Bobcats Earn 8th Seed and First Round Bye in FCS Playoffs
11/21/2021 1:52:00 PM | Football
MSU hosts either UT Martin or Missouri State on December 4
BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State earned the eighth seed to the 2021 FCS Playoffs and a first-round bye, the NCAA announced Sunday.
One of five Big Sky Conference teams selected for the playoffs, including three that earned seeds, the Bobcats host either UT Martin or Missouri State on Saturday, December 4, at 2 pm MT. "We're excited to get the eighth seed, to get the bye, and to flip the page to a new season," said Montana State coach Brent Vigen. "We will regroup and get back to work and work on getting better every day."
Montana State's post-season bid extends its current streak to three straight seasons in the playoffs, matching the longest in school history (2010-12). Brent Vigen is the first first-year Bobcat coach to lead MSU to the playoffs, and the first to helm a post-season squad since Clyde Carpenter's first squad played in San Diego's Harbor Bowl after the 1946 campaign. In 2018 MSU beat Incarnate Word at home in the first round before falling at North Dakota State. One year later the team earned home wins over UAlbany and Austin Peay before elimination by NDSU in the semifinals.
Senior offensive tackle Lewis Kidd played on both those squads, and said the bye is an advantage. "We're excited that we're seeded," said senior offensive tackle Lewis Kidd. "To get a first round bye is huge. It's just another bye week, there's not a whole bunch about it that changes. We'll still practice, still lift, still watch a bunch of film."
Kidd cautioned, though, that his team's fate is in its own hands. "They're two really good opponents, obviously," he said. "Any team that gets a playoff spot is good. It's obviously nice to get a first round bye, but at the end of the day the seed doesn't matter. You have to play well."
UT Martin visits Missouri State at 2 pm MT on Saturday, and whoever wins plays the Bobcats for the first time. The Skyhawks won the Ohio Valley Conference with a 5-1 league mark, 9-2 overall, dropping its opener at FBS foe Western Kentucky and its regular season finally at Southeast Missouri. UTM averages 31.9 points and 406.9 yards per game, including an impressive 6.1 yards per play, while surrendering 24.4 points and 349.5 yards per play, and giving up 5.5 yards per play. Peyton Logan rushes for 89.3 yards per game and 7.5 per carry. Win Dresser made his first appearance of the season in Saturday's loss to SEMO, throwing for 68 yards. Keon Howard averages 181.1 yards a game this season.
Missouri State capped an 8-3 regular season with a 55-24 win at Dixie State on Saturday. The team's three losses came against Oklahoma State, Youngstown State and North Dakota State, and the eight wins include nationally-ranked Central Arkansas, Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa. The Bears average 34.6 points and 439.4 yards per game, allowing 25.6 points and 371.9 yards per game. The team gains 6.2 yards per play, giving up 5.6. Kevon Latulas (61.7) and Tobias Little (53.5) combined for over 115 yards a game on the ground, while Jason Shelly throws for 278.9 yards a game and completes 59.5% of his passes. The Bears' 6-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference finish was good for second place.
"Those are two very good teams in terms of their performance on the field this year," said Vigen, who acknowledged uneasy moments before the tourney's final seeded squad was unveiled. "As it was unfolding there was some nervous energy. When they went 5-6-7, and we were eighth, we were excited, relieved."
The Bobcats finish the season 9-2 overall and 7-1 and second in the Big Sky. Montana State is 9-9 all-time in the Division I playoffs, 12-9 including Division II, and 13-10-2 including the team's four independent bowl games (1-1-2).
#GoCatsGo
One of five Big Sky Conference teams selected for the playoffs, including three that earned seeds, the Bobcats host either UT Martin or Missouri State on Saturday, December 4, at 2 pm MT. "We're excited to get the eighth seed, to get the bye, and to flip the page to a new season," said Montana State coach Brent Vigen. "We will regroup and get back to work and work on getting better every day."
Montana State's post-season bid extends its current streak to three straight seasons in the playoffs, matching the longest in school history (2010-12). Brent Vigen is the first first-year Bobcat coach to lead MSU to the playoffs, and the first to helm a post-season squad since Clyde Carpenter's first squad played in San Diego's Harbor Bowl after the 1946 campaign. In 2018 MSU beat Incarnate Word at home in the first round before falling at North Dakota State. One year later the team earned home wins over UAlbany and Austin Peay before elimination by NDSU in the semifinals.
Senior offensive tackle Lewis Kidd played on both those squads, and said the bye is an advantage. "We're excited that we're seeded," said senior offensive tackle Lewis Kidd. "To get a first round bye is huge. It's just another bye week, there's not a whole bunch about it that changes. We'll still practice, still lift, still watch a bunch of film."
Kidd cautioned, though, that his team's fate is in its own hands. "They're two really good opponents, obviously," he said. "Any team that gets a playoff spot is good. It's obviously nice to get a first round bye, but at the end of the day the seed doesn't matter. You have to play well."
UT Martin visits Missouri State at 2 pm MT on Saturday, and whoever wins plays the Bobcats for the first time. The Skyhawks won the Ohio Valley Conference with a 5-1 league mark, 9-2 overall, dropping its opener at FBS foe Western Kentucky and its regular season finally at Southeast Missouri. UTM averages 31.9 points and 406.9 yards per game, including an impressive 6.1 yards per play, while surrendering 24.4 points and 349.5 yards per play, and giving up 5.5 yards per play. Peyton Logan rushes for 89.3 yards per game and 7.5 per carry. Win Dresser made his first appearance of the season in Saturday's loss to SEMO, throwing for 68 yards. Keon Howard averages 181.1 yards a game this season.
Missouri State capped an 8-3 regular season with a 55-24 win at Dixie State on Saturday. The team's three losses came against Oklahoma State, Youngstown State and North Dakota State, and the eight wins include nationally-ranked Central Arkansas, Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa. The Bears average 34.6 points and 439.4 yards per game, allowing 25.6 points and 371.9 yards per game. The team gains 6.2 yards per play, giving up 5.6. Kevon Latulas (61.7) and Tobias Little (53.5) combined for over 115 yards a game on the ground, while Jason Shelly throws for 278.9 yards a game and completes 59.5% of his passes. The Bears' 6-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference finish was good for second place.
"Those are two very good teams in terms of their performance on the field this year," said Vigen, who acknowledged uneasy moments before the tourney's final seeded squad was unveiled. "As it was unfolding there was some nervous energy. When they went 5-6-7, and we were eighth, we were excited, relieved."
The Bobcats finish the season 9-2 overall and 7-1 and second in the Big Sky. Montana State is 9-9 all-time in the Division I playoffs, 12-9 including Division II, and 13-10-2 including the team's four independent bowl games (1-1-2).
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
OL
/ FootballLeon Costello Press Conference: Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center
Thursday, July 31
A Conversation with President Dr. Waded Cruzado | Montana State Athletics
Monday, May 19
Big Cats, Little Trucks - Willie Patterson
Wednesday, May 03
Matt Houk Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, May 03
