2025 Griz Hail Mary

[BelligerentBobcat]

Ugh, as much as I can't stand the gris, they are getting DECIMATED by the portal, really sucks. If 2025 was a relatively successful Hail Mary for um, it's going to take a miracle of much greater magnitude than the portal magic BH pulled off in 2025... Then again, if he wasn't such a jerk, maybe not quite as many guys would be leaving as have in the past week or so...

Note that I'm NOT celebrating this. MSU football won't be immune to the portal madness, just hoping a Natty will soften the blow a bit...

I guess I don’t agree with your statement that they are getting decimated. They have lost 10 guys, 4 were starters. So far, they’ve held onto Ah Yat, Gillman, Brooks Davis, etc. There are lots of teams who have lost 20 or more to the portal, I’d say that is decimated. Or if the Griz lost all those playmakers I mentioned then that may qualify as decimated as well. Are the Cats getting “decimated” by the portal? I don’t think so, seems you’ve lost all your star corners but you return plenty and the overall number of transfers is similar to Griz.

Griz lose a lot of startes and depth. It isn't all due to this year's portal.

But that’s an entirely different conversation than the one we are having here regarding the so-called decimation in the portal

I was somewhat defending you response above but also feel prior year portal use created part of the issue

It did. And it will continue to.

[Prodigal Cat]

One starter. One. And like a bunch of the replies are saying, its all good because the gris run a super simple defense that anyone can pick up quickly.

This is what happens when you date cheaters. You get cheated on. It should shock no one that they were willing to ditch you when they ditched someone for you.

[tetoncat]

One starter. One. And like a bunch of the replies are saying, its all good because the gris run a super simple defense that anyone can pick up quickly.

This is what happens when you date cheaters. You get cheated on. It should shock no one that they were willing to ditch you when they ditched someone for you.

Isn't that 1 more than they had in 2025

[HookedOnGriz]

That tweet doesn’t worry me too much. It’s also a bit misleading as I know Oven and Beaner and Mason have all started games. They got a ton of play from Mason, Schwartz, Bailey, Oven, Beaner, Seumalo, Gentry, etc. I’d say the year prior was a complete makeover, this year not so much.

[Montanabob]

That tweet doesn’t worry me too much. It’s also a bit misleading as I know Oven and Beaner and Mason have all started games. They got a ton of play from Mason, Schwartz, Bailey, Oven, Beaner, Seumalo, Gentry, etc. I’d say the year prior was a complete makeover, this year not so much.

20 freshmen coming in.
18 so far from the portal.
Not a makeover?

[HookedOnGriz]

That tweet doesn’t worry me too much. It’s also a bit misleading as I know Oven and Beaner and Mason have all started games. They got a ton of play from Mason, Schwartz, Bailey, Oven, Beaner, Seumalo, Gentry, etc. I’d say the year prior was a complete makeover, this year not so much.

20 freshmen coming in.
18 so far from the portal.
Not a makeover?

Try to keep up. This is specifically about the defense and someone claiming only one defensive starter is back. I made the point that 6-7 of the guys back played a ton of snaps last year so it’s not as dire of a situation. The year prior was different, it was a complete makeover on defense without a lot of dudes coming back who had experience. There are plenty comic back with lots of playing time this round. And I heard good news today that a dude we thought was gone will be back after getting another year of eligibility.

[BelligerentBobcat]

That tweet doesn’t worry me too much. It’s also a bit misleading as I know Oven and Beaner and Mason have all started games. They got a ton of play from Mason, Schwartz, Bailey, Oven, Beaner, Seumalo, Gentry, etc. I’d say the year prior was a complete makeover, this year not so much.

20 freshmen coming in.
18 so far from the portal.
Not a makeover?

Try to keep up. This is specifically about the defense and someone claiming only one defensive starter is back. I made the point that 6-7 of the guys back played a ton of snaps last year so it’s not as dire of a situation. The year prior was different, it was a complete makeover on defense without a lot of dudes coming back who had experience. There are plenty comic back with lots of playing time this round. And I heard good news today that a dude we thought was gone will be back after getting another year of eligibility.

