TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State football continues a three-game road trip this weekend as the Sycamores make their longest journey of the 2025 season heading to Missoula, Mont. to take on #5/5 Montana. Kickoff at Washington-Grizzly Stadium is set for 3 p.m. ET and will be carried live on Scripps Sports, ESPN+, and 105.5 The Legend.
Notes
About the Matchup
Indiana State heads to Missoula, Mont. to take on the Montana Grizzlies for just the second time in their respective program histories. The Sycamores hosted Montana back on September 17, 2022, when Indiana State welcomed the Grizzlies over Family Weekend.
Montana claimed the 49-14 win over the Sycamores after breaking the game open in the second half. Indiana State utilized Justin Dinka's 96 rushing yards, including a 54-yard touchdown run, while Lucas Hunter returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown to highlight the Sycamores' efforts in the game.
Montana quarterback Lucas Johnson accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) in leading a relentless Grizzly offense that finished with 406 total yards (336 through the air).
The 2025 matchup marks Indiana State's second contest against the Grizzlies and the Sycamores' second time competing in the MVFC-Big Sky Conference Challenge.
MVFC-Big Sky Challenge
Indiana State's participation in the MVFC-Big Sky Challenge this season marks just the second time the Sycamores have competed in the annual competition between the two conferences dating back to 2017. The challenge, featuring a combined trophy, was created to promote non-conference scheduling and friendly competition between two of the premier leagues in NCAA FCS football.
The MVFC leads the regular season series 6-0-1 dating back to the inaugural season back in 2017. The Missouri Valley ran that record to 7-0-1 with a current 5-1 record against Big Sky opponents heading into this weekend with just the Indiana State at Montana matchup left on the schedule.
Aug. 30, 2025
South Dakota State 20, Sacramento State 3
Sept. 6, 2025
North Dakota 50, Portland State 20
South Dakota State 30, Montana State 24 (2OT)
Sept. 13, 2025
South Dakota 24, Northern Colorado 17
Montana 24, North Dakota 23
Northern Iowa 17, Eastern Washington 14
Sept. 20, 2025
Indiana State at Montana, 3 p.m. ET
Sycamores in the MVFC-Big Sky Challenge
Indiana State has competed just one time to date in the MVFC-Big Sky Challenge with their inaugural appearance coming in the 2022 season against Montana. The Sycamores' contest this season against the Grizzlies marks their second competition, with future dates and appearances not announced at this time.
Scouting Montana
Montana is 2-0 overall in the early season following back-to-back home wins over Central Washington (42-17) and a 24-23 win this past Saturday against North Dakota. The Grizzlies have moved up in both the AFCA and USA Today polls sitting at No. 5 in both major FCS polls following their last-second win over the Fighting Hawks at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Montana finished third overall in the Big Sky's preseason coaches poll with 96 total points and two first-place votes, while the Grizzlies were second in the conference's media rankings with 434 points and six first-place votes. Montana is coming off a 9-5 season in 2024 with a 5-3 record in conference play. The Grizzlies' 2024 season came to an end in the FCS Second Round at South Dakota State, 35-18.
Quarterback Keali'I Ah Yat leads a Montana passing attack that sits No. 14 in the FCS at 278.5 yards per game through the first two contests. The redshirt sophomore has targeted 10 different receivers so far on the season with wide receivers Michael Wortham (nine catches, 137 yards, 1 TD) and Brooks Davis (seven catches, 106 yards, two TDs) cracking the century mark on the year.
Running back Eli Gillman (31 carries, 280 rushing yards, three touchdowns) leads a Grizzly rushing attack averaging 189.00 yards per game. Gillman enters the matchup second in the NCAA FCS averaging 9.03 yards per carry on the season and trails only Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard (142.0) averaging 140.0 rushing yards per carry.
Four Montana defensive players have hit double-digit tackles through the first two games of the season. Linebacker Elijawah Tolbert paces the team with 13 stops on the year, while safety Diezel Wilkinson has 12 stops and a quarterback hurry. Cornerback Kyon Loud has built off a strong season to sit third on the team with 11 tackles, 2.0 TFL, and three pass breakups. Linebacker Caleb Otlewski has 10 stops and a team-high 3.0 TFL.
Indiana State against the Big Sky
Indiana State has only played against one current member of the Big Sky Conference with the 2022 matchup against Montana the lone time the Sycamores have lined up against the conference.
Sycamores On the Road (2025 edition)
Indiana State football embarks on the first of three road trips that will involve flights this season as the Sycamores make the 1,709-mile trek to Missoula, Mont. this weekend to take on the Grizzlies. Indiana State's road trips for the 2025 season include bus trips to both Southern Illinois and Youngstown State, while flights to North Dakota and South Dakota State still loom on the schedule. Overall, the Sycamores will cover 8,118 total miles over the course of the 2025 season with the trip to Missoula accounting for nearly half the mileage on the season.
2025 Road Trips (Miles Traveled)
Sept. 12 – Indiana State at Indiana (113 miles)
Sept. 20 - Indiana State at Montana (3,420 miles)
Oct. 4 – Indiana State at Southern Illinois (386 miles)
Oct. 25 – Indiana State at North Dakota (1,828 miles)
Nov. 2 – Indiana State at South Dakota State (1,529 miles)
Nov. 16 – Indiana State at Youngstown State (842 miles)
The Saturday contest the farthest west Indiana State has traveled to play a game and just the third time Indiana State has competed in the Mountain Time Zone according to current records on hand. Indiana State traveled to New Mexico State on Sept. 9, 1978 (L, 14-9) and Sept. 22, 1979 (W, 40-23) during a five-game annual matchup between the Sycamores and the Aggies.
On This Date
Indiana State is 5-3-1 all-time on games played on September 20 in program history according to current records on hand. The Sycamores have a 2-1-1 mark on the road over the date with wins at both Southern Illinois and Murray State, while falling to Northern Illinois. The Sycamores battled Western Kentucky to a 7-7 tie in 1969. Indiana State's last game on the date came back in the 2008 season.
1952 – Illinois State (W, 33-7)
1958 – Eastern Illinois (L, 30-8)
1969 – at Western Kentucky (T, 7-7)
1975 – at Southern Illinois (W, 23-21)
1980 – Eastern Illinois (W, 14-0)
1986 – at Iowa State (L, 64-9)
1997 – Southern Illinois (W, 19-14)
2003 – at Murray State (W, 17-10)
2008 – at Northern Illinois (L, 48-3)
2025 Indiana State Single Game On Sale Now
Indiana State single game tickets went on sale in mid-July starting at $15 for adults, $5 for kids, and group rates of $5 for 15+ attendees. Single game rates are higher for the 2025 Homecoming Game against South Dakota on October 11 with prices rising to $18 for adults, $8 for kids, and a group rate of $8.
Indiana State will employ mobile ticketing as the default option for all home games during the 2024 football season, enabling contactless entry into athletics venues. Offering greater convenience and safety, fans can access their ticket online and transfer to family and friends. Fans will also have the option to get their tickets printed for an additional $5 charge.
For more information on season tickets, fans can contact Assistant Manager of Athletic Ticketing
Grant Manning by phone at 812-237-8972 or via email at Grant.Manning@indstate.edu. Fans can also call 877-ISU-TIXS or email
ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu. Fans have the opportunity to also buy or renew season tickets online by clicking
HERE.
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on Sycamore Football, visit
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