Idaho-Montana football rivalry
Statistics
Idaho Vandals Montana Grizzlies
First meeting	1903, 121 years ago Idaho, 28–0
Latest meeting	October 14, 2023 #10 Montana 23, #3 Idaho 21
Next meeting	September 25, 2025 in Missoula
Meetings total	89
All-time series	Idaho leads, 56–31–2 (.640)
Largest victory	Idaho, 46–0 (1945)
Longest win streak	Idaho, 8, (1951–1959)
Current win streak	Montana, 1, (2023)

Locations of Idaho and Montana

The Little Brown Stein is a rivalry trophy awarded to the winner of the college football game between the University of Idaho Vandals and the University of Montana Grizzlies, both members of the Big Sky Conference. The trophy is, as the name implies, a large stein mug with the results of all the games between the two painted on.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

The game was not played for fourteen seasons (2004–2017), and Montana retained the trophy.^[5]^[6] The series resumed in 2018, when Idaho rejoined the Big Sky for football.

History

Idaho and Montana first met in football 121 years ago in 1903 and have played 88 times; the stein was introduced 86 years ago in 1938 at the 25th meeting.^[1]^[2]^[3] Idaho has dominated the overall series at 56–31–2 (.640),^[7] which also includes two Division I-AA playoff wins at home in the 1980s. Montana has had the upper hand since 1991, winning twelve of the last fifteen (.800). While Idaho was in Division I-A (FBS), from 1996 through 2017, the teams met only five times, with Montana winning the last four.^[5]^[6]^[8]

The schools are about two hundred miles (320 km) apart; Moscow and Missoula are on opposite sides of the lower Idaho Panhandle, separated by the Bitterroot Mountains over Lolo Pass (U.S. Route 12).

Idaho hosted the game in southern Idaho at Boise in 1961,^[9]^[10] and in nearby Pullman, Washington, in 1970 and 2000.

Conferences

Both were members of the old Pacific Coast Conference (the forerunner of today's Pac-12);^[11] Montana departed after the 1949 season, and the PCC disbanded in the summer of 1959. In most years, the loser of the game was last in the PCC standings. Montana was in the Skyline Conference from 1951 through the 1961 season.

The universities were two of the six charter members of the Big Sky Conference in 1963,^[12]^[13] (although Idaho remained an independent in football until 1965) and their final season as conference opponents was in 1995. While Montana has been in the Big Sky since its inception, Idaho changed its conference affiliation multiple times from 1995 to 2018:

Idaho moved to the Big West for all sports in 1996, returning to Division I-A after 18 years in I-AA.
After the 2000 season, the Big West dropped football. Idaho became a football-only member of the Sun Belt Conference in 2001 while remaining a full Big West member.
Idaho joined the WAC for all sports in 2005 as part of a major NCAA conference realignment.
After the WAC experienced a near-complete membership turnover in the early 2010s, it dropped football after the 2012 season. Idaho football was an FBS independent for one season in 2013.
Idaho returned to the Big Sky in 2014 except for football, which rejoined the Sun Belt.
Idaho dropped back to FCS in 2018 and resumed football membership in the Big Sky.^[7]^[14]

Results

Idaho victories	Montana victories	Tie games

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	1903	Moscow, ID	Idaho	28–0
2	October 17, 1914	Moscow, ID	Tie	0–0
3	October 2, 1915	Missoula, MT	Montana	15–3
4	November 18, 1916	Moscow, ID	Montana	20–13
5	November 29, 1917	Missoula, MT	Idaho	14–3
6	November 8, 1919	Moscow, ID	Idaho	7–0
7	November 20, 1920	Missoula, MT	Idaho	20–7
8	November 5, 1921	Moscow, ID	Idaho	35–7
9	November 30, 1922	Missoula, MT	Idaho	39–0
10	October 12, 1923	Moscow, ID	Idaho	40–0
11	October 11, 1924	Missoula, MT	Idaho	41–13
12	November 7, 1925	Moscow, ID	Montana	20–14
13	October 9, 1926	Missoula, MT	Idaho	27–12
14	October 22, 1927	Moscow, ID	Idaho	42–6
15	November 17, 1928	Missoula, MT	Idaho	21–7
16	October 12, 1929	Moscow, ID	Idaho	19–0
17	November 22, 1930	Missoula, MT	Montana	12–6
18	October 10, 1931	Moscow, ID	Idaho	21–19
19	October 15, 1932	Missoula, MT	Idaho	19–6
20	October 28, 1933	Moscow, ID	Idaho	12–6
21	October 27, 1934	Missoula, MT	Idaho	13–6
22	October 26, 1935	Moscow, ID	Idaho	14–7
23	November 14, 1936	Missoula, MT	Montana	16–0
24	November 20, 1937	Moscow, ID	Idaho	6–0
25	October 29, 1938	Missoula, MT	Idaho	19–6
26	October 28, 1939	Moscow, ID	Montana	13–0
27	November 9, 1940	Missoula, MT	Montana	28–18
28	November 15, 1941	Moscow, ID	Montana	16–0
29	October 31, 1942	Missoula, MT	Idaho	21–0
30	October 20, 1945	Moscow, ID	Idaho	46–0
31	November 2, 1946	Missoula, MT	Montana	19–0
32	November 7, 1947	Moscow, ID	Montana	21–0
33	October 23, 1948	Moscow, ID	Idaho	39–0
34	October 22, 1949	Missoula, MT	Idaho	47–19
35	September 30, 1950	Moscow, ID	Montana	28–27
36	October 13, 1951	Missoula, MT	Idaho	12–9
37	November 8, 1952	Moscow, ID	Idaho	27–0
38	October 3, 1953	Missoula, MT	Idaho	20–12
39	November 19, 1955	Moscow, ID	Idaho	31–0
40	November 22, 1956	Missoula, MT	Idaho	14–0
41	November 2, 1957	Moscow, ID	Idaho	31–13
42	November 8, 1958	Missoula, MT	Idaho	14–6
43	November 21, 1959	Moscow, ID	Idaho	9–6
44	October 1, 1960	Missoula, MT	Montana	18–14
45	November 18, 1961	Boise, ID	Idaho	16–14
46	October 6, 1962	Missoula, MT	Montana	22–16

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
47	October 23, 1965	Missoula, MT	Idaho	35–7
48	November 12, 1966	Moscow, ID	Idaho	40–6
49	October 14, 1967	Missoula, MT	Idaho	19–14
50	October 12, 1968	Moscow, ID	Idaho	56–45
51	October 11, 1969	Missoula, MT	Montana	34–9
52	October 10, 1970	Pullman, WA	Montana	44–26
53	October 2, 1971	Missoula, MT	Idaho	21–12
54	November 11, 1972	Moscow, ID	Idaho	31–17
55	November 3, 1973	Missoula, MT	Idaho	20–7
56	October 19, 1974	Moscow, ID	Tie	35–35
57	October 18, 1975	Missoula, MT	Montana	14–3
58	November 13, 1976	Moscow, ID	Idaho	28–19
59	October 15, 1977	Moscow, ID	Idaho	31–20
60	October 14, 1978	Missoula, MT	Idaho	34–30
61	October 20, 1979	Moscow, ID	Idaho	20–17
62	September 27, 1980	Missoula, MT	Idaho	42–0
63	October 10, 1981	Moscow, ID	Montana	16–14
64	October 16, 1982	Missoula, MT	Montana	40–16
65	November 27, 1982^A	Moscow, ID	#11 Idaho	21–7
66	October 22, 1983	Moscow, ID	Idaho	45–24
67	October 27, 1984	Missoula