Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #3: Cats Renew Acquaintances in Mackay Stadium on Saturday
9/12/2026 7:38:00 PM | Football
MSU to start the Nevada game without three defensive starters
RENO, Nev. (Sept. 12, 2026) – Montana State and Nevada have not met on the gridiron since 1996, two conferences ago for the Wolf Pack, but the familiarity level between the two programs took center stage in the days leading up to tonight's showdown.
Wolf Pack head coach Jeff Choate helped build a national championship foundation at MSU from 2016-19. In the course of resurrecting UN, Choate has leaned on coaches and staffers with strong Bobcat ties. Brent Vigen, who replaced Choate at Montana State, has individuals on his staff with Nevada roots, as well.
"It brings back good memories," Bobcat cornerbacks coach Jordan Lee said of his time as an All-Moutain West cornerback for the Wolf Pack (2018-21). "This is my first time back since 2022. I had a lot of good nights out here (in Mackay Stadium). The crowds were great, we had good teams, I think we were 17-5 in home games in my time here. It was pretty fun."
Lee earned his bachelor's degree from Nevada in 2022 before finishing his playing career at Washington State, and missed a young assistant coach and current colleague by one season. Jody Owens spent 2017 in Reno while embarking on a coaching career that has led him back to his alma mater. He is MSU's Assistant Head Coach while mentoring the program's linebackers.
While his ties to Nevada aren't deep, he has a strong connection to a current Wolf Pack coach. "Coach (Kane) Ioane is an all-time Bobcat great," Owens said of UN defensive coordinator Kane Ioane. The four-time Bobcat All-America was Owens' position coach during his legendary career playing that position.
"He was very enthusiastic, had great energy," Owens said of his time playing for Ioane. "I knew he cared about me as a person. I learned the most about football during my time under Coach Ioane, and he's a mentor of mine to this day."
MSU assistant coach James Price also coached at Nevada. He left MSU to work as the Wolf Pack receivers coach during 2024-25 before returning to the Cats this season.
Ioane is one of several Nevada staff members to have previously worked at Montana State. Cornerbacks coach Joey Thomas was a star Bobcat for four years, and was crucial in the team's wins over UM in 2002 and 2003. BJ Robertson, now a UN special teams assistant, served as Montana State's special teams coach from 2016-21, and was a key figure in constructing Bobcat rosters as a key recruiter.
Garrett Becker (video and social media) is an MSU grad who was a driving force in creating his alma mater's content creation efforts. Brittney Patera helped create the Bobcat Fuel Station nutrition program. Cole Moore, Nevada's football general manager, was a standout linebacker for the Cats and also served on Choate's staff at MSU.
Vigen said the ties that bind the two programs are strong, but won't matter much on the field tonight. "I think that's for the fans," he said. "I'm sure everyone involved is all about winning the football game."
* * * * *
Fifth-year safety Caden Dowler is not the only Bobcat defensive starter missing from today's lineup. Senior linebacker Bryce Grebe remained in Bozeman, while senior nickel Tayden Gray is questionable tonight and not in the projected starting lineup. Both are dealing with injuries.
In their places, the Bobcats plan to start Xavier Ahrens at linebacker and a nickel/safety group of Taki Uluilakepa at free safety, Colter Petre at strong and Bryant Meredith at nickel. Brock Steel and Ryan Krahe remain the next in at linebacker.
* * * * *
Brent Vigen's Bobcats have played two previous games in Mountain West stadiums. The Cats narrowly lost at Wyoming 19-16 in Vigen's first game (2021) before beating New Mexico 35-31 in Albuquerque in 2024
* * * * *
Montana State plays its third night game of 2026 tonight in Reno. That string ends with next week's 1 pm kickoff against Central Connecticut State in Bobcat Stadium, but then comes back-to-back 8:30 pm MT kickoffs.
#GoCatsGo
Wolf Pack head coach Jeff Choate helped build a national championship foundation at MSU from 2016-19. In the course of resurrecting UN, Choate has leaned on coaches and staffers with strong Bobcat ties. Brent Vigen, who replaced Choate at Montana State, has individuals on his staff with Nevada roots, as well.
"It brings back good memories," Bobcat cornerbacks coach Jordan Lee said of his time as an All-Moutain West cornerback for the Wolf Pack (2018-21). "This is my first time back since 2022. I had a lot of good nights out here (in Mackay Stadium). The crowds were great, we had good teams, I think we were 17-5 in home games in my time here. It was pretty fun."
Lee earned his bachelor's degree from Nevada in 2022 before finishing his playing career at Washington State, and missed a young assistant coach and current colleague by one season. Jody Owens spent 2017 in Reno while embarking on a coaching career that has led him back to his alma mater. He is MSU's Assistant Head Coach while mentoring the program's linebackers.
While his ties to Nevada aren't deep, he has a strong connection to a current Wolf Pack coach. "Coach (Kane) Ioane is an all-time Bobcat great," Owens said of UN defensive coordinator Kane Ioane. The four-time Bobcat All-America was Owens' position coach during his legendary career playing that position.
"He was very enthusiastic, had great energy," Owens said of his time playing for Ioane. "I knew he cared about me as a person. I learned the most about football during my time under Coach Ioane, and he's a mentor of mine to this day."
MSU assistant coach James Price also coached at Nevada. He left MSU to work as the Wolf Pack receivers coach during 2024-25 before returning to the Cats this season.
Ioane is one of several Nevada staff members to have previously worked at Montana State. Cornerbacks coach Joey Thomas was a star Bobcat for four years, and was crucial in the team's wins over UM in 2002 and 2003. BJ Robertson, now a UN special teams assistant, served as Montana State's special teams coach from 2016-21, and was a key figure in constructing Bobcat rosters as a key recruiter.
Garrett Becker (video and social media) is an MSU grad who was a driving force in creating his alma mater's content creation efforts. Brittney Patera helped create the Bobcat Fuel Station nutrition program. Cole Moore, Nevada's football general manager, was a standout linebacker for the Cats and also served on Choate's staff at MSU.
Vigen said the ties that bind the two programs are strong, but won't matter much on the field tonight. "I think that's for the fans," he said. "I'm sure everyone involved is all about winning the football game."
* * * * *
Fifth-year safety Caden Dowler is not the only Bobcat defensive starter missing from today's lineup. Senior linebacker Bryce Grebe remained in Bozeman, while senior nickel Tayden Gray is questionable tonight and not in the projected starting lineup. Both are dealing with injuries.
In their places, the Bobcats plan to start Xavier Ahrens at linebacker and a nickel/safety group of Taki Uluilakepa at free safety, Colter Petre at strong and Bryant Meredith at nickel. Brock Steel and Ryan Krahe remain the next in at linebacker.
* * * * *
Brent Vigen's Bobcats have played two previous games in Mountain West stadiums. The Cats narrowly lost at Wyoming 19-16 in Vigen's first game (2021) before beating New Mexico 35-31 in Albuquerque in 2024
* * * * *
Montana State plays its third night game of 2026 tonight in Reno. That string ends with next week's 1 pm kickoff against Central Connecticut State in Bobcat Stadium, but then comes back-to-back 8:30 pm MT kickoffs.
#GoCatsGo
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