MISSOULA — The Montana football team recently bolstered its 2025 recruiting class with commitments from two out-of-state linemen.
On Wednesday, Cooper Buffington, a defensive lineman from Winfield-Mt. Union High School in Winfield, Iowa, announced his commitment to the Grizzlies. He opted for Montana over an offer from South Dakota. Buffington is listed at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds.
The following day, Quinlan Hyatt, an offensive tackle from West Valley High School in Spokane, Washington, committed to UM. He chose the Griz over an offer from fellow Big Sky team Idaho. Hyatt stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 260 pounds.
With the addition of Buffington and Hyatt, the Griz now have seven commits in their 2025 recruiting class. They join Merek Mihelish of Helena Capital in Montana, Julius Gillick from California, and the Washington trio of Brady Beaner, Brock Beaner, and Colton Lentz.
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Future schedules
Montana has made adjustments to its upcoming football schedules.
The Griz have secured a home-and-home series with Incarnate Word, as reported by FBSchedules.com. Additionally, they have modified their series with Missouri State to a single home game, according to the schedule-tracking website.
Montana is set to play at UIW on Sept. 9, 2028, in San Antonio, Texas, before hosting the Cardinals on Sept. 8, 2029, in Missoula.
This will mark the first matchup between UM and UIW in football. UIW competes in the Southland Conference.
UIW, despite a 9-2 record last year, did not qualify for the playoffs. In 2022, the Cardinals finished 12-2 but fell to North Dakota State in the semifinals.
UIW has games scheduled against two Big Sky teams in nonconference play this year. They will host Northern Colorado on Aug. 31 and Northern Arizona on Sept. 21.
Montana and Missouri State decided to cancel their 2026 game in Missouri due to Missouri State’s reclassification to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) starting in 2025, FBSchedules.com reported. However, the Griz will still host Missouri State in their season opener this year.
“Montana has agreed to pay Missouri State $150,000 for canceling the game,” according to the schedule-tracking website, which cites the amended game contract. Previously, there was no financial guarantee for the visiting team in the series.
In 2015, UM and Missouri State had arranged a home-and-home series to be played in 2020 and 2021. Due to the pandemic, the 2020 game was postponed to 2026, while the 2021 game was rescheduled to 2024.
Season tickets
Over 95% of last year’s season tickets for Griz football have been renewed, UM announced. The program set a record with 18,761 season tickets sold in 2023.
Montana is slated to play seven regular-season home games this year, the most since 2007. The Griz currently hold a 12-game home winning streak.
They have a strong home record at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, boasting a 230-35 (.868) record since its opening in 1986. In home playoff games, they are 33-7 (.825).
Head coach Bobby Hauck will reach his 100th game at Wa-Griz when UM faces Missouri State on Aug. 31. His home record stands at 88-11 (.889).
Frank Gogola is the Senior Sports Reporter at the Missoulian and 406 MT Sports. Follow him on X @FrankGogola or email him at frank.gogola@406mtsports.com.
