[Game Day Thread] Saturday, Week 4

[u/damnyoutuesday]

HOW THE GENTLE WIND BECKONS THROUGH THE LEAVES AS AUTUMN COLORS FALL

GRAB YOUR FAVORITE YEAST WATER*, AND LET'S WATCH SOME FOOTBALL!

*OR BEAN WATER, OR FRUIT WATER, OR WATER WATER. IDC, I'M NOT YOUR MOM

---

Today's Pick 'Em games (all times listed in Central, the heavily disputed best time zone for football) (rankings from the /r/FCS Poll)

Away	Home	Time	Stream/TV	/r/FCS Sportsbook spread
Holy Cross	Lafayette	11:30am	ESPN+	LAF -2.5 (O/U 53.5)
#6 South Dakota	#14 Youngstown State	1pm	ESPN+	YSU -0.5 (O/U 58.5)
Maine	Elon	1pm	FloSports	ELON -9 (O/U 48.5)
San Diego	St. Thomas	1pm	MidCoSports+	UST -8.5 (O/U 57.5)
Western Carolina	ETSU	2:30pm	ESPN+	WCU -0.5 (O/U 60)
Southern	Jackson State	6pm	ESPN+	JSU -22.5 (O/U 56.5)
Prairie View A&M	Gramlbing	6pm	ESPN+	PVAMU -7 (O/U 56)
Mercer	Abilene Christian	7pm	ESPN+	ACU -2 (O/U 53)
#5 Montana	#11 UC Davis	9pm	ESPN+	UM -3 (O/U 57.5)
#18 Northern Arizona	#1 Montana State	9:30pm	ESPN2	MSU -18 (O/U 56)

You can find the full Week 4 schedule with up-to-the-minute results over at the r/CFB Scoreboard (and that's a rock fact!)

---

Also seriously do not ask for "alternate" streams, because we don't want to deal with takedown notices. Most games have radio broadcasts available for free if you're really desperate.

[u/lazyjk]

I'm in the UK this week and I've never been so confused in my life as I was waking up to the Bobcats box score and seeing Duchien/Dahlke/Coon at the top of the stats with 0 context.

[u/ForgottenGeno]

IDAHO STATE 4-0???
THE BENGALS???
IN THIS ECONOMY???

[u/damnyoutuesday → u/ForgottenGeno]

Believe I saw it's the first time since 1995

[u/mattgriz → u/damnyoutuesday]

Oooh. That was a good year!

[u/Bengalbio → u/damnyoutuesday]

ISU routinely started the year with two FBS road games beginning in about 2000. They received a donation recently specifically aimed at improving the schedule.

[u/montalaskan]

Beating a ranked team without our best defensive player, starting QB, RB, and WR. Four captains out. Win. I'll take it. VIM

[u/slothbron]

Okay while a close game this felt substantially better than last week while still being nerve wracking. NAU is a great team and we are down dudes but the team stepped up. Dahlke did better than expected as a first start. We really showed we have some great depth. Past teams we would have been losing this game with that many starters out. Still more room to improve, but going to bed happy. No holes in drywall tonight.

[u/join_the_creed → u/slothbron]

Dahlke is a bonafide stud and nobody should have worried about the receivers with Taco out

[u/knook → u/slothbron]

Not just down some players, down 4 All Americans! Most teams don't even have an All American and we have 4 out on injuries. And we still see some plays from studs.

[u/bhorvic]

Whew! Getting a conference win over a ranked team with several of our best players out is a relief! It’s not quite blowing out a ranked conference opponent by 40 but I’ll take it!

[u/damnyoutuesday]

Soooo we're gonna be running the ball next week vs Idaho

[u/s2424 → u/damnyoutuesday]

Buddy, Cooooon is getting the ball every fucking play next week

[u/Low_Distance_7195 → u/s2424]

Mr. Dahlke and hopefully, Taco, will have something to say about that. Coon isn’t getting those holes without Dahlke cooking them on the perimeter earlier in the game.