Is old man Solly coming back?!

[catatac]

That tweet doesn’t worry me too much. It’s also a bit misleading as I know Oven and Beaner and Mason have all started games. They got a ton of play from Mason, Schwartz, Bailey, Oven, Beaner, Seumalo, Gentry, etc. I’d say the year prior was a complete makeover, this year not so much.

20 freshmen coming in.
18 so far from the portal.
Not a makeover?

Try to keep up. This is specifically about the defense and someone claiming only one defensive starter is back. I made the point that 6-7 of the guys back played a ton of snaps last year so it’s not as dire of a situation. The year prior was different, it was a complete makeover on defense without a lot of dudes coming back who had experience. There are plenty comic back with lots of playing time this round. And I heard good news today that a dude we thought was gone will be back after getting another year of eligibility.

What do you think the chances are that Bobby can somehow finally put together a team that can compete on both lines with the MSU and DSUs? If he can pull that off... Cat Griz in Bozeman might actually be a game. In not... it will be another blowout. Ya that sounds like smack talk but just reality from what I can see.

[HookedOnGriz]

That tweet doesn’t worry me too much. It’s also a bit misleading as I know Oven and Beaner and Mason have all started games. They got a ton of play from Mason, Schwartz, Bailey, Oven, Beaner, Seumalo, Gentry, etc. I’d say the year prior was a complete makeover, this year not so much.

20 freshmen coming in.
18 so far from the portal.
Not a makeover?

Try to keep up. This is specifically about the defense and someone claiming only one defensive starter is back. I made the point that 6-7 of the guys back played a ton of snaps last year so it’s not as dire of a situation. The year prior was different, it was a complete makeover on defense without a lot of dudes coming back who had experience. There are plenty comic back with lots of playing time this round. And I heard good news today that a dude we thought was gone will be back after getting another year of eligibility.

What do you think the chances are that Bobby can somehow finally put together a team that can compete on both lines with the MSU and DSUs? If he can pull that off... Cat Griz in Bozeman might actually be a game. In not... it will be another blowout. Ya that sounds like smack talk but just reality from what I can see.

Not smack talk at all. It is a reality at this point that the Griz need some major improvement in the trenches to compete with Cats, Bison, etc. If Hayden Hanks is healthy I could see him involving into a Paul Brott type disrupter. We need a guy like that badly. It was incredible what Gubner did for the defense in 23. They need that back for sure.

[4KornerKat]

That tweet doesn’t worry me too much. It’s also a bit misleading as I know Oven and Beaner and Mason have all started games. They got a ton of play from Mason, Schwartz, Bailey, Oven, Beaner, Seumalo, Gentry, etc. I’d say the year prior was a complete makeover, this year not so much.

20 freshmen coming in.
18 so far from the portal.
Not a makeover?

Try to keep up. This is specifically about the defense and someone claiming only one defensive starter is back. I made the point that 6-7 of the guys back played a ton of snaps last year so it’s not as dire of a situation. The year prior was different, it was a complete makeover on defense without a lot of dudes coming back who had experience. There are plenty comic back with lots of playing time this round. And I heard good news today that a dude we thought was gone will be back after getting another year of eligibility.

What do you think the chances are that Bobby can somehow finally put together a team that can compete on both lines with the MSU and DSUs? If he can pull that off... Cat Griz in Bozeman might actually be a game. In not... it will be another blowout. Ya that sounds like smack talk but just reality from what I can see.

Not smack talk at all. It is a reality at this point that the Griz need some major improvement in the trenches to compete with Cats, Bison, etc. If Hayden Hanks is healthy I could see him involving into a Paul Brott type disrupter. We need a guy like that badly. It was incredible what Gubner did for the defense in 23. They need that back for sure.

Evolving is the key piece. Gubner was 1 in a million. Cats seem to consistently be able to turn the next guy into that guy, through development. gris seem to be continuously looking for that guy to fall into their lap.

