Griz up to #3 in national polls ahead of Brawl of the Wild

As expected, the Montana Grizzlies have risen to No. 3 in the major national polls this week after a 35-16 demolition of the previously third-ranked Weber State Wildcats over the weekend.

The Grizzlies (9-2, 6-1 BSC) garnered a total of 598 points in this week's AFCA FCS Coaches' Poll to move up a spot from fourth to land at No. 3 in this week's poll. UM was just 26 points shy of the second-place James Madison Dukes and 36 points ahead of the fifth-place Sacramento State Hornets in this week's voting.

Weber State dropped to No. 7, one place ahead of the Grizzlies' next opponent in Montana State who improved to No. 8, setting up a Top-8 showdown for the Brawl of the Wild on Saturday in Bozeman.

Montana picked up 3558 points in the media poll to move up two spots from number five a week ago. Sac State earned 3220 points to come in fourth, and Montana State sits eighth with 2625 points.

This marks the first time since Sept. 15, 2014, Montana has been in the top three in the coaches' poll, and the first time since week one, 2010, the Griz have been in the top three in the media poll.

The move up the rankings sets up a top-10 rivalry matchup this week with No. 3 Montana versus No. 8 Montana State battling it out in the annual Brawl of the Wild game.

This will be the first time Montana and Montana State have both played for the Great Divide Trophy as top-10 teams since 2011, when (then) No. 7 Montana beat No. 1 Montana State 36-10.

Kickoff for the 119th Brawl of the Wild is set for noon on Nov. 23, and the game will be broadcast nationwide on ROOT Sports and DirecTV's Audience Network.

AFCA FCS Coaches' Poll

Rank    School
1.         North Dakota St.
2.         James Madison
3.         Montana
4.         Sacramento St.
5.         South Dakota St.
6.         Illinois St.
7.         Weber St.
8.         Montana St.
9.         Kennesaw St.
10.       Northern Iowa
11.       Central Arkansas
12.       Monmouth (N.J.)
13.       Florida A&M
14.       Villanova
15.       Furman
16.       Southeast Missouri St.
17.       Wofford
18.       Central Connecticut St.
19.       Austin Peay
20.       Towson
21.       Dartmouth
22.       Southeastern Louisiana
23.       Nicholls
24.       North Carolina A&T
25t.      Southern Illinois
25t.      Yale

Others Receiving Votes: Princeton, 26; North Dakota, 14; Albany, 12; San Diego, 11; UT Martin, 2; Eastern Washington, 1; South Carolina St., 1.

STATS FCS Media Poll

Rank    School
1          North Dakota State (11-0)
2          James Madison (10-1)
3          Montana (9-2)
4          Sacramento State (8-3)
5          South Dakota State (8-3)
6          Weber State (8-3)
7          Illinois State (8-3)
8          Montana State (8-3)
9          UNI (7-4)
10        Villanova (8-3)
11        Central Arkansas (8-3)
12        Florida A&M (9-1)
13        Southeast Missouri State (8-3)
14        Wofford (7-3)
15        Monmouth (9-2)
16        Kennesaw State (9-2)
17        Furman (7-4)
18        Central Connecticut State (10-1)
19        Towson (7-4)
20        Austin Peay (8-3)
21        Southeastern Louisiana (7-3)
22        Dartmouth (8-1)
23        Nicholls (7-4)
24        Yale (8-1)
25        North Carolina A&T (7-3)

Others: Southern Illinois (282) , North Dakota (269) , Albany (185) , Princeton (92) , San Diego (82) , UT Martin (38) , Alcorn State (37) , Sam Houston State (25) , Maine (22) , Eastern Washington (20) , Citadel (14) , New Hampshire (10) , South Carolina State (8) , UC Davis (8) , Chattanooga (4)

University of Montana Athletics

Griz up to #3 in national polls ahead of Brawl of the Wild

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