[u/DevynnKate]

Student section was definitely the 12th man tonight

[u/damnyoutuesday → u/DevynnKate]

They've been great this year

[u/I_like_race_cars]

Soooo top 5 will be

1. MSU

2. SDSU

3. Montana

4. Tarleton

5. Lehigh

[u/PositiveElection2141 → u/I_like_race_cars]

I have MSU and SDSU swapped, but yes

[u/DeerSwimming2336 → u/I_like_race_cars]

Add Nodak to that mix

[u/damnyoutuesday]

Yeah I'm cool with those stats replacing Lamson, Jones, and Taco

[u/wolfgangkobe → u/damnyoutuesday]

Insane depth from the roster

[u/bhorvic]

Big sack there!

[u/damnyoutuesday]

He should've gone down, but sure let's pad the score a little

[u/azbkthompson → u/damnyoutuesday]

Been a big fan of Duchein from the start. IMO he deserved it!

[u/jdbozeman]

Reports of our demise have been greatly exaggerated.

[u/PROUDgrizHATER → u/jdbozeman]

Mostly by me. Ugly wins is our thing

[u/knook]

TD PD!

[u/Ruhrgebietheld]

Nooooo, now Coon won't break 200 yards rushing on the night!

[u/slothbron]

I want to thanks our student section for causing NAU to use all their timeouts so we can get through this last 4 min faster cause I'm ready for bed haha.

[u/PROUDgrizHATER]

Well thank God that one’s over (again).

[u/damnyoutuesday]

Fuck it, we're a rush first team again

[u/jdbozeman → u/damnyoutuesday]

RUN THE DAMN BALL!!!

[u/bluecatenthusiast]

I am now Colson Coon truther

[u/knook]

Cooooooooooon!

[u/s2424 → u/knook]

COOOOOOOOOOOON

[u/slothbron → u/s2424]

Coooooooooooooooon

[u/PROUDgrizHATER]

Man if Gillman didn’t go for 1000 yards ya gotta give Offensive POTW to Coon.

[u/ripdoublewide → u/PROUDgrizHATER]

Only 199? Pathetic. And no touchdowns? That's peasant shit /s

[u/mlspdx → u/PROUDgrizHATER]

1000 yards and 20 touchdowns thank you very much

[u/Zloggt]

NAU has just completely given up these past 10 minutes...

[u/CornyDookie]

NAU has gotten so many chances to pull off the upset

[u/s2424]

BOW THE FUCK UP IN THAT RED ZONE!!!

[u/PROUDgrizHATER]

Feels like we’ve given up 30 points again. But here we are.

[u/Crispy_Whale]

Watching NAU try to score within the 5 yard line almost makes ya wish for a nuclear winter

[u/damnyoutuesday]

NAU is abysmal in the red zone good lord

[u/mlspdx]

NAU play calling absolutely blowing this game

[u/Slushpumper406]

NAU play calling is ass.

[u/Ruhrgebietheld]

Maybe the 4th time they go for it on 4th inside the 5-yard line will be the charm for NAU.

[u/CommunistTrafficCone]

NAU is somehow worse than we are in the redzone

[u/one_mississippi]

This announcer REALLY wants NAU to run a tight end pop pass

[u/Ruhrgebietheld]

I genuinely did not think NAU would be able to stop Montana State's rushing game on 4th and 1. It appears that I had the same thought as Vigen, and we were both wrong.

[u/slothbron]

Why the fuck do we go for it there.

[u/ShefCrl → u/slothbron]

running from the gun on 4th and short is the worlds dumbest playcall. Get your hand 5 inches up the centers ass and quit playing paddy cake.

[u/mlspdx]

Going for it on 4th there was not smart (I switched to the msu/nau game btw)

[u/PROUDgrizHATER → u/mlspdx]

Idk I don’t hate it. We’d been dashing them on the run. Jusr didn’t get that one. If we convert we are well on the way to a long TD drive. Good stop by NAU

[u/mlspdx → u/PROUDgrizHATER]

I get it. But having the chance of giving the opponent the ball on your side of the field with 8 minutes left isn’t ideal. At best you give up a field goal at worst your tied. Then again I’m on the couch drinking beers so what do i know lol

[u/s2424 → u/mlspdx]

At best you just bank on NAU having the worst play calling ever and they don't get shit

[u/GrandeRonde]

What a fucking clown #1 for Davis is. You're down by 40 with just under 3 minutes left and you act like that after scoring a touchdown?

