In one of the year’s first preseason polls, Montana slotted in at No. 11 in the Athlon Sports Preseason FCS Top-25, the news organization announced Wednesday.
The Grizzlies were one of five Big Sky Conference teams to earn a ranking, with Weber State in at No. 6, Montana State at No. 8, UC Davis at No. 17, and Eastern Washington at No. 19. Sacramento State was also one of 10 teams “on the cusp” of earning a spot in the poll.
Montana enters the 2021 coming off a 2-0 spring season where the Griz dismantled Central Washington and Portland State by a combined score of 107-10.
Photo courtesy of Grizzly Athletics.
James Madison was picked in the top spot after finishing the 2020-21 year at 7-1, followed by North Dakota State at No. 2, and spring FCS champion Sam Houston at No. 3. South Dakota State and Delaware round out the top five, respectively.
Montana finished the 2019 year ranked No. 6 in the nation after the Grizzlies put together a 10-4 season and returned to the FCS quarterfinals for the first time in a decade.
The Athlon Sports Top-25 is compiled by Stats Perform FCS senior editor Craig Hailey.
2021 Athlon Sports Preseason FCS Top-25
| Team | 2020/21 W-L |
| 1. James Madison | 7-1 |
| 2. North Dakota State | 7-3 |
| 3. Sam Houston | 10-0 |
| 4. South Dakota State | 8-2 |
| 5. Delaware | 7-1 |
| 6. Weber State | 5-1 |
| 7. North Dakota | 5-2 |
| 8. Montana State | 0-0 |
| 9. Southern Illinois | 6-4 |
| 10. Jacksonville State | 10-3 |
| 11. Montana | 2-0 |
| 12. Monmouth | 3-1 |
| 13. Central Arkansas | 5-4 |
| 14. Northern Iowa | 3-4 |
| 15. Southeastern Louisiana | 4-3 |
| 16. Villanova | 2-2 |
| 17. UC Davis | 3-2 |
| 18. VMI | 6-2 |
| 19. Eastern Washington | 5-2 |
| 20. Chattanooga | 3-2 |
| 21. Kennesaw State | 4-1 |
| 22. New Hampshire | 0-1 |
| 23. Austin Peay | 4-5 |
| 24. Nicholls | 4-3 |
| 25. Missouri State | 5-5 |
On the Cusp: Albany, Florida A&M, Furman, Illinois State, Murray State, North Carolina A&T, Rhode Island, Richmond, Sacramento State, UIW