Until they embrace finding and developing players, especially on the lines, they will struggle. Market for O and D Lineman that can play right now is out of control in portal market.

[catatac]

That tweet doesn’t worry me too much. It’s also a bit misleading as I know Oven and Beaner and Mason have all started games. They got a ton of play from Mason, Schwartz, Bailey, Oven, Beaner, Seumalo, Gentry, etc. I’d say the year prior was a complete makeover, this year not so much.

20 freshmen coming in.
18 so far from the portal.
Not a makeover?

Try to keep up. This is specifically about the defense and someone claiming only one defensive starter is back. I made the point that 6-7 of the guys back played a ton of snaps last year so it’s not as dire of a situation. The year prior was different, it was a complete makeover on defense without a lot of dudes coming back who had experience. There are plenty comic back with lots of playing time this round. And I heard good news today that a dude we thought was gone will be back after getting another year of eligibility.

What do you think the chances are that Bobby can somehow finally put together a team that can compete on both lines with the MSU and DSUs? If he can pull that off... Cat Griz in Bozeman might actually be a game. In not... it will be another blowout. Ya that sounds like smack talk but just reality from what I can see.

Not smack talk at all. It is a reality at this point that the Griz need some major improvement in the trenches to compete with Cats, Bison, etc. If Hayden Hanks is healthy I could see him involving into a Paul Brott type disrupter. We need a guy like that badly. It was incredible what Gubner did for the defense in 23. They need that back for sure.

Totally fair, and good honest assessment. I know a lot of people (Griz fans as well as Cat fans) say the 3-3-5 defense Bobby is married to will never win it all, but honestly I've seen it work and if you have that unicorn in the middle... it can be a very dangerous defense. Personally I love that Vigen has a different approach with the 4-2-5 and works to get 8 to 10 guys on that front that rotate on a regular basis - that seems like a system that is better able to keep rolling if you get a D lineman or two that get knocked out for the season.

[HookedOnGriz]

That tweet doesn’t worry me too much. It’s also a bit misleading as I know Oven and Beaner and Mason have all started games. They got a ton of play from Mason, Schwartz, Bailey, Oven, Beaner, Seumalo, Gentry, etc. I’d say the year prior was a complete makeover, this year not so much.

20 freshmen coming in.
18 so far from the portal.
Not a makeover?

Try to keep up. This is specifically about the defense and someone claiming only one defensive starter is back. I made the point that 6-7 of the guys back played a ton of snaps last year so it’s not as dire of a situation. The year prior was different, it was a complete makeover on defense without a lot of dudes coming back who had experience. There are plenty comic back with lots of playing time this round. And I heard good news today that a dude we thought was gone will be back after getting another year of eligibility.

What do you think the chances are that Bobby can somehow finally put together a team that can compete on both lines with the MSU and DSUs? If he can pull that off... Cat Griz in Bozeman might actually be a game. In not... it will be another blowout. Ya that sounds like smack talk but just reality from what I can see.

Not smack talk at all. It is a reality at this point that the Griz need some major improvement in the trenches to compete with Cats, Bison, etc. If Hayden Hanks is healthy I could see him involving into a Paul Brott type disrupter. We need a guy like that badly. It was incredible what Gubner did for the defense in 23. They need that back for sure.

Evolving is the key piece. Gubner was 1 in a million. Cats seem to consistently be able to turn the next guy into that guy, through development. gris seem to be continuously looking for that guy to fall into their lap.

Until they embrace finding and developing players, especially on the lines, they will struggle. Market for O and D Lineman that can play right now is out of control in portal market.

Kinda. But I could just as easily turn that around and say look at Lamson this year. obviously, you didn’t have anyone developed behind him and had to bring in a transfer quarterback transfer who was a huge piece (maybe the biggest) of winning the national championship. So that goes both ways. Ah Yat and Gillman seemed to have been developed pretty damn effectively. But I agree on the lines they need to do better.