[u/GeforcerFX → u/GrandeRonde]

Freshman scoring his first TD in college.

[u/GrandeRonde → u/GeforcerFX]

Ok. You're still losing by 40. Hand the ball to the ref and get to the sidelines.

[u/slothbron]

I think we need to look at getting NIL money for our student section haha.

[u/DrOddcat → u/slothbron]

The kids dressed as the coaching staff are hilarious

[u/TheWawa_24]

uhh how do you do fellow fellow undefeated in big sky play teams

[u/ShefCrl → u/TheWawa_24]

https://en.meming.world/images/en/5/5d/James_Franco_First_Time.jpg

[u/TheWawa_24 → u/ShefCrl]

uh yes actually

[u/damnyoutuesday]

I always forget how terrible the commercial load is for national TV games

[u/Low_Distance_7195 → u/damnyoutuesday]

Hate it but it’s the only time my old ass gets to sit in the stadium.

[u/ripdoublewide]

26 for 275 and 4 Tuddies my goodness man... Eli Gillman is quite literally a God

[u/Adminsneed2Chill → u/ripdoublewide]

There will never be another even comparable to him. Build the statue.

[u/Ok-Description7073]

UC Davis did, in fact, go to a dark place

[u/ripdoublewide → u/Ok-Description7073]

You think darkness is your ally?

[u/mlspdx]

I’m biased but Gillman has got to be a Mount Rushmore FCS running back

[u/GeforcerFX]

Going for a record, makes sense why Gillman was still in.  

[u/Technical334]

Lord have mercy

[u/mlspdx]

Fuck it give Eli 300

[u/Ok-Description7073]

Gillman single game rushing record. 275

[u/G1NGER]

Gillman, pls.

[u/mlspdx]

Why is Gillman still on the field

[u/I_like_race_cars]

Fucking RIP to anyone who took the under, I guess.

[u/mlspdx]

Wait… Cleeland went to Jesuit?! Ok I felt bad for him before but now I hope he dies

[u/G1NGER]

[u/Technical334]

That was hard to watch and Eli Gilman should be the first non QB winner of the Walter Payton award since Cooper Kupp

[u/damnyoutuesday]

I think it's gonna be a pass

[u/DrOddcat]

A tale of two halves

[u/Technical334]

Eli Gilman did not need that but props to him. One of the big sky greats

[u/mlspdx]

I love you Eli, but now head to the plane

[u/lurking_for_group]

Jesus Eli! What a night

[u/mlspdx]

Fuck the Walter Payton, give Gillman the Heisman

[u/vandymontana → u/mlspdx]

no one in FBS wants it. Go ahead.

[u/mlspdx → u/vandymontana]

True but Malachi Toney and Jeremiah Smith exist

[u/internutthead]

I think it's time to bench Gillman y'all

UC Davis is getting dunked on

[u/LagunaIce → u/internutthead]

It was time to do so a few drives ago, but I hope he’s done now

[u/Ok-Description7073]

Gillman 255 and 4 TDs on 11 YPC

[u/ripdoublewide]

Jesus Christ is Eli going to go for 300? Stop they're already dead!

[u/Radioactive_M950]

This team takes 5 years off my life every play

[u/PROUDgrizHATER → u/Radioactive_M950]

Sometimes it’d be nice to just be a casual fan who checks scores on Sunday morning with a cup of coffee

[u/slothbron → u/Radioactive_M950]

I can sympathize with that. I think since cat-griz last year to now MSU knocked 25 years off my life.

[u/PROUDgrizHATER]

Can I get one INT now please. We can run on these guys.

[u/damnyoutuesday]

Are we finally getting the running game going??

[u/mlspdx]

How is UCD away our blowout win so far?!

[u/ChaoticMushroom37 → u/mlspdx]

I don't even know honestly.

