CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds are back in the Big Sky Conference and will kick off the 2026 campaign in Missoula at the University of Montana on Saturday, August 29 at 8:00 p.m. MT. The game can be streamed on ESPN+, and live stats are available at suutbirds.com.
The Game
The Thunderbirds enter the season with high hopes, having finished 7-5 the last two years in the United Athletic Conference. Despite the disappointment of missing the FCS Playoffs in 2025, the T-Birds are riding a six-game winning streak. Coach DeLane Fitzgerald has continuously improved the program during his time in Cedar City and will look to continue that trend in 2026.
Montana checked into the preseason polls as the No. 2 team in FCS and is under new leadership, with longtime Assistant Coach Bobby Kennedy taking the reins. The Grizzlies finished the 2025 season 13-2, with both losses coming to the National Champions from across the state in Bozeman.
Check out this Week's Coaches Show
Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald is joined by Assistant Coach Will Brunson and host Jon Smith at Cafe Sabor to talk about the wrap-up of fall camp and game week preparations for Montana.
Key T-Birds to Watch
Quarterback Will Burns is back for the Thunderbirds. Burns started one game last season to go along with appearing in ten others, and has a tight grasp of the offense. The T-Birds have boasted the FCS's leading rusher in each of the last two seasons and will look to continue that streak, though coach Fitzgerald has been pointed in saying that Southern Utah will spread the workload around more in 2026. Look to see San Jose State transfer Floyd Chalk and Western Carolina transfer Camaury Reid at the forefront of the rushing attack. Burns also used his feet as a weapon, tallying 380 yards in 49 attempts last year. Redshirt junior Niko Alailefaleula and sophomore Ran Sawyer could also see significant reps as the season kicks off.
In the passing game, the Thunderbirds return a trio of significant contributors. Redshirt junior Devin Downing was a top target a year ago, hauling in 26 catches for 309 yards in 2025. Mark Bails is also back and, given a full season, could become one of the most explosive receiving threats for the T-Birds. Redshirt senior Anson Kraut is ready to make his final campaign his best with an expanded role in the receiving corps. Tight end Joshua Acord returned to Southern Utah after spending the 2025 season at Appalachian State and will look to pick up where he left off. Quarterback Will Burns completed over 70 percent of his passes last year.
On defense, linebacker Mason Stromstad is back with a great deal of experience. Stromstad finished third on the team with 64 tackles while adding seven tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups in 2025. On the defensive front, the Thunderbirds return a handful of players with significant snaps from a season ago. Defensive tackles Seni Tuiaki and Parker Andrus combined for 35 tackles last season. In the secondary, the T-Birds can count on Tim Christian and Sean Mays, who each saw significant time. Christian finished the 2025 campaign with 38 total tackles and led the team in pass breakups with seven. Mays is going to find an expanded role after finishing last season with 17 total tackles and four pass breakups.
A Glance at the Grizz
Montana enters the 2026 season with a strong core of returning playmakers from a team that went 13-2 and reached the FCS semifinals a year ago. The centerpiece is quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat, who returns after throwing for 4,070 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2025 while completing 69 percent of his passes. He will be joined in the backfield by Eli Gillman, one of the top running backs in the FCS after rushing for 1,540 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. At receiver, Brooks Davis returns after catching 54 passes for 698 yards and five touchdowns, giving the Grizzlies a proven trio at quarterback, running back and wide receiver.
Defensively, Montana returns a host of significant contributors, led by linebackers Peyton Wing and Solomon Tuliaupupu. Wing was all over the field in 2025, recording 78 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and four interceptions, while Tuliaupupu added 43 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks. Overall, the Grizzlies return contributors at every level of the defense, including two defensive tackles, two edge players, three linebackers and two safeties. Montana has also supplemented that group with several transfers, making the Grizzlies a veteran and talented opponent.
Tickets
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