[Cataholic]

That tweet doesn’t worry me too much. It’s also a bit misleading as I know Oven and Beaner and Mason have all started games. They got a ton of play from Mason, Schwartz, Bailey, Oven, Beaner, Seumalo, Gentry, etc. I’d say the year prior was a complete makeover, this year not so much.

20 freshmen coming in.
18 so far from the portal.
Not a makeover?

Try to keep up. This is specifically about the defense and someone claiming only one defensive starter is back. I made the point that 6-7 of the guys back played a ton of snaps last year so it’s not as dire of a situation. The year prior was different, it was a complete makeover on defense without a lot of dudes coming back who had experience. There are plenty comic back with lots of playing time this round. And I heard good news today that a dude we thought was gone will be back after getting another year of eligibility.

What do you think the chances are that Bobby can somehow finally put together a team that can compete on both lines with the MSU and DSUs? If he can pull that off... Cat Griz in Bozeman might actually be a game. In not... it will be another blowout. Ya that sounds like smack talk but just reality from what I can see.

Not smack talk at all. It is a reality at this point that the Griz need some major improvement in the trenches to compete with Cats, Bison, etc. If Hayden Hanks is healthy I could see him involving into a Paul Brott type disrupter. We need a guy like that badly. It was incredible what Gubner did for the defense in 23. They need that back for sure.

Evolving is the key piece. Gubner was 1 in a million. Cats seem to consistently be able to turn the next guy into that guy, through development. gris seem to be continuously looking for that guy to fall into their lap.

Until they embrace finding and developing players, especially on the lines, they will struggle. Market for O and D Lineman that can play right now is out of control in portal market.

Kinda. But I could just as easily turn that around and say look at Lamson this year. obviously, you didn’t have anyone developed behind him and had to bring in a transfer quarterback transfer who was a huge piece (maybe the biggest) of winning the national championship. So that goes both ways. Ah Yat and Gillman seemed to have been developed pretty damn effectively. But I agree on the lines they need to do better.

However, the Gris could easily be 4-8 or 8-4 next year. It is completely dependent on the portal. The Cats could sleep walk to 8-4 next year with the guys we have developed.

[TomCat88]

That tweet doesn’t worry me too much. It’s also a bit misleading as I know Oven and Beaner and Mason have all started games. They got a ton of play from Mason, Schwartz, Bailey, Oven, Beaner, Seumalo, Gentry, etc. I’d say the year prior was a complete makeover, this year not so much.

20 freshmen coming in.
18 so far from the portal.
Not a makeover?

Try to keep up. This is specifically about the defense and someone claiming only one defensive starter is back. I made the point that 6-7 of the guys back played a ton of snaps last year so it’s not as dire of a situation. The year prior was different, it was a complete makeover on defense without a lot of dudes coming back who had experience. There are plenty comic back with lots of playing time this round. And I heard good news today that a dude we thought was gone will be back after getting another year of eligibility.

What do you think the chances are that Bobby can somehow finally put together a team that can compete on both lines with the MSU and DSUs? If he can pull that off... Cat Griz in Bozeman might actually be a game. In not... it will be another blowout. Ya that sounds like smack talk but just reality from what I can see.

Not smack talk at all. It is a reality at this point that the Griz need some major improvement in the trenches to compete with Cats, Bison, etc. If Hayden Hanks is healthy I could see him involving into a Paul Brott type disrupter. We need a guy like that badly. It was incredible what Gubner did for the defense in 23. They need that back for sure.

The Griz appear to be searching more for transcendent players than depth, especially on defense. When there’s only one starter returning along with just 6-7 players that had significant playing time, then you not only have 3-4 starting positions to fill but another 11 for depth. That’s a tall order.

The defense UM put on the field last year wasn’t very good and it looks like the same formula is being used for 2026.

UM played teams with good offenses 5-6 times and gave up 48(41), 30 (home), 31(24, home), 38 (Idaho State), 35, 29(home). By comparison, MSU only allowed over 28 twice and that was in overtime both times. The deeper you dig (ypp, ypg) the more the numbers support that.

