The History of Brawl of the Wild

What’s in a Name? From “Montana Power Classic” to “Brawl of the Wild”

For much of the 20th century, the rivalry went by practical but forgettable names, like the “Montana Power Classic.” That changed in 1997, thanks to Missoulian sportswriter Kim Briggeman.

Previewing the 97th meeting between Montana and Montana State, Briggeman wrote a simple line that would change the rivalry forever:

“The 97th Brawl of the Wild takes place in Bozeman on Saturday.”

That was it. Three words that stuck.

The name was a playful nod to Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild” — a story of a dog pulled from comfort into the harsh, beautiful wilderness, finding his place in it. It’s hard to imagine a better metaphor for a late November showdown in Missoula or Bozeman, with snowbanks, breath in the air, and a crowd that feels more like a mountain town gathering than a corporate event.

At first, “Brawl of the Wild” lived mainly in Missoula media. Some outlets resisted it, some rolled their eyes. But fans embraced it. Over time, TV, radio, newspapers, the Big Sky Conference, and national broadcasts picked it up. Today, it appears everywhere from local posters to ESPN’s College GameDay set.

Like much of Montana culture, it didn’t arrive via a committee or branding agency. It grew organically from the people telling and living the story.

A Rivalry That Mirrors Montana’s History

The Brawl of the Wild began in 1897. To put that in perspective:

• William McKinley had just become the 25th U.S. president.

• The forward pass in football wouldn’t be legalized until 1906.

• The NFL didn’t exist

Montana and Montana State have now met 123 times, making this the fourth-oldest rivalry in the FCS. Through world wars, economic booms and busts, and the evolution of college football itself, the game has been a constant.

Along the way, it’s produced moments that Montanans still talk about at dinner tables, tailgates, and reunions:

• 1968 – The Paul Schafer Game
  Down 24–9 in the fourth quarter, Montana State stormed back, powered by running back Paul Schafer’s 58 carries for 234 yards and a game-winning touchdown with 12 seconds left. It was grit in its purest Montana form.
  
  

• 1986 – The Streak Begins
  In the first rivalry game at Washington–Grizzly Stadium, Montana put up 59 points, igniting “The Streak” — a Grizzly run that would stretch across 16 straight wins and nearly three decades.
  
  

• 1997 – Heartbreak in 22 Seconds
  After a furious rally, Montana State took a 25–24 lead with just 22 seconds left, seemingly poised to end The Streak. A kickoff out of bounds, a deep strike from Brian Ah Yat, and a Kris Heppner field goal at the gun flipped the script, handing Montana its 12th straight win. It’s the kind of ending that still stings in Bozeman and still brings a smile in Missoula.
  
  

• 2002 – The Streak Ends
  With true freshman Travis Lulay under center, the Bobcats finally broke through with a 10–7 win, backed by a suffocating defense that held Montana to just 106 passing yards. For Bobcat fans, it felt like a weight lifted from the entire program.
  
  

• 2011 – Down Goes No. 1
  Montana State entered as the top-ranked team in the nation with a high-powered offense. Montana responded with a 36–10 statement win, holding that offense to 250 total yards and reminding everyone that rankings mean little when rivalry emotion kicks in.
  
  

• 2018 – The Miracle in Missoula
  Montana State erased a 22–0 deficit to take a 29–25 lead, only to face a goal-line stand with Montana inside the one-yard line in the final seconds. The Bobcats stopped the Griz inches short — a moment now simply known as “The Miracle in Missoula.”
  
  

Every era has its story. Every household has a version of “where I was when…”

More Than a Scoreboard: A Statewide Ritual

What makes the Brawl of the Wild so important isn’t just the result. It’s the way the game weaves itself into everyday life across Montana.

• Families split down the middle: Parents, siblings, and spouses rooting for opposite colors, trading good-natured jabs for weeks.

• Small towns choosing sides: Flags in windows, hand-painted signs on Main Street, local businesses leaning into the banter.

• Generations linked: Grandparents who remember the mud games of the ‘60s watching alongside grandchildren seeing College GameDay roll into town.

In a large, sparsely populated state, shared rituals matter. The Brawl of the Wild gives Montanans a common language — even when they disagree on teams, they agree the game matters.

It’s a pulse check on who we are: tough, loyal, deeply connected to place, and unafraid of a little cold.

National Spotlight, Montana Stage

In 2022, ESPN’s College GameDay came to Bozeman for the first time for a Brawl of the Wild matchup. For many viewers around the country, it was a first look at just how big this “small-state rivalry” really is.

To those who live here, it simply confirmed what they already knew: this game is a cultural touchstone.

From the first coin toss in 1897 to scenes of snow, signs, and sea-of-fans broadcasts beamed across the world, the Brawl of the Wild continues to tell a story that’s uniquely Montana — resilient, passionate, proud of its roots.

 Why It Matters

Wins and losses fade. Trophies change hands. But the Brawl of the Wild endures because it represents more than a season record.

It’s:

• A reunion, where alumni return “home” no matter how far they’ve gone.

• A mirror of Montana values: toughness, loyalty, and respect — even for your rival.

• A living tradition that connects past, present, and future in a state where history still feels close to the surface.

Whether you’re maroon, blue and gold, or simply grateful to live in a place that cares this deeply, the Brawl of the Wild is a reminder that Montana is more than just a landscape. It’s a community — and once a year, that community gathers around one game that feels like much more than four quarters of football.