The Big Sky Conference Virtual Kickoff event is underway and the Montana Grizzly football team has received some respectable preseason recognition.

Today (Thursday), the Grizzlies were voted to finish second by a very narrow margin in the 2020 Big Sky title race by the league's coaches and media. In that tight voting, Montana received 496 total points in the media poll and 128 points in the coaches' poll, edging out Montana State by a combined four first-place votes and 10 total points. The defending league champion Weber State Wildcats were picked to repeat as champions once again, topping both polls with a total of 35 first-place votes.

And how does the head coach feel about the recognition and the talent on this year's team? "I appreciate the regard the other coaches and media have for us, and I think It's probably where I envision us fitting in at this point," said head coach Bobby Hauck. "I think we have a really fine football team, and I think we'll be hard to beat."

Coach Hauck added, "It's always easier to say this after the season when you can evaluate how they performed, but the team we've put together has very few weak spots. I think it has a chance to be a really complete football team. I don't know about dominating, but I'm not sure they can't be a dominating team."

Coronavirus permitting, the Griz are now scheduled to open the season at Missouri State on September 12, due to Central Washington having to cancel what would have been the home opener September 5.Our thanks to UM Sports Information Director Eric Taber for sending us the polls.

 

2020 Big Sky Preseason Poll Results

Big Sky Football Preseason Media Poll

Teams

Points

First Place Votes

Weber State

546

28

Montana

496

8

Montana State

493

6

Eastern Washington

438

1

Sacramento State

389

UC Davis

325

1

Portland State

274

Idaho

273

Northern Arizona

238

Cal Poly

206

Idaho State

133

Southern Utah

105

Northern Colorado

88

Big Sky Football Preseason Coaches' Poll

Weber State

135

7

Montana

128

3

Montana State

121

1

Eastern Washington

118

1

Sacramento State

99

1

UC Davis

83

Northern Arizona

68

Portland State

67

Idaho

66

Cal Poly

46

Idaho State

37

Southern Utah

33

Northern Colorado

13

 

 

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