I look at the best teams heading into the 2026 season. I also grade Montana's 2026 transfer portal class so far. The transfer portal is now closed, and where have players ended up? All of that and more in this week's episode.0:00 - Intro3:21 - Way Too Early Contenders For 20269:27 - Grading Montana's 2026 Transfer Portal Class19:24 - Where Are Big Sky Players Going In The Transfer Portal?27:26 - What Are The Transfer Portal Numbers After Closing?35:05 - Top FCS Players Returning For 202642:51 - CFB Heading Towards 5 Years of Eligibility46:52 - Sac State's '26 Schedule Coming Together51:02 - Hot Coaching Candidates Heading Into 202655:04 - Final Thoughts56:43 - End

Montana State head coach Matt Logie, junior guard Jeremiah Davis and senior guard Davian Brown addressed the media following MSU's first win over Montana in Bozeman in Logie's three seasons at the helm.

Montana head coach Travis DeCuire addressed the media following his team's 76-67 loss to Montana State in Bozeman on Saturday afternoon.

Montana first-year head coach Nate Harris addressed the media following his team's 82-44 loss to Montana State in Bozeman on Saturday afternoon.

Montana State sophomore Taylee Chirrick, freshman Jamison Phillip and head coach Tricia Binford address the media following MSU's 82-44 win over the Lady Griz of Montana.

Montana State senior Jed Miller talks about his breakout final season and his last home rivalry against the Montana Grizzlies.

Montana State women's basketball play by play radio man Daniel Salle joins Colter Nuanez on Nuanez Now to preview Saturday's rivalry game for MSU against Montana.

Montana head coach Travis DeCuire addressed the media ahead of the rivalry game. He is 16-5 against the Bobcats in his career at his alma mater.

Montana is the defending Big Sky Conference champions in men's basketball. The Griz are off to a 3-1 start in league. UM had a lull in the non-conference before starting league play with three straight wins. Saturday, the Griz play in Bozeman against Montana State. Montana guard Brooklyn Hicks and forward Connor Dick addressed media ahead of the rivalry game. UM head coach Travis DeCuire is 16-5 against the rival in his 12 seasons.

Former Montana State player & coach Michael Rider joins Colter Nuanez to discuss the generations of effort that went into MSU winning its first national championship in 41 years.

Former Montana State player JP Flynn joins Colter Nuanez to break down his experience of watching his alma mater win their first national title in 41 years.

Montana State sophomore star women's basketball player Taylee Chirrick joins Nuanez Now to talk about the upcoming rivalry game against the Lady Griz of Montana in Bozeman.

Montana Lady Griz basketball looks for its first Big Sky Conference win against first-place Montana State on Saturday in Bozeman. Sophomore Avery Waddington talks about UM's 0-4 start in Big Sky play and the outlook for Saturday's game against the defending Big Sky champions. Montana head coach Nate Harris led UM to the Big Sky Tournament championship game as an interim last season. He's 3-11 so far as the head coach this season.

Montana State third-year head coach Matt Logie joins Nuanez Now on ESPN MT with Colter Nuanez to preview Saturday's Cat-Griz men's basketball game in Bozeman. Montana swept Montana State last season after the Bobcats took two out of three from UM in season 1.

KPAX Television's Kyle Hansen was on the sidelines all season for the Griz and then in Nashville covering Montana State for Scripps Sports. Hansen joined Colter Nuanez to recap Nashville, what MSU's national title means to the state of MT, what's next for UM & MSU.

Skyline Sports analyst Ty Gregorak joins Colter Nuanez to talk about the never-ending transfer portal merry-go round and Montana State's ability to endure it even after a national championship.

Skyline Sports' Tootell & Nuanez discuss Montana State's historic national game. They analyze the game's dramatic twists and turns, debating key plays and coaching decisions. The conversation also explores the game's broader impact on Montana's football landscape.

Skyline Sports' Nuanez Brothers dissect Montana State's thrilling national championship game. The duo analyzes key plays, coaching decisions, and player performances. They discuss the game's emotional impact on the state and the team's future.

"In this week's Akem's Analysis, I take a look back on the 2025 season and talk about where everything stands in the Big Sky. We also look into the coaching moves that took place in the Big Sky conference and which schools knocked their hires out of the park. Lastly, we take a look at the Transfer Portal and who in the Big Sky is on the move.0:00 - Intro 2:42 - 2025 Big Sky Season Recap 23:21 - Big Sky Coaching Changes in 2025 34:37 - Transfer Portal Movement In The Big Sky 47:04 - Big Time FCS Draft Eligible Players in 2026 56:36 Final Thoughts 58:39 - End

In this week's Akem's Analysis, I recap all of the ups and downs of the 2026 FCS National Championship game, which may go down in history as one of the best ever. Like and comment your thoughts down below! SUBSCRIBE BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!! SPORTS BET MONTANA LINK: https://sportsbetmontana.com/en

Montana State won its first national championship in 41 years by outlasting Illinois State 35-34 in overtime in Nashville, Tennessee on January 5. Justin Lamson hit Taco Dowler on a 4th down for a touchdown and Myles Sansted banged home the game-winning kick to lift the Bobcats to their 14th straight win. MSU head coach Brent Vigen, Lamson and Dowler addressed the media after the historic victory.

