Wins, Heartbreaks, and Classics: Montana’s Last 7 Playoff Appearances

The Griz welcomed Eddie George's Tennessee State Tigers to Missoula last year and sent them packing 41-27. Junior Bergen returned 2 more punt return touchdowns to cap off his career before the Griz fell in Brookings in the quarterfinals. The Griz scored first, but SDSU rattled off the next 35 points to march into the semis.

The magical 2023 playoff run: A blowout snowglobe win over Delaware, an OT win against Furman, a double OT win against North Dakota State, and a National Championship loss against the best FCS defense of all-time. Junior Bergen solidified himself as an all-time great with 3 return touchdowns.

"In a comeback for the ages, Griz rally to beat SEMO." That was GoGriz.com's article title after Montana trailed SEMO 24-3, and came all the way back. Malik Flowers scored on an 80-yard kick return, and Junior Bergen scored a 58-yard punt return. The Griz ran into a buzzsaw in Fargo the next weekend.

In big play after big play, the Griz outlasted EWU in the $*** talking bowl. EWU quarterback Eric Barriere threw for 530 yards on 80 attempts in a LOSS. INSANE. Montana's season ended in Harrisonburg when quarterback Cam Humphrey and receiver Sammy Akem left in the first quarter with injuries.

No playoff appearances in 2020 because COVID. Holy points, Batman! Montana hung 73 on SELA in the opening round of the 2019 FCS Playoffs. Dalton Sneed threw for 5 touchdowns and 459 yards. Marcus Knight scored 3 touchdowns on the ground. Samori Toure recorded 12 receptions, 303 yards and 3 touchdowns in one of the best playoff performances ever. The season ended on a sour note in a snowy Ogden a week later.