No. 3 Griz to host SDSU in second round of FCS Playoffs
11/23/2025 11:00:00 AM | Football
Montana earned at least one postseason home game and a first round bye as the No. 3 seed in the 2025 FCS football playoff bracket, the NCAA announced last week during the annual selection show on ESPNU. UM's placement in the bracket officially extends the Grizzlies' record playoff appearance total to 29.
The Griz (11-1) will now host No. 14 South Dakota State in the second round of the playoffs on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Noon in Washington-Grizzly Stadium on ESPN+.
The second-round game sets up a rematch of the 2023 FCS National Championship game when the Griz fell to SDSU in Frisco, Texas, and a second-round rematch almost a year ago to the day in 2024 playoffs. Montana has never lost to South Dakota State in Missoula, however, sitting at 8-2 all-time against the Jackrabbits.
Should Montana win its second-round game, the No. 3 Grizzlies will also host a quarterfinal game against No. 6 Mercer and South Dakota second round game. A potential Griz/Cat rematch in Bozeman is also a possibility on the horizon in the semifinal.
This year's FCS National Championship has moved to Nashville, Tennessee for the first time ever, and will be played at Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium on Jan. 5, 2026, on ESPN.
Playoff Ticket Information
Playoff tickets will be available for season ticket holders starting Sunday, November 23, at 2 p.m. at GrizTix.com. Tickets for non-season ticket holders will become available on Tuesday, December 2 at 10 a.m.
Season ticket holders have until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, December 1 to purchase their same seats for the game. Any season tickets not purchased by 4:30 p.m. on Monday will go on sale to the general public beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2. The Adams Center box office will be open to assist those who wish to purchase in person.
Purchase playoff tickets using one of the following methods:
ONLINE: Log in to your account at GrizTix.com. Please confirm you have a working credit card on file.
PHONE: Call the Adams Center Ticket Office during office hours 406-243-4051 or toll free at 888-MONTANA.
BOX OFFICE: Stop by the Adams Center Ticket Office during business hours to purchase your tickets in person.
Montana Student Tickets
Student will be able to claim their tickets starting on Nov. 24th at 10 a.m. Montana student tickets will be FREE for the first 3,000 students with a valid Montana student account. Limit of 1 student ticket per account. A total of 500 guest passes will be available for purchase at $15 per ticket. One guest pass is allowed per student ticket account.
Prices:
All reserved seats: $40
UM Students with valid UM ID: FREE
UM Student guest pass with valid UM ID: $15
Ticket Office Hours:
Sun, Nov. 23: 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 24: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tues, Nov. 25: 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Wed, Nov. 26: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thurs. Nov. 27: CLOSED (online only)
Fri, Nov. 28: CLOSED (online only)
Sat, Nov. 29: 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 30: CLOSED (online only)
Mon, Dec. 1: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tues, Dec. 2: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wed, Dec. 3: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thu, Dec. 4: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fri, Dec. 5: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Parking and Reserved Tailgates, RV's, Cars
Fans with a season parking permit for lots A, F, L, M, M1, N, N1, P, R, S, T, U, V, W2 Y, and Z, as well as working lots - C, Physical Plant and WGS Compound, will be honored for the playoff game. Fans must have your season hang tag for admittance to your designated lot.
Fans with a season RESERVED Tailgate, RV, or CAR space in Kirkwood Memorial Grove, River Bowl South, Memorial Row, Campus Drive, 5th Street, 6th Street, P1, V-R, W, and Prescott Lot, must purchase your space for playoffs. Season RESERVED space is in your Griz Tix account and can be paid at the same time as football tickets. Once fans have purchased their RESERVED space, they will use their season hanger for admittance to their space. The same timeline for tickets will apply to purchasing RESERVED Tailgate, RV, or CAR space.
Kirkwood Memorial Grove: $105
River Bowl South: $75 OR $95
Memorial Row: $75 OR $95
Campus Drive: $60
5th / 6th Street (RV): $60
5th / 6th Street (Car): $30
P1: $30
Prescott Lot: $30
V-R: $30
W: $30
Fans who are not a season parking permit holders may submit a single game request for playoff parking and tailgating by going to www.gogriz.com/FBParking and putting in a request.