[grizzh8r]

That tweet doesn’t worry me too much. It’s also a bit misleading as I know Oven and Beaner and Mason have all started games. They got a ton of play from Mason, Schwartz, Bailey, Oven, Beaner, Seumalo, Gentry, etc. I’d say the year prior was a complete makeover, this year not so much.

20 freshmen coming in.
18 so far from the portal.
Not a makeover?

Try to keep up. This is specifically about the defense and someone claiming only one defensive starter is back. I made the point that 6-7 of the guys back played a ton of snaps last year so it’s not as dire of a situation. The year prior was different, it was a complete makeover on defense without a lot of dudes coming back who had experience. There are plenty comic back with lots of playing time this round. And I heard good news today that a dude we thought was gone will be back after getting another year of eligibility.

What do you think the chances are that Bobby can somehow finally put together a team that can compete on both lines with the MSU and DSUs? If he can pull that off... Cat Griz in Bozeman might actually be a game. In not... it will be another blowout. Ya that sounds like smack talk but just reality from what I can see.

Not smack talk at all. It is a reality at this point that the Griz need some major improvement in the trenches to compete with Cats, Bison, etc. If Hayden Hanks is healthy I could see him involving into a Paul Brott type disrupter. We need a guy like that badly. It was incredible what Gubner did for the defense in 23. They need that back for sure.

The Griz appear to be searching more for transcendent players than depth, especially on defense. When there’s only one starter returning along with just 6-7 players that had significant playing time, then you not only have 3-4 starting positions to fill but another 11 for depth. That’s a tall order.

The defense UM put on the field last year wasn’t very good and it looks like the same formula is being used for 2026.

UM played teams with good offenses 5-6 times and gave up 48(41), 30 (home), 31(24, home), 38 (Idaho State), 35, 29(home). By comparison, MSU only allowed over 28 twice and that was in overtime both times. The deeper you dig (ypp, ypg) the more the numbers support that.

Careful Tom, you might confuse grisLLy fans with all those facts... : coffee:

[PortlandCat90]

Some strange decisions by Bobby in the Portal - a lot of stretches and unprovens. The Portal could be a place to take a gamble on a current year player, but not when you desperately need to replace almost your entire D. These are 2025 stats for the Portal additions:

RB- Phillips – Decommitted
RB- Paine – hasn’t played since 2023 due to torn ACL

OL- Weigel - Decommitted
OL/C- Way - Decommitted
OL- D'ambra – 5 games @ San Diego
OL- Vandiver – Walk-on at South Carolina – never played and blew his ACL last spring
OL- Drummond – 2nd string at UNLV

TE- Birdno – 5 catches @ St. Thomas
TE- Brooks – 1 catch @ Cal-Poly

WR/RB- Boykins – Decommitted – Louisville – big loss – 10.86 in HS
WR- Ransom-Goelz – 6 catches in 6 games before season-ending injury @ Rice – could be a great one judging by HS and Frosh year
WR- Lyons – redshirted – great HS career in Cal

DL- Sandiford - Decommitted
DE/LB- Tovey – 11 tackles @ Utah Tech
DE- King – 2nd Team All-American @ Central Washington
DL- Hanks – Thompson Falls native – hasn’t played college - medically retired in fall camp 2025 but making a comeback

LB/DE- Elliot - Decommitted
LB- Williams – 4 games with 6 tackles @SDSU
LB- Eklund – 7 games with 7 tackles @ Bowling Green
LB- Mose – easily the best of the class – starter with 40 tackles @ Georgetown

CB- Mackey - Decommitted
CB- Stroud – 5 games with 2 tackles @ North Texas
DB- Dunn – 3 years, 15 games, 9 tackles @ Arizona
DB- Johnson – probably highest potential – top 80 in Texas HS – hasn’t played in 2 years @ Arizona State

S- Jackson - Decommitted
S-Paine – 14 Special Teams tackles @ South Dakota
S- Fall – 3 games, no tackles @ ASU
S-Haines – 1 year of special teams only in 3 years @ Wazzu and @ San Diego State
S -Orlandi – 1st Team Conference @ Carroll

I'm sure they are all great dudes but if I'm replacing all of those losses, I'm starting to have some stress about fielding Championship caliber talent.