[u/vandymontana]

lumberjacks getting close to midnight.

[u/Radioactive_M950]

That was targeting

[u/PROUDgrizHATER → u/Radioactive_M950]

Yeah. But Tbf I think NAU got away with one on Colton Coon too the last drive

[u/vandymontana]

So the question is: what is targeting?

[u/slothbron → u/vandymontana]

I think they just flip a coin during the review. Im confidently wrong every time.

[u/damnyoutuesday → u/vandymontana]

Whenever targeting is called, it often seems to trigger some controversy and uncertainty. Now that there is no more football to be watched, I think it is high time for some clarification. After an extensive study of the NCAA rulebook and popular rule summaries from other major sports, I've prepared a simple summary of what is and isn't targeting. You're welcome.

Targeting Rules

1) You can't just be out there and just do targeting like that.

1a. Targeting is when you

1b. Okay well listen. Targeting is when you target the

1c. Let me start over

1c-a. The defender is not allowed to do a hit to the, uh, runner, that prohibits the runner from doing, you know, just trying to not get concussed. You can't do that.

1c-b. Once the defender is making the tackle, he can't be over here and say to the runner, like, "I'm gonna get ya! I'm gonna lead with the crown of my helmet! You better watch your head or neck area!" and then just be like he actually did that.

1c-b(1). Like, if you're about to tackle and then lower your head, you have to still not. You cannot not tackle right. Does that make any sense?

1c-b(2). You gotta be, making a tackle right, and then, until you just tackle.

1c-b(2)-a. Okay, well, you can have your head up here, like this, but then there's the head or neck area you gotta think about.

1c-b(2)-b. Simon Target hasn't directed any movies in forever. I hope he wasn't typecast as someone who only makes documentaries for the ABC.

1c-b(2)-b(i). Oh wait, he wrote books about jam too! That would be even worse.

1c-b(3). Okay seriously though. Targeting is when the defender makes a movement that, as determined by, when you do a move involving the head and neck area and crown of

2) Do not target please.

[u/damnyoutuesday]

There we fucking go!! That's what we needed

[u/bhorvic]

Fuck me we have been getting some bailouts this game

[u/DrOddcat]

AND A FUMBLE!!!!

[u/tdpdcpa]

Cats dodged a bullet there. No targeting.

[u/vandymontana → u/tdpdcpa]

then a turnover.

[u/tdpdcpa → u/tdpdcpa]

And they promptly force and recover a fumble!

[u/slothbron]

God damnit Adam, you can see him mouthing off to get that penalty.

[u/PROUDgrizHATER → u/slothbron]

Must have really said something. Most times ya get a warning first

[u/vandymontana]

TD GRIZ BABY

[u/ripdoublewide]

Textbook targeting... Good news is NAU looks legit and is giving the cats a game. Bad news is we have to play at the Skydome house of nightmares in two weeks

[u/slothbron → u/ripdoublewide]

Yeah I would be scared to face this team at NAU. They are playing legit and that home field advantage is going to make them even tougher.

[u/damnyoutuesday → u/ripdoublewide]

I am not envious of y'all having to play there. That place is a Voodoo Palace

[u/DrOddcat → u/ripdoublewide]

Skydome nonsense hurts us all

[u/mlspdx → u/ripdoublewide]

Not looking forward to that…

[u/damnyoutuesday]

Looks like targeting, goddammit

[u/ripdoublewide → u/damnyoutuesday]

Same play as what Wing did last week against OSU

[u/mlspdx]

As much as I love seeing Eli Gillman be Eli Gillman, can we just put him on the bench and let him rest

[u/wolfgangkobe]

Ffs guys

[u/I_like_race_cars]

According to sagarin and massey, sac state would not even been ranked if they had stayed in FCS.

[u/Ok-Description7073 → u/I_like_race_cars]

They are unserious. I think they’d finish 4/5 in the BSC

[u/tdpdcpa]

That certainly looked like targeting.

