Montana Grizzly Football Racks up Another Major Preseason Ranking

Scorching hot practice begins today (Monday) for what experts are saying is a scorching hot team.

With four of the top 20 (and 5 of the top 26) ranked teams on the 2022 schedule, it's pretty safe to say that the University of Montana Grizzly football team is facing a pretty daunting schedule, just a few weeks away from the start of the season. But for now, all those opponents are looking up at the Griz.

UM Sports Information Director Eric Taber reports that the Griz have been voted third in the Stats Perform preseason poll, by the narrowest of margins. Montana barely edged out Montana State, who came in at No. 4. Sacramento State, also of the Big Sky Conference and also a road game for the Griz this year, came in at No. 7.

The Stats Perform Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Top 25 is compiled by votes from a nationwide media panel. Of the top 10 preseason selections, 7 of them are represented by only two conferences, the Big Sky and the Missouri Valley. In addition to Montana State and Sacramento State, Big Sky rivals Eastern Washington (No. 13) and Weber State (No. 20) are also on the schedule, as is the Missouri Valley's South Dakota, who finished just outside the top 25 preseason poll by only two votes.

The preseason No. 1 pick is (who else?) North Dakota State. Here's a look at the entire top 25 Stats Perform preseason list.

1. North Dakota State

2. South Dakota State

3. Montana

4. Montana State

5. Missouri State

6. Villanova

7. Sacramento State

8. Kennesaw State

9. Southern Illinois

10. Stephen F. Austin

11. East Tennessee State

12. Chattanooga

13. Eastern Washington

14. University of Incarnate Word

15. Jackson State

16. Holy Cross

17. Southeastern Louisiana

18. Tennessee Martin

19. Delaware

20. Weber State

21. Northern Iowa

22. Rhode Island

23. Mercer

24. Richmond

25. UC Davis

Fall camp is now underway for the Griz, with practices starting each day at 2:30, at Dornblazer Field on the South Campus Stadium complex. Oh, it it ever going to be toasty! The first 11 practices through August 20 (with August 14 being the lone day off) are open to the general public.