Big Sky Breakdown

Northern Colorado head coach Ed Lamb joined Ryan Tootell and Colter Nuanez on Tootell & Nuanez on ESPN Montana to preview Saturday's matchup with No. 2 Montana State in Greeley. Lamb talks about why UNC's best shot is owning the line of scrimmage, how much better his homegrown offensive and defensive lines are than a year ago, and what the return of defensive lineman Ezra Ebicon means up front. He also breaks down Justin Lamson and the Bobcats' option attack, Montana State's rush defense and resilience after a triple-overtime win at Idaho State, and the parity across the Big Sky as the playoff race heats up. Montana State at Northern Colorado kicks off Saturday at noon on ESPN+. Watch Tootell & Nuanez weekdays 8-10 a.m. MT on ESPN Montana. For more Big Sky coverage, visit skylinesportsmt.com. #MSUBobcatsFB #BigSkyFB #FCS

Montana running back Eli Gillman is the Griz Star of the Week on Tootell & Nuanez on ESPN Montana. Ryan Tootell and Colter Nuanez break down Gillman's latest performance for the Montana Grizzlies and what the senior means to the Griz as the Big Sky title and FCS playoff races heat up. Watch Tootell & Nuanez weekdays 8-10 a.m. MT on ESPN Montana. For more Big Sky coverage, visit skylinesportsmt.com. #GrizFB #BigSkyFB #FCS

Idaho head coach Thomas Ford Jr. joins Colter Nuanez on Vandals Weekly after the Vandals hung 62 points on Eastern Washington, from quarterback Joshua Wood chasing perfection to the challenge of UC Davis' defense. Senior offensive lineman Charlie Vliem breaks down Idaho's 330-plus yard rushing day and the growth up front, UC Davis head coach Tim Plough previews the Kibbie Dome showdown and the job Ford has done in Moscow, and Skyline Sports' Jerek Wolcott weighs in on Idaho's playoff push and the Big Sky picture. Vandals Weekly is presented by Array Real Estate. More at skylinesportsmt.com

Idaho State head coach Cody Hawkins joins Colter Nuanez after the Bengals' 28-26 triple-overtime loss to Montana State in Pocatello. Hawkins talks about the heartbreak of coming up just short against the Bobcats, what makes Montana running back Eli Gillman so tough to stop, whether Gillman choosing to stay can influence the rest of the Big Sky, the playmakers on Idaho State's defense, recruiting and roster building, and Saturday's nationally televised trip to Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Presented by Jewelry Design Center, Trail West, Jeremiah Johnson Brewing, Ryan, Miller & Coburn Attorneys, Alpine Touch and Press Box. More at skylinesportsmt.com

Former Montana State player and coach Michael Rider joins Colter Nuanez for Ridin' with Rider on the Big Sky Breakdown podcast series. They break down the Bobcats' triple-overtime slugfest in Pocatello, why Idaho State's physical defense should be a wake-up call, Justin Lamson's toughness and the long line of tough Montana State quarterbacks, the fourth-down connection to Rocky Lencioni, the gutsy two-point trick play to win it and the Sheridan, Wyoming pipeline to Bozeman. Plus the trip to Northern Colorado before the Brawl of the Wild and how the Big Sky's crowded playoff picture could shake out in the seeding. Presented by The Bobcat Collective, the Montana State QB Club, Jeremiah Johnson Brewing, Opportunity Bank, Town & Country Foods, Town Pump and Alpine Touch. More at skylinesportsmt.com

UC Davis head coach Tim Plough joins Colter Nuanez ahead of the Aggies' trip to Moscow to face Idaho in a game with major Big Sky playoff stakes. Plough talks about his team's resilience through a win-loss stretch, the job Thomas Ford has done turning around Idaho's 0-4 start, why the Big Sky should get at least four teams in the FCS playoffs, and his rule of thumb for seeds. Then the Idaho matchup: why Joshua Wood might be the best player in the country, the Vandals' physical offensive line and sound, athletic defense, UC Davis' special teams edge and what makes the Kibbie Dome such a unique place to play. More at skylinesportsmt.com

FCS analyst Sam Herder joins Colter Nuanez for The FCS Herd to react to the FCS Playoff Selection Committee's latest top 10 and project the bracket, where UC Davis, Youngstown State and South Dakota State stand in the seeding race, Montana State's path to a top seed, Eli Gillman's record-setting touchdown pace and the Walter Payton Award race, and the logjam of Big Sky bubble teams - Montana, Idaho, Idaho State, Weber State and UC Davis - with two weeks left. More at skylinesportsmt.com

Montana head coach Bobby Kennedy joins Ryan Tootell and Colter Nuanez for the Brawl of the Wild Coaches' Corner on ESPN Montana. Kennedy explains why he wanted the moment Eli Gillman broke Cooper Kupp's touchdown record to be all about Eli, why Gillman is a next-level running back who reminds him of Cedric Benson and Bryce Love, and what he respects about Cody Hawkins' Idaho State team, which he calls the best defense the Griz have faced. Plus the keys to pressuring Jordan Cook, matching the Bengals' physicality up front, Senior Day under the lights on ESPN, what Missoula native Ian Finch means to the program and what it takes to win Saturday night. Presented by RMC Attorneys, Alpine Touch, Western Birch, Cash 1 Pawn, The Press Box, Opportunity Bank, The Archie and Draught Works. More at skylinesportsmt.com

Skyline Sports analyst and former Montana State offensive lineman JP Flynn joins Colter Nuanez to break down the Bobcats' physical triple-overtime win at Idaho State, the depth of Montana State's tight end room, Justin Lamson's toughness, Grant Duff's Idaho State defense and the winning culture in Bozeman. Then Colter and JP draft their recent-history Big Sky defensive All-Stars, from Brad Daly and James Cowser to Troy Andersen, Jordan Tripp and Alex Singleton. Presented by the MSU Quarterback Club, Town Pump, Shine Beer, Town & Country and Opportunity Bank. More at skylinesportsmt.com

Andrew Schmidt joins Colter Nuanez for another edition of Talkin' Schmidt. The guys wonder if this Griz team is like the late-'80s Cleveland Cavaliers, good but never great, with an elite offense and a defense that still doesn't have the players, and Schmidt looks back at Bobby Hauck and what changed in Missoula. Plus: why Eli Gillman is the greatest big-play skill player in Big Sky history and deserves a statue, the keys to knocking Jordan Cook off his spot against Idaho State on Senior Day, whether a cupcake or a real test is better the week before the Brawl of the Wild, and a message for Oregon State fans. Talkin' Schmidt is presented by Holloway & Hulling. More at skylinesportsmt.com