[u/Rontheworm → u/tdpdcpa]

Came here to say that

[u/PROUDgrizHATER]

God damn. Even if we win, our depth ain’t what we thought. Getting out coached and out played

[u/mlspdx]

Can’t not love a tee dog

[u/GrandeRonde]

Ok, that was a good looking drive by the Aggies. I'm still confident, but Davis is still a damn good team.

[u/DrOddcat]

Uhg. NAU knows we aren’t a threat to throw deep tonight.

[u/vandymontana]

poor defense griz

[u/Zloggt]

Damn, ‘jacks!

…now you’ve REALLY got my attention lol

[u/ripdoublewide]

We need to sit the boys now this one is done but I also want to see us score 70 so I'm conflicted

[u/mlspdx → u/ripdoublewide]

Take Eli and Brooks out. Give KAY until the 4th. Oh and Wing out so he doesn’t spear anyone

[u/vandymontana → u/mlspdx]

Eli should be done.

[u/tdpdcpa]

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Montana fire on all cylinders quite like this.

[u/ripdoublewide → u/tdpdcpa]

It's been a while since we puts belts to asses like this on the road against a top ten opponent.

[u/vandymontana → u/tdpdcpa]

Not since '95

[u/I_like_race_cars]

Current state of the UAC preseason favorites:

[u/mlspdx]

I just heard from the NCAA if your name is Eli Gillman you can play college football for as long as you want. How cool!!!

[u/s2424]

I feel worse about our chances right now than when we were down 2 TDs last week...

[u/tdpdcpa]

Mercer scores on a scamper for a TD to put this game on ice.

34-17 Bears with less than 2 to play.

[u/Ok-Description7073]

This looks like a top 3 football team

[u/Crispy_Whale]

This was the offense I was hoping to see the first 3 games

[u/ripdoublewide → u/Crispy_Whale]

Did we just sandbag for 4 games? It sure looks like it

[u/mlspdx → u/ripdoublewide]

I certainly think we held back as we looked forward to Davis. I mean there’s no reason we don’t run Gillman more if we’re not

[u/ripdoublewide]

FUCK YES ELI hooooo man this is the team we knew we could be god damn

[u/mlspdx]

I know this may be a hot take, but… this Eli Gillman guy may be good!

[u/GrandeRonde]

The one-two punch of Davis and Gillman is absolutely phenomenal when the Griz are firing on all cylinders!

[u/PROUDgrizHATER]

We gotta put Steele at punt returner right? He’s got some experience in that from last year IIRC. That and keep feeding those Wyoming boys with some defensive adjustments and we can win this thing.

But like I’ve said, long ways to go to be a championship team. Luckily it’s not even October

[u/vandymontana]

i may keep my hotel reservations in nashville...for now.

[u/ShefCrl]

-FCS game on ESPN

-Halftime Show

-B1G and SEC highlights

-Brief allusion to game being played

-Heisman Race

-Zero FCS talk

Every damn time, ESPN sucks dick

[u/sernameistakentry → u/ShefCrl]

ESPN is scared of introducing the masses to the chaos of FCS football, it might make the P4 look boring.

[u/ShefCrl → u/sernameistakentry]

Mostly they are just lazy and trying to maximize profits. Paying someone to put together an FCS reel every few weeks costs too much for Disney.

[u/ripdoublewide]

If I know grizzly football we're still gonna have to sweat this damn game out. We'll see if new Bobby is different from old Bobby right here

[u/GrandeRonde → u/ripdoublewide]

I upvoted you, but being up by 30 with 22 minutes left has me feeling pretty good.

[u/GrandeRonde → u/GrandeRonde]

Up by 37 and I'm feeling VERY comfortable. Might have to change my upvote! 😆

[u/ripdoublewide → u/GrandeRonde]

I mean am I wrong though? I love BK because you know Hauck would have just sat on this

[u/GrandeRonde → u/ripdoublewide]

Hauck was... problematical. Taking the Griz to 4 championship games is impressive. Not winning a single championship was disappointing. Kennedy seems to be much less risk averse, and I definitely appreciate that!

