Big Sky Playoff Facts
The Big Sky Conference has advanced at least two teams to the playoffs in 26 of the last 28 years. The Big Sky has sent multiple teams to the postseason 13 straight seasons.
The Big Sky Conference is 71-58 (.550) all-time in the FCS playoffs. Seven of those wins and losses came against fellow Big Sky teams. Against outside opponents, the Big Sky is 64-51 (.556)
Big Sky teams have won six national titles. Boise State won it all in 1980, followed by Idaho State in 1981, Montana State in 1984, Montana in 1995 and 2001, and Eastern Washington in 2010.
Big Sky teams have lost in the national championship game seven times. Nevada was a runner-up in 1990, Boise State finished second in 1994, Montana has been second five times: 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2009.
Four times since 2003, a Big Sky team has knocked out the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the playoffs. In 2003, Northern Arizona upset No. 1 McNeese State 35-3 in Lake Charles, La. In a first-round game in 2004, Eastern Washington upset No. 1 Southern Illinois on the road 34-31 in a first-round game. In 2007, Eastern Washington beat No. 2 McNeese State 44-14 in Lake Charles in the first round. In 2008, Montana upset No. 1 James Madison 35-27 in a semifinal game on the road.
Montana State is in the playoffs for the second consecutive season and the sixth time in school history. The Bobcats also qualified in 1984, 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2010.
Montana returns to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. Montana is making its 21st playoff appearance, a record. UM appeared in 17 straight playoffs from 1993-2009, also a record.
Montana and Montana State will be hosting playoff games in the second round. In 2006, both squads hosted first-round games. Montana beat McNeese State, while Monana State beat Furman.
Robin Pflugrad is the sixth coach to lead Montana to the playoffs. He joins Larry Donovan, Don Read, Mick Dennehy, Joe Glenn and Bobby Hauck. Read and Glenn led the Grizzlies to national titles. Dennehy and Hauck guided the Grizzlies to runner-up finishes.