Date: Saturday September 13, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM (ET)
TV: ESPN+
The Quick Hits
North Dakota (1-1) might be one of the best .500 teams in the country right now because their one loss easily could have (and should have) been a win against a ranked FBS Kansas State team back in Week 1. Their win last week was a decisive one over Portland State. Now UND turns its focus to a much more challenging Big Sky team in Montana (1-0) but, if last year’s showdown between the Hawks in the Griz in Grand Forks was any indication, this is not a forgone conclusion even though it’s in Missoula
this time around.
UM comes in after getting a nice ease into their 2025 season. A rare Week 1 bye was followed up by a 42-17 drubbing over Division II Central Washington. The Grizzlies check in at #5 in the polls but there’s still a lot they need to figure out with such a new-look squad that got almost totally reworked with the transfer portal. Outside of the ground game, Montana does not necessarily have any real stability at most of its positions. It worked out just fine last week but #16 UND presents a very different kind of matchup. Homefield advantage, as it always is for the Griz, will be huge.
The Coaches
The Bubba Schweigert era is over in North Dakota and now it is Eric Schmidt who is in charge. This is his first season running the show at the same place he once played. Schmidt was a linebacker for the Hawks from 1998 to 2001 before spending time as an assistant at various places like UND, Southern Illinois, Fresno State, San Diego State and Washington. This is his first season as a head coach at any level and so far it’s off to a pretty solid start.
North Dakota Offense vs. Montana Defense
If there’s two things Montana’s defense needs to anticipate out of North Dakota’s offense it’s that they will spread the ball around when passing and that they will try and establish the run earlier. Last year, UND ran for 243 yards against the Griz and they’ll look to do that again this time around. Any number of backs could, and probably will, get touches for the Hawks here. Gaven Ziebarth, Sawyer Seidl and Xavier Leigh have all seen at least ten carries this year and have combined for 180 yards and three touchdowns through their first two games. What’s more is that none of those guys lead the team in rushing, either.
That distinction goes to sophomore quarterback Jerry Kaminski. Kaminski is the starter this year after serving as the backup to Tommy Schuster a year ago. So far this year he’s off to a terrific start, throwing for five touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s also ran for three more scores and has been one of the primary catalysts for UND’s offense which is averaging nearly 43 points per contest. Kaminski is not afraid to air it out when he needs to and, against a Grizzlies defense that is still trying to find its chemistry, he could do just that.
Montana had its fair share of issues last week on that side of the ball, specifically allowing 221 yards on the ground. That worked against a DII opponent but it might not against a team with the committee of backs like UND has. Linebackers Clay Oven and Caleb Otlewski will need to be at their best. The pair racked up 13 tackles between them in Week 2 and were difference makers on the D and that’s a welcome sight after the team lost some big names like Riley Wilson after last season.
So too was safety Kade Cutler and defensive end Kellen Detrick. Detrick made five tackles in the win and was in on several plays up front while Cutler looks to be a bright spot for the Griz secondary this year as a redshirt junior. He got in on four stops and half a sack last week. Cutler, however, will be tasked with matching up against a North Dakota receiving corps that can hurt its opponents in so many ways.
Already this season 15 different players have caught a pass for the Hawks but it has been freshman tight end Nathan Hromadka and Leigh who have been the favorite targets thus far. Leigh leads the team in receptions with six while Hromadka averages 15.5 yards per snag and has two touchdowns. Receivers B.J. Fleming and Tai Korey have also been major contributors. Kaminski has plenty of options and the UM secondary will certainly have its hands full.
Montana Offense vs. North Dakota Defense
What Montana may be lacking in proven playmakers on defense, it certainly has on offense, starting with one of the best running backs in the FCS in junior Eli Gillman. Gillman, the 2023 Jerry Rice Award winner, was a top rusher in the country last year, rumbling for 1,104 yards and 15 scores. Last week he seemed to pick up right where he left off, going for 198 yards and three TDs. If North Dakota does not have an answer for #10 it will not be a happy flight home.
Gillman has a knack for explosive plays and will not be easy to contain. UND’s defense will lean heavily on senior linebacker Malachi McNeal and edge rusher Lance Rucker here. Rucker has had a solid start to the year, getting seven tackles (one for loss) off the edge while McNeal has made 10 stops and has already landed three QB hits. If Gillman breaks through to the second layer of the defense, though, then it will fall on the safeties and corners.
Jy Martin has been a star from his safety position so far this season for the Hawks. He leads the team with 11 tackles and has a pick. Martin could be a game wrecker not only against Gillman but against Griz quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat. Ah Yat has been up-and-down when he has played for UM and it was evident last week by his two interceptions along with two touchdowns. His matchup with Martin in the passing attack could be a deciding one in this game.
Ah Yat, though, will also have some talented receivers to work with and it starts with one of the newest faces on the team in transfer Michael Wortham. Wortham was electric at Big Sky rival Eastern Washington and he’s carried that same explosiveness to UM. Last week he caught six balls for 120 yards and a touchdown. Drew Deck and Blake Bohannon will also be factors in the passing game.
Prediction
Coming into Washington-Grizzly Stadium and winning is no easy feat and, normally, out-of-conference opponents especially don’t find a lot of luck in that department. This North Dakota bunch, however, is of a different cut and it’s shown early on. The Hawks will not be intimidated by the atmosphere in Missoula because they’ve already seen a ranked FBS Kansas State team on the road (and damn near beat them). Schmidt has UND playing some really good football right now. Montana has weapons on its side and looked darn good, at least in the second half, last week. The Griz rush defense is suspect right now, though, and against a team that’s already ran for seven scores this year, that’s reason for concern. Ah Yat and Kaminski will go blow for blow but Gillman will be the difference maker. Him and homefield advantage will carry UM to a hard-fought win.
Score Prediction: North Dakota: 27 – Montana: 31