Following a 35-34 overtime loss to No. 2 Montana State in the FCS national title game, Illinois State head coach Brock Spack, senior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse and junior linebacker Tye Niekamp addressed the media.

Ryan Tootell joins Colter Nuanez to talk about why college football remains so popular despite the dysfunction and how Montana State has been so steadily excellent despite the unrest.

Illinois State defensive coordinator Travis Niekamp and strength and conditioning coach Matt Nicholson, each formerly coaches at the University of Montana, analyze playing Montana State in the FCS title game.

Colter Nuanez catches up with standouts from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s on their perspective on the rise of Montana State over the last 50 years. MSU will try to end a 41-year national title drought on Monday.3:25 - Paul Dennehy, quarterback of 1976 national title team 12:23 - Kelly Davis, WR on 1984 national title team 30:16 - Chad Mayer, Bobcat TE from 1992-1996 55:26 - Brent Swagger, All-American offensive tackle 2000-2003

Brandon Vancleeve, a former Montana State player and now the president of of the Bobcat Collective, talks about NIL, MSU's rise to the ranks of the nationally elite and how the collective has played a role.

Kris Atteberry, a Bozeman native and former Voice of Montana State, joins Colter Nuanez to share memories and analyze what gives MSU a chance to win its first national title since 1984, when Atteberry was a 12-year-old growing up in Bozeman.

Leo Davis, a former Bobcat football player and now the color commentator on the Bobcat Radio Network, joins Colter Nuanez to talk about MSU's two straight rivalry wins and three playoff wins to punch another ticket in the national title game.

Analyst Ty Gregorak joins Colter Nuanez to talk about NIL, the transfer portal, the lack of regulation + thoughts on Montana State's pursuit of a national championship for the first time since 1984.

Former Montana State coach and player Michael Rider joins Colter Nuanez to break down the dynamics that have gone into Montana State reaching its third national championship game in five seasons.

Samuel Akem and Colter Nuanez join forces to talk about current transfer portal action, comings and goings for the Griz, what Illinois State brings to the table for the FCS title game and what makes this the greatest era of Bobcat football ever for Montana State.

In this week's Akem's Analysis, I preview the upcoming FCS National Championship game. Montana State and Illinois State will face off for the FCS crown on Monday, January 5th, in Nashville, Tennessee. Stay tuned for the whole episode. Like and comment your thoughts down below! SUBSCRIBE BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!! SPORTS BET MONTANA LINK: https://sportsbetmontana.com/en0:00 - Intro2:21 - Montana State/Illinois State Preview29:42 - 5 Biggest Matchups in The FCS Championship41:42 - Final Thoughts43:03 - End

Montana State sophomore captain running back joined Colter Nuanez on Nuanez Now to preview the FCS national title game between MSU and Illinois State.

Skyline Sports senior photographer Blake Hempstead gives his impressions of Montana State as the crew makes their way to the national championship game for the fifth time since 2019.

Tom Stuber, a veteran sportswriter who covers Montana State for Skyline Sports, helps break down MSU's semifinal win over rival Montana in the FCS Playoffs and previews the Bobcats' national title game tilt against Illinois State.

Former Montana State All-American JP Flynn joins Colter Nuanez for a breakdown of MSU's 48-23 win over Montana to advance to the FCS title game for the third time in five years. The Bobcats will play No. 17 Illinois State on Monday January 5 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Montana State senior defensive tackle Paul Brott (left) and senior center JT Reed addressed the media a week ahead of MSU's FCS national title game against Illinois State. The Bobcats have advanced to three of the last five title games, losing to North Dakota State in its previous two trips. Illinois State beat NDSU in the second round of this year's playoffs.

Montana State fifth-year head coach Brent Vigen has led MSU to the FCS national title game in consecutive seasons and in three of the last five years overall. The Bobcats take on No. 17 Illinois State, the first team in FCS playoff history to win four straight road games. The contest takes place in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday January 5.

Illinois State head coach Brock Spack broke down his team's four consecutive road wins in the FCS Playoffs to reach the national title game for the first time since 2014 and the second time under Spack's leadership.

In this week's Akem's Analysis, I give my thoughts about the FCS Semifinals. A lot happened, and there is a lot to discuss. So stay tuned in for the whole episode.SPORTS BET MONTANA LINK: https://sportsbetmontana.com/en

In this Akem's Analysis, Keenan and I discuss the Brawl of the Wild 2.0 and the repercussions of the game, and look ahead for the Grizzlies. Stay tuned for the entire episode. SPORTS BET MONTANA LINK: https://sportsbetmontana.com/en

Brooks Nuanez joins Colter Nuanez to talk all things "Super Brawl", what the result meant for Montana and Montana State and the factors that have helped Montana State reach a third national championship game in the last five seasons. The Bobcats play Illinois State in Nashville on January 5.

Former Montana State player and coach Michael Rider joins Colter Nuanez to break down what has MSU ahead in the Bobcat-Griz rivalry and what helped propel MSU to a 48-23 win over Montana in Bozeman on Saturday afternoon.

Former Montana running back and NFL agent Andrew Schmidt joins Colter Nuanez for a post mortem of the Griz football season following UM's 48-23 loss to Montana State in Bozeman.