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Vandals and Grizzlies Clash in Storied 100-Year Rivalry for Little Brown Stein
27 Sep
Summary
- 90th meeting in 100-year rivalry between Idaho and Montana
- Matchup between top-2 rushing offenses in the Big Sky Conference
- Idaho's defense aims to rebound after last week's loss
On September 27, 2025, the No. 8 Idaho Vandals will travel to Missoula, Montana, to take on the No. 5 Montana Grizzlies in the 90th edition of their long-standing rivalry. The two teams have been battling for the Little Brown Stein trophy for over a century, with the current holder being the Grizzlies.
Both offenses are built around their rushing attacks, with the Vandals and Grizzlies ranking first and second, respectively, in the Big Sky Conference in rushing yards. Idaho has averaged 203 rushing yards per game, while Montana has averaged 227 yards on the ground. This clash of top-ranked rushing offenses promises to be a thrilling matchup.
However, the Vandals' defense will be looking to rebound after a tough loss to San Jose State last week, where they struggled to tackle effectively and allowed several big plays. Idaho coach Thomas Ford Jr. has emphasized the importance of fundamentals and a "mentality of making plays" as his team prepares to face the high-powered Grizzlies offense.
The stakes are high for this Big Sky Conference Game of the Week, as the winner will take a significant step towards securing a top seed in the upcoming Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs.