Gameday Parking and Shuttles
For additional gameday parking information, visit www.gogriz.com/FBParking.
The Griz (11-1) will now host No. 14 South Dakota State in the second round of the playoffs on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Noon in Washington-Grizzly Stadium on ESPN+.
The second-round game sets up a rematch of the 2023 FCS National Championship game when the Griz fell to SDSU in Frisco, Texas, and a second-round rematch almost a year ago to the day in 2024 playoffs. Montana has never lost to South Dakota State in Missoula, however, sitting at 8-2 all-time against the Jackrabbits.
Should Montana win its second-round game, the No. 3 Grizzlies will also host a quarterfinal game against No. 6 Mercer and South Dakota second round game. A potential Griz/Cat rematch in Bozeman is also a possibility on the horizon in the semifinal.
This year's FCS National Championship has moved to Nashville, Tennessee for the first time ever, and will be played at Vanderbilt's FirstBank Stadium on Jan. 5, 2026, on ESPN.
Playoff Ticket Information
Playoff tickets will be available for season ticket holders starting Sunday, November 23, at 2 p.m. at GrizTix.com. Tickets for non-season ticket holders will become available on Tuesday, December 2 at 10 a.m.
Season ticket holders have until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, December 1 to purchase their same seats for the game. Any season tickets not purchased by 4:30 p.m. on Monday will go on sale to the general public beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 2. The Adams Center box office will be open to assist those who wish to purchase in person.
Purchase playoff tickets using one of the following methods:
ONLINE: Log in to your account at GrizTix.com. Please confirm you have a working credit card on file.
PHONE: Call the Adams Center Ticket Office during office hours 406-243-4051 or toll free at 888-MONTANA.
BOX OFFICE: Stop by the Adams Center Ticket Office during business hours to purchase your tickets in person.
Montana Student Tickets
Student will be able to claim their tickets starting on Nov. 24th at 10 a.m. Montana student tickets will be FREE for the first 3,000 students with a valid Montana student account. Limit of 1 student ticket per account. A total of 500 guest passes will be available for purchase at $15 per ticket. One guest pass is allowed per student ticket account.
Prices:
All reserved seats: $40
UM Students with valid UM ID: FREE
UM Student guest pass with valid UM ID: $15
Ticket Office Hours:
Sun, Nov. 23: 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Mon, Nov. 24: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tues, Nov. 25: 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Wed, Nov. 26: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thurs. Nov. 27: CLOSED (online only)
Fri, Nov. 28: CLOSED (online only)
Sat, Nov. 29: 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sun, Nov. 30: CLOSED (online only)
Mon, Dec. 1: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tues, Dec. 2: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wed, Dec. 3: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thu, Dec. 4: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fri, Dec. 5: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Parking and Reserved Tailgates, RV's, Cars
Fans with a season parking permit for lots A, F, L, M, M1, N, N1, P, R, S, T, U, V, W2 Y, and Z, as well as working lots - C, Physical Plant and WGS Compound, will be honored for the playoff game. Fans must have your season hang tag for admittance to your designated lot.
Fans with a season RESERVED Tailgate, RV, or CAR space in Kirkwood Memorial Grove, River Bowl South, Memorial Row, Campus Drive, 5th Street, 6th Street, P1, V-R, W, and Prescott Lot, must purchase your space for playoffs. Season RESERVED space is in your Griz Tix account and can be paid at the same time as football tickets. Once fans have purchased their RESERVED space, they will use their season hanger for admittance to their space. The same timeline for tickets will apply to purchasing RESERVED Tailgate, RV, or CAR space.
Kirkwood Memorial Grove: $105
River Bowl South: $75 OR $95
Memorial Row: $75 OR $95
Campus Drive: $60
5th / 6th Street (RV): $60
5th / 6th Street (Car): $30
P1: $30
Prescott Lot: $30
V-R: $30
W: $30
Fans who are not a season parking permit holders may submit a single game request for playoff parking and tailgating by going to www.gogriz.com/FBParking and putting in a request.
Gameday Parking and Shuttles
For additional gameday parking information, visit www.gogriz.com/FBParking.
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Sunday, December 14
UM vs USD Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, December 13
Griz football weekly press conference 12.8.25
Monday, December 08
UM vs SDSU Highlights
Sunday, December 07