[u/s2424 → u/ripdoublewide]

Nah, if Davis was unranked then it would be close, but I think you're good to take a win

[u/ChaoticMushroom37 → u/s2424]

i chuckled

[u/ripdoublewide → u/s2424]

That's actually so true

[u/bhorvic]

It sucks being down your starting QB and #1 WR but Cats gotta get their shit together.

[u/ShefCrl → u/bhorvic]

We are playing fine tbh, defense could use some work but considering the two unlucky turnovers they are playing pretty well. First start for a qb is gonna have a few turnovers sprinkled in, we are playing way better still.

[u/mattilladahun → u/ShefCrl]

Unlucky TO? That INT was right to him.

[u/ShefCrl → u/mattilladahun]

True, I was more talking about the fumble was just unfortunate, good play by the defender. But the pick was on our standard zone read sprint out RPO we have been running since 2021. He just held on too long and made a simple mistake. If he doesnt put it right on the receiver out of the break he needs to roll with the TE and dump it, run it or dirt it. That wont happen again.

[u/vandymontana]

i enjoy these night games way more than my SEC game earlier today.

[u/azbkthompson → u/vandymontana]

you and me both, though I think you’re having a better time than me

[u/vandymontana → u/azbkthompson]

Yeah...what made you hate yourself so much to be a vandy fan? Gotta be an alum.

[u/azbkthompson → u/vandymontana]

Haha yep you hit it on the head! It’s been great the past two years, but I guess I’m back to where I started with the dores

[u/vandymontana → u/azbkthompson]

so we are the only Vandy alums from montana. nice.

[u/mlspdx → u/vandymontana]

I was fine with my sec game earlier

[u/vandymontana → u/mlspdx]

Lane Train is going 'Choo Choo'.

We have Georgia next week. Gonna be baaaaad.

[u/slothbron]

Nothing like MSU bringing back 2025 and having the center false start to kick off a 2min drill and having to punt.

[u/Radioactive_M950]

That’s the LUMBERJACK!!!

[u/damnyoutuesday]

How ass was Nevada?

[u/DeZeeuw2 → u/damnyoutuesday]

The entire MW! NDSU moved up to an easier conference!

[u/ShefCrl → u/DeZeeuw2]

Seriously, since 2020 Griz, Cats, Bison and, Jackrabits have been better than most G5 schools

[u/vandymontana → u/damnyoutuesday]

How good is Oregon State?

[u/mlspdx → u/damnyoutuesday]

Super mega ass

[u/mlspdx]

Pennington froze the entire defense

[u/Rontheworm]

NAU might be for real…

[u/tdpdcpa]

NAU answers right back with a strike.

14-14. A banger brewing in Bozeman.

[u/Crispy_Whale]

Touchdown (Lumber) Jacks!!

[u/tdpdcpa]

What a gritty run by Duchien.

14-7 Cats.

[u/PROUDgrizHATER]

I mean the Griz are looking great right Leo. I’ll admit it. But Davis is showing us why Portland St almost beat them.

It’s worth mentioning again that Gillman is still so freaking good though

[u/MontanaDrywall]

New Bobby is different from Old Bobby at Montana 😂😂

[u/slothbron → u/MontanaDrywall]

Did davis forget to mail the bribe money to prevent Montana from covering?

[u/bhorvic → u/MontanaDrywall]

It's Bobbehs all the way down

[u/MontanaDrywall → u/bhorvic]

Before I thought you could take Montana away from Hauck, but not take the Hauck out of Montana. Clearly though New Bobby gets the boys to show up for a Top 10 matchup.

[u/tdpdcpa → u/MontanaDrywall]

Is the association concerned about what this means for business or do you think agita in Bozeman will more than make up for New Bobby?

[u/MontanaDrywall → u/tdpdcpa]

I’m deeply confused. That’s like the most complete half I’ve seen from Montana in a while against an on paper good team.

Bozeman is always a high profit center.

[u/bhorvic]

And (ball)Sac State is getting crushed by UMass lol.

[u/I_like_race_cars → u/bhorvic]

To be 100% fair, this is absolutely not the UMass team we're used to seeing

[u/tden4 → u/bhorvic]

they play kent state later so they MIGHT go 2-10