Grizzlies roar: Montana shocks No. 20 Washington 13-7

A couple of weeks before the season started, Montana coach Bobby Hauck met with university president Seth Bodnar. His message was clear: The Grizzlies were going to be really good and even might take down Washington in the opener.

Yes, that Washington. The one from the Pac-12 and expected to challenge for a conference title.

Shockingly, Hauck turned out to be right.

Montana became the first FCS team to upset a ranked FBS team in five years, stunning No. 20 Washington 13-7.

The Grizzlies got the better of their Pac-12 foe, pulling off arguably the biggest victory in school history outside of winning two FCS national titles.

Montana is the first FCS team to beat a ranked FBS team since North Dakota State won at No. 13 Iowa 23-21 early in the 2016 season, and the fifth time it has happened since Appalachian State’s famous upset of No. 5 Michigan in 2007. It was Montana’s second victory over Washington, the last coming in 1920.