Montana State had nine different starting quarterbacks over the last five seasons. But MSU found stability in its starter under center this season.
That is, until Thursday. Bobcat junior Matt McKay, the starting quarterback for Montana State for all 11 games this season, announced he is entering the NCAA Transfer Portal.
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, McKay had not officially entered the portal, per a source. But a different source confirmed McKay is no longer a part of the Bobcat football program and will not dress or participate in MSU’s second-round FCS playoff game Saturday afternoon against No. 13 Tennessee Martin.
McKay was the starter as Montana State went 9-2 during the regular season. The 6-foot-4, 208-pound former N.C. State transfer completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 2,021 yards, 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also carried the ball 78 times for 316 yards and scored twice on the ground.
McKay was solid early on, throwing for more than 200 yards for the first five weeks of the year, a welcome change for a team that struggled to throw the ball for most of Jeff Choate’s four seasons at the helm.
McKay threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns in a 19-16 loss at Wyoming in his first start operating new head coach Brent Vigen’s offense. He threw for 256 yards and three scores the following week in his home debut.
McKay threw for 224 yards and a pair of scores against San Diego, 225 yards and two touchdowns in a win at Portland State, and 276 yards with a score against Northern Colorado.
Then the struggles began. McKay was ok in a win over Cal Poly but struggled in a narrow win at Weber State and a home win over Idaho State. McKay was solid but missed a few open throws in a 23-20 win over Eastern Washington, although his 253 yards passing were his second-best total of the season.
Against Idaho and Montana, McKay threw for 212 yards total and threw one of his three interceptions.
Against Idaho, MSU freshman Tommy Mellott scored three rushing touchdowns to help MSU to a 20-14 win. Mellott also played plenty of snaps in MSU’s 29-10 loss at Montana in its regular-season finale.
Montana State’s roster also includes Tucker Rovig, a senior who is 9-3 in his career as a starter and helped MSU to a pair of playoff wins in 2019.
MSU and UT-Martin play at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bobcat Stadium. Multiple sources confirm that Mellott, a native of Butte and former Gatorade Player of the Year, will start for the Bobcats on Saturday.
This story will be updated.
