The Montana Grizzlies have completed the 2022 football schedule with the addition of the Northwestern State Demons, who will visit Missoula for a one-off game on September 3 to open the season.
Located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, Northwestern State is a longtime member of the Southland Conference, with four conference championships to its name.
Montana holds a 3-0 all-time record against the Demons, who visited Missoula in the first round of the 1-AA/FCS playoffs in 2001, 2002, and 2004 seasons.
In 2001, the Grizzlies overcame a 13-0 halftime deficit to win 28-19 on a fumble recovery in the end zone by Ciche Pitcher en-route to the program’s second national championship later that season.
The Griz and Demons faced each other again a year later, with Montana running out to a 45-14 home win that featured a pick-six from Herbert Fernandez and a 68-yard punt return for a score from Jefferson Heidelberger.
Montana last faced Northwestern State in 2004 during Bobby Hauck‘s first tenure as the Grizzlies’ head coach. The Griz jumped all over the Demons, building a 42-0 lead in the third quarter before sealing the 56-7 win thanks in part to 171 yards rushing from Lex Hilliard.
The addition of Northwestern State completes Montana’s 2022 schedule, giving the Grizzlies six guaranteed home games on the 11-game slate.
UM will open the season with a pair of home games against Northwestern State and South Dakota before traveling to Indiana State to complete the out-of-conference schedule.
The Griz then open Big Sky play in Moscow, Idaho, on September 24 before entering the bye week. Montana then caps the season with Eastern Washington at home, Cal Poly and Weber State on the road, Northern Colorado and UC Davis at home, away at Sacramento State, and the annual Brawl of the Wild against Montana State at home on November 19.
Montana is 12-3 all-time against teams from the Southland Conference, most recently having defeated Southeastern Louisiana in the second round of the 2019 FCS Playoffs 73-28.
The Demons are coached by former NSU quarterback Brad Laird, now in his second season at his alma mater after taking over in 2018. His offense set a slew of school records en-route to a 5-6 overall record that year.
Northwestern State finished the 2019 season eighth in the Southland Conference standings with a 3-9 record (3-6 conf), with wins over Incarnate Word, Lamar, and Sam Houston State.
Montana has now completed its 2021 and 2022 schedules and has one open date remaining on the 2023 schedule, with three out-of-conference games set for 2024 and ’25.
Future Grizzly Football Schedules
2021 Football Schedule
9.4 @ Washington
9.11 Western Illinois
9.18 Bye
9.25 Dixie State
10.2 Northern Arizona
10.9 @ Idaho State
10.16 Weber State
10.23 @ UC Davis
10.30 @ Southern Utah
11.6 Portland State
11.13 Idaho
11.20 @ Montana State
2022 Football Schedule
9.3 Northwestern State
9.10 South Dakota
9.17 @ Indiana State
9.24 @ Idaho
10.1 Bye
10.8 Eastern Washington
10.15 @ Cal Poly
10.22 @ Weber State
10.29 Northern Colorado
11.5 UC Davis
11.12 @ Sacramento State
11.19 Montana State
2023 Football Schedule
9.2 Butler
9.9 @ Dixie State
9.16 Open
9.23 @ Portland State
9.30 Open
10.7 Idaho
10.14 @ Northern Colorado
10.21 Idaho State
10.28 Southern Utah
11.4 @ Northern Arizona
11.11 Sacramento State
11.18 @ Montana State
2024 Football Schedule
8.31 Missouri State
9.7 @ North Dakota
9.14 Western Carolina
2025 Football Schedule
8.30 @ Western Carolina
9.6 Open
9.13 North Dakota
9.20 Indiana State
2026 Football Schedule
9.05 Dixie State
2027 Football Schedule
9.18 Dixie State
