Griz, Bobcats move up in polls

What a difference a day makes.

The Montana Grizzlies (4-1, 1-0 BSC) have entered the top-10 in both national polls this week for the first time since 2016 following a 45-20 upset road win over UC Davis.

The Griz rise 10 places in this week’s STATS FCS media poll to come in at No. 8, and move up eight spots to No. 9 in the latest AFCA FCS coaches’ poll.

The Montana State Bobcats (4-1, 1-0 BSC) are ranked No. 6 in the media poll — up one spot from a week ago — and No. 7 in the coaches’ poll after their 49-31 win Saturday over Northern Arizona.

Montana’s last appearance in the top-10 came back in September of 2016 after the Griz picked up another road upset over No. 3 ranked Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

UM’s No. 8/9 ranking is also the highest the Griz have been ranked since coming in at No. 14 last year after beating Northern Iowa, this time under the lights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula.

The Griz picked up 2,594 points in the media poll to arrive at No. 8, 334 points behind No. 7-ranked Kennesaw State, and 464 points behind Montana State at No. 6.

Montana earned 388 points in the coaches’ poll at No. 9, and trail No. 8 Villanova and No. 7 MSU by less than 100 points.

Weber State, who comes to Missoula on Nov. 16, is the highest-ranked team from the Big Sky at No. 4/5.

Montana hosts Idaho State this coming weekend for Homecoming, with the Bengals receiving votes in each poll as well.

A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the STATS FCS Top-25.

A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote.

A national panel of coaches from each conference vote in the AFCA FCS Coaches’ Poll.