CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

2017 Montana

7–⁠4 (5–⁠3 Big Sky).

Schedule and results

Montana in 2017, game by game: won vs. Valparaiso 45–23; lost at No. 7 Washington 7–63; won vs. Savannah State 56–3; lost vs. Eastern Washington 41–48; won at Portland State 45–33; won at Idaho State 39–31; won vs. North Dakota 41–17; lost at Weber State 27–41; won vs. Northern Arizona 17–15; won vs. Northern Colorado 44–14; lost at Montana State 23–31+53−56Won 45–23 vs. Valparaiso+22ValparaisoLost 7–63 at No. 7 Washington-56No. 7 WashingtonWon 56–3 vs. Savannah State+53Savannah StateLost 41–48 vs. Eastern Washington-7Eastern Washing…Won 45–33 at Portland State+12Portland StateWon 39–31 at Idaho State+8Idaho StateWon 41–17 vs. North Dakota+24North DakotaLost 27–41 at Weber State-14Weber StateWon 17–15 vs. Northern Arizona+2Northern ArizonaWon 44–14 vs. Northern Colorado+30Northern Colora…Lost 23–31 at Montana State-8Montana State
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 2vsValparaisoW 45–⁠2377%
Sep 9at7WashingtonL 7–⁠6310%
Sep 16vsSavannah StateW 56–⁠380%
Sep 23vsEastern WashingtonL 41–⁠4847%
Sep 30atPortland StateW 45–⁠3359%
Oct 7atIdaho StateW 39–⁠3163%
Oct 14vsNorth DakotaW 41–⁠1769%
Oct 28atWeber StateL 27–⁠4147%
Nov 4vsNorthern ArizonaW 17–⁠1551%
Nov 11vsNorthern ColoradoW 44–⁠1481%
Nov 18atMontana StateL 23–⁠3155%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Lost to Montana State 31–⁠23; unranked in the final AP poll; tied for 6th in the Big Sky.

In program history: The 44th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 103 on file).

Record
7–⁠4
Conference
5–⁠3 tied for 6th in Big Sky
AP final
Unranked
Points
385–⁠319
Coach
—
Elo
1376 +30 this season
SP+ rating
—
SRS
−16.2 No. 29 of 124 in FCS
Recruiting class
No. 164
Offensive coordinator
Bob Stitt
Defensive coordinator
Jason Semore

Leaders

Passing yardsReese Phillips QB123 yds
Rushing yardsJeremy Calhoun RB42 yds
Receiving yardsJosh Horner WR34 yds
TacklesJustin Strong S9 tkl
InterceptionsJosh Sandry S1 INT

Top recruits in the 2017 class

Isiahia Banks S★★★No. 1797
R.J. Nelson SDE★★No. 2414
Payton Stoner OT★★No. 2750
Michael Matthews ILB★★No. 2862
Skyler Martin SDE★★No. 3852

247Sports composite rankings via CollegeFootballData.com; national rank in the class.

The 2017 class by position

SignedStarsRating
Offensive line12.00.778
Defensive line22.00.775
Linebackers22.00.764
Defensive backs13.00.813
Whole class62.20.778

High-school signees by position group, with their average stars and 247Sports composite rating (out of 1), via CollegeFootballData.com. Athletes are signees with no set position.

2017 Big Sky standings

Conference page
TeamConf.OverallAP final
Weber State9–⁠111–⁠3
Southern Utah7–⁠29–⁠3
Eastern Washington6–⁠27–⁠4
Northern Arizona6–⁠27–⁠5
Sacramento State6–⁠37–⁠4
Montana5–⁠37–⁠4
Montana State5–⁠35–⁠6
UC Davis4–⁠55–⁠6
Idaho State2–⁠64–⁠7
Northern Colorado2–⁠63–⁠7
North Dakota2–⁠63–⁠8
Cal Poly1–⁠71–⁠10
Portland State0–⁠90–⁠11

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.