[catatac]

Some strange decisions by Bobby in the Portal - a lot of stretches and unprovens. The Portal could be a place to take a gamble on a current year player, but not when you desperately need to replace almost your entire D. These are 2025 stats for the Portal additions:

RB- Phillips – Decommitted
RB- Paine – hasn’t played since 2023 due to torn ACL

OL- Weigel - Decommitted
OL/C- Way - Decommitted
OL- D'ambra – 5 games @ San Diego
OL- Vandiver – Walk-on at South Carolina – never played and blew his ACL last spring
OL- Drummond – 2nd string at UNLV

TE- Birdno – 5 catches @ St. Thomas
TE- Brooks – 1 catch @ Cal-Poly

WR/RB- Boykins – Decommitted – Louisville – big loss – 10.86 in HS
WR- Ransom-Goelz – 6 catches in 6 games before season-ending injury @ Rice – could be a great one judging by HS and Frosh year
WR- Lyons – redshirted – great HS career in Cal

DL- Sandiford - Decommitted
DE/LB- Tovey – 11 tackles @ Utah Tech
DE- King – 2nd Team All-American @ Central Washington
DL- Hanks – Thompson Falls native – hasn’t played college - medically retired in fall camp 2025 but making a comeback

LB/DE- Elliot - Decommitted
LB- Williams – 4 games with 6 tackles @SDSU
LB- Eklund – 7 games with 7 tackles @ Bowling Green
LB- Mose – easily the best of the class – starter with 40 tackles @ Georgetown

CB- Mackey - Decommitted
CB- Stroud – 5 games with 2 tackles @ North Texas
DB- Dunn – 3 years, 15 games, 9 tackles @ Arizona
DB- Johnson – probably highest potential – top 80 in Texas HS – hasn’t played in 2 years @ Arizona State

S- Jackson - Decommitted
S-Paine – 14 Special Teams tackles @ South Dakota
S- Fall – 3 games, no tackles @ ASU
S-Haines – 1 year of special teams only in 3 years @ Wazzu and @ San Diego State
S -Orlandi – 1st Team Conference @ Carroll

I'm sure they are all great dudes but if I'm replacing all of those losses, I'm starting to have some stress about fielding Championship caliber talent.

IF it all comes together and half these guys end up being contributors... they could field a decent team, but I think the ceiling would be a playoff team that gets bounced in the quarters... MAYBE the semis if everything clicks and they stay healthy. I don't think there's much of a chance they can beat us or the Dakotas.

[Grizzlies2026]

Not at all convinced the problem is the portal. The top programs in CFB are utilizing the portal at high rates. The majority of both Indiana and Miami's starts came from transfer guys. The only CFP programs who haven't adopted a major portal utilization philosophy were UGA and Alabama. At the FCS level, many of Illinois State's key guys were transfers and FBS drops. Tarleton, UM, SDSU, UND, USD, UCD, Ill St, and many more have heavily utilized the portal to make key additions. MSU, NDSU, UGA, and Alabama employ a unique philosophy in the new CFB landscape.

I think the true, clear problem lies in the compatibility of our schematics with bringing a lot of portal guys. The 3-3-5 is all fine and good, but you truly NEED a nose tackle who requires double teams in order for your backers to run free and cause the chaos that is the objective. We've had probably 2 NT's in Bobby's tenure capable of doing that. It's damn near impossible to get that kind of NT from the portal at the FCS level. The 3-3-5 also has a lot of nuance that makes it tough to learn, especially in the way Bobby and co. have deployed it. IU utilized some 3-3-5 with heavy portal utilization, but it wasn't their base defense. I think it's increasingly clear that the defensive scheme and heavy portal utilization are incompatible. They should scrap one. I think they should switch to a base 4-3 or a base 4-2-5.

[Cataholic]

Some strange decisions by Bobby in the Portal - a lot of stretches and unprovens. The Portal could be a place to take a gamble on a current year player, but not when you desperately need to replace almost your entire D. These are 2025 stats for the Portal additions:

RB- Phillips – Decommitted
RB- Paine – hasn’t played since 2023 due to torn ACL

OL- Weigel - Decommitted
OL/C- Way - Decommitted
OL- D'ambra – 5 games @ San Diego
OL- Vandiver – Walk-on at South Carolina – never played and blew his ACL last spring
OL- Drummond – 2nd string at UNLV

TE- Birdno – 5 catches @ St. Thomas
TE- Brooks – 1 catch @ Cal-Poly

WR/RB- Boykins – Decommitted – Louisville – big loss – 10.86 in HS
WR- Ransom-Goelz – 6 catches in 6 games before season-ending injury @ Rice – could be a great one judging by HS and Frosh year
WR- Lyons – redshirted – great HS career in Cal

DL- Sandiford - Decommitted
DE/LB- Tovey – 11 tackles @ Utah Tech
DE- King – 2nd Team All-American @ Central Washington
DL- Hanks – Thompson Falls native – hasn’t played college - medically retired in fall camp 2025 but making a comeback

LB/DE- Elliot - Decommitted
LB- Williams – 4 games with 6 tackles @SDSU
LB- Eklund – 7 games with 7 tackles @ Bowling Green
LB- Mose – easily the best of the class – starter with 40 tackles @ Georgetown

CB- Mackey - Decommitted
CB- Stroud – 5 games with 2 tackles @ North Texas
DB- Dunn – 3 years, 15 games, 9 tackles @ Arizona
DB- Johnson – probably highest potential – top 80 in Texas HS – hasn’t played in 2 years @ Arizona State

S- Jackson - Decommitted
S-Paine – 14 Special Teams tackles @ South Dakota
S- Fall – 3 games, no tackles @ ASU
S-Haines – 1 year of special teams only in 3 years @ Wazzu and @ San Diego State
S -Orlandi – 1st Team Conference @ Carroll

I'm sure they are all great dudes but if I'm replacing all of those losses, I'm starting to have some stress about fielding Championship caliber talent.

Yikes. This does not look a formula for success.

[catatac]

Not at all convinced the problem is the portal. The top programs in CFB are utilizing the portal at high rates. The majority of both Indiana and Miami's starts came from transfer guys. The only CFP programs who haven't adopted a major portal utilization philosophy were UGA and Alabama. At the FCS level, many of Illinois State's key guys were transfers and FBS drops. Tarleton, UM, SDSU, UND, USD, UCD, Ill St, and many more have heavily utilized the portal to make key additions. MSU, NDSU, UGA, and Alabama employ a unique philosophy in the new CFB landscape.

I think the true, clear problem lies in the compatibility of our schematics with bringing a lot of portal guys. The 3-3-5 is all fine and good, but you truly NEED a nose tackle who requires double teams in order for your backers to run free and cause the chaos that is the objective. We've had probably 2 NT's in Bobby's tenure capable of doing that. It's damn near impossible to get that kind of NT from the portal at the FCS level. The 3-3-5 also has a lot of nuance that makes it tough to learn, especially in the way Bobby and co. have deployed it. IU utilized some 3-3-5 with heavy portal utilization, but it wasn't their base defense. I think it's increasingly clear that the defensive scheme and heavy portal utilization are incompatible. They should scrap one. I think they should switch to a base 4-3 or a base 4-2-5.

Good post, I agree with all this. I think another area where the Griz are behind the Cats is just the overall program, the way both programs are being run, and where the main focus areas are. I posted this in other threads but from what I see (Totally admit I could be biased), is the the Cats are a step ahead of the Criz in terms of overall culture, HUGE emphasis on talent, size, and strength on both lines, strength and conditioning, mental toughness coach, nutrition, etc. I'm not saying the Griz don't have a solid culture, in fact I think Bobby did really well to bring in that many new faces and end up being as solid as the Griz were in 2025. I just think the Cats have all that at a slightly higher level. Just my observations through blue and gold lenses.