2022 Montana Grizzlies football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 2022
| team = Montana Grizzlies
| sport = football
| image = Montana Griz logo.svg
| image_size = 150
| conference = Big Sky Conference
| short_conf = Big Sky
| STATSRank = 14
| FCSCoachRank = 14
| record = 8–5
| conf_record = 4–4
| head_coach = Bobby Hauck
| hc_year = 12th
| off_coach = Timm Rosenbach
| oc_year = 5th
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Kent Baer
| dc_year = 4th
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Washington–Grizzly Stadium
| bowl = NCAA Division I Second Round
| bowl_result =
L 26–49 at North Dakota State
}}
{{2022 Big Sky Conference football standings}}
The 2022 Montana Grizzlies football team represented the University of Montana as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Grizzlies were led by 12th-year head coach Bobby Hauck and played their home games at Washington–Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana.
Preseason
=Polls=
On July 25, 2022, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Grizzlies were predicted to finish first in the Big Sky by both the coaches and media.{{cite web|title= Montana Tabbed Big Sky Preseason Favorites by Coaches & Media|url= https://bigskyconf.com/news/2022/7/25/football-montana-tabbed-big-sky-preseason-favorites-by-coaches-media.aspx|date=July 25, 2021|access-date=July 25, 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="display: inline-table;"
|+Coaches poll |
| align="center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Montana Grizzlies|Predicted finish|Team|Votes (1st place)}} |
| align="center"
| 1 | Montana | 111 (3) |
| align="center"
| 2 | Sacramento State | 110 (4) |
| align="center"
| 3 | Montana State | 109 (5) |
| align="center"
| 4 | Weber State | 84 |
| align="center"
| 5 | UC Davis | 82 |
| align="center"
| 6 | Eastern Washington | 76 |
| align="center"
| 7 | Northern Arizona | 62 |
| align="center"
| 8 | Idaho | 45 |
| align="center"
| 9 | Portland State | 42 |
| align="center"
| 10 | Cal Poly | 33 |
| align="center"
| T-11 | Idaho State | 19 |
| align="center"
| T-11 | Northern Colorado | 19 |
| class="wikitable" style="display: inline-table;"
|+Media poll |
| align="center"
{{CollegeSecondaryHeader|team=Montana Grizzlies|Predicted finish|Team|Votes (1st place)}} |
| align="center"
| 1 | Montana | 356 (14) |
| align="center"
| 2 | Montana State | 352 (13) |
| align="center"
| 3 | Sacramento State | 335 (4) |
| align="center"
| 4 | Weber State | 261 |
| align="center"
| 5 | UC Davis | 255 (1) |
| align="center"
| 6 | Eastern Washington | 236 |
| align="center"
| 7 | Northern Arizona | 191 |
| align="center"
| 8 | Portland State | 146 |
| align="center"
| 9 | Idaho | 142 |
| align="center"
| 10 | Cal Poly | 85 |
| align="center"
| 11 | Northern Colorado | 71 |
| align="center"
| 12 | Idaho State | 66 |
=Preseason All–Big Sky team=
The Grizzlies had five players selected to the preseason all-Big Sky team.{{cite web |title=O’Connell named MVP as five Griz land on preseason All-Big Sky team |url=https://gogriz.com/news/2022/7/24/football-o-connell-named-mvp-as-five-griz-land-on-preseason-all-big-sky-team.aspx |website=University of Montana |access-date=June 27, 2022 |language=en |date=25 July 2022}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
Offense
Malik Flowers – WR
{{col-break}}
Defense
Patrick O'Connell – LB
Alex Gubner – DT
Robby Hauck – S
Justin Ford – CB
{{col-end}}
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 2022
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I FCS
| poll = STATS
| timezone = Mountain
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 3
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 3
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Northwestern State
| site_stadium = Washington–Grizzly Stadium
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| score = 47–0
| attend = 24,096
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 10
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 3
| nonconf = y
| opponent = South Dakota
| site_stadium = Washington–Grizzly Stadium
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = KTMF/ESPN+
| score = 24–7
| attend = 24,204
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 17
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = Indiana State
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Terre Haute, IN
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 49–14
| attend = 5,929
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 24
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| rank = T–2
| opponent = Portland State
| site_stadium = Washington–Grizzly Stadium
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = KPAX/ESPN+
| score = 53–16
| attend = 26,087
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 1
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = Idaho State
| site_stadium = Holt Arena
| site_cityst = Pocatello, ID
| tv = KPAX/ESPN+
| score = 28–20
| attend = 6,659
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 15
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| rank = 3
| opponent = Idaho
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Washington–Grizzly Stadium
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| gamename = Little Brown Stein
| tv = KPAX/ESPN+
| score = 23–30
| attend = 26,314
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 22
| time = 9:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| rank = 7
| away = y
| opponent = Sacramento State
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Hornet Stadium
| site_cityst = Sacramento, CA
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 24–31
| overtime = OT
| attend = 15,927
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 29
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| score = 21–24
| away = y
| rank = 11
| opponent = Weber State
| opprank = T–5
| site_stadium = Stewart Stadium
| site_cityst = Ogden, UT
| tv = KPAX/ESPN+
| attend = 11,722
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 5
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 16
| score = 57–0
| opponent = Cal Poly
| site_stadium = Washington–Grizzly Stadium
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| tv = KPAX/ESPN+
| attend = 25,684
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 12
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| score = 63–7
| rank = 16
| opponent = Eastern Washington
| site_stadium = Washington–Grizzly Stadium
| site_cityst = Missoula, MT
| gamename = EWU–UM Governors Cup
| tv = KPAX/ESPN+
| attend = 25,403
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 19
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 13
| opponent = Montana State
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = Bobcat Stadium
| site_cityst = Bozeman, MT
| gamename = rivalry, College GameDay
| tv = KPAX/ESPN+
| score = 21–55
| attend = 22,047
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 26
| time = 8:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 19
| opponent = Southeast Missouri State
| opprank = 14
| stadium = Washington–Grizzly Stadium
| cityst = Missoula, MT
| gamename = NCAA Division I First Round
| tv = ESPN2/ESPN+
| score = 34–24
| attend = 13,390
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 3
| time = 2:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| rank = 19
| away = y
| opponent = North Dakota State
| opprank = 4
| stadium = Fargodome
| cityst = Fargo, ND
| gamename = NCAA Division I Second Round
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 26–49
| attend = 12,929
}}
}}
Game summaries
=Northwestern State=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Demons
|R1=0
|R2=0
|R3=0
|R4=0
|Home=No. 3 Grizzles
|H1=13
|H2=13
|H3=7
|H4=14
}}
{{see also|2022 Northwestern State Demons football team}}
{{Clear}}
=South Dakota=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Coyotes
|R1=0
|R2=0
|R3=0
|R4=7
|Home=No. 3 Grizzles
|H1=13
|H2=0
|H3=9
|H4=2
}}
{{see also|2022 South Dakota Coyotes football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At Indiana State=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=No. 3 Grizzles
|R1= 14
|R2= 7
|R3= 14
|R4= 14
|Home=Sycamores
|H1= 7
|H2= 0
|H3= 0
|H4= 7
}}
{{see also|2022 Indiana State Sycamores football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Portland State=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Vikings
|R1= 7
|R2= 7
|R3= 2
|R4= 0
|Home=No. 2T Grizzles
|H1= 14
|H2= 25
|H3= 0
|H4= 14
}}
{{see also|2022 Portland State Vikings football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At Idaho State=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=No. 3 Grizzles
|R1=0
|R2=21
|R3=7
|R4=0
|Home=Bengals
|H1=3
|H2=3
|H3=0
|H4=14
}}
{{see also|2022 Idaho State Bengals football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Idaho=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Vandals
|R1=3
|R2=9
|R3=10
|R4=8
|Home=No. 3 Grizzles
|H1=6
|H2=7
|H3=3
|H4=7
}}
{{see also|2022 Idaho Vandals football team|Little Brown Stein}}
{{Clear}}
=At No. 2 Sacramento State=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=No. 7 Grizzles
|R1= 7
|R2= 3
|R3= 7
|R4= 7
|R5= 0
|Home=No. 2 Hornets
|H1= 0
|H2= 7
|H3= 0
|H4= 17
|H5= 7
}}
{{see also|2022 Sacramento State Hornets football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At No. 5т Weber State=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=No. 11 Grizzles
|R1= 3
|R2= 7
|R3= 3
|R4= 8
|Home=No. 5T Wildcats
|H1= 7
|H2= 3
|H3= 7
|H4= 7
}}
{{see also|2022 Weber State Wildcats football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Cal Poly=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Mustangs
|R1=0
|R2=0
|R3=0
|R4=0
|Home=No. 16 Grizzles
|H1=14
|H2=17
|H3=13
|H4=13
}}
{{see also|2022 Cal Poly Mustangs football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Eastern Washington=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Eagles
|R1=0
|R2=0
|R3=7
|R4=0
|Home=No. 16 Grizzles
|H1=21
|H2=21
|H3=14
|H4=7
}}
{{see also|2022 Eastern Washington Eagles football team|EWU–UM Governors Cup}}
{{Clear}}
=At No. 3 Montana State=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=No. 13 Grizzles
|R1=7
|R2=0
|R3=0
|R4=14
|Home=No. 3 Bobcats
|H1=21
|H2=10
|H3=10
|H4=14
}}
{{see also|2022 Montana State Bobcats football team|Brawl of the Wild}}
{{Clear}}
FCS Playoffs
=No. 14 Southeast Missouri State – First Round=
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=No. 14 Redhawks
|R1=7
|R2=10
|R3=7
|R4=0
|Home=No. 19 Grizzlies
|H1=0
|H2=3
|H3=21
|H4=10
}}
{{see also|2022 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team|2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season}}
{{Clear}}
=At No. 4 North Dakota State – Second Round=
{{Linescore Amfootball
|Road=No. 19 Grizzlies
|R1=7
|R2=6
|R3=7
|R4=6
|Home=No. 4 Bison
|H1=14
|H2=7
|H3=14
|H4=14
}}
{{see also|2022 North Dakota State Bison football team|2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season}}
{{Clear}}
Ranking movements
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = STATS FCS
| poll1firstweek = 0
| poll1lastweek = 13
| poll1_0=3
| poll1_1=3
| poll1_2=3
| poll1_3=2т {{Small|(6)}}
| poll1_4=3 {{Small|(7)}}
| poll1_5=3 {{Small|(6)}}
| poll1_6=3 {{Small|(7)}}
| poll1_7=7
| poll1_8=11
| poll1_9=16
| poll1_10=16
| poll1_11=13
| poll1_12=19
| poll1_13=
| poll1_14=
| poll1_15=
| poll1_16=
| poll1_17=
| poll1_18=
| poll1_19=
| poll1_20=
| poll2title = Coaches
| poll2firstweek = 0
| poll2lastweek = 13
| poll2_0=2
| poll2_1=2
| poll2_2=2 {{Small|(1)}}
| poll2_3=2 {{Small|(5)}}
| poll2_4=2 {{Small|(4)}}
| poll2_5=2 {{Small|(3)}}
| poll2_6=2 {{Small|(3)}}
| poll2_7=7
| poll2_8=10
| poll2_9=13
| poll2_10=14
| poll2_11=12
| poll2_12=17
| poll2_13=
| poll2_14=
| poll2_15=
| poll2_16=
| poll2_17=
| poll2_18=
| poll2_19=
| poll2_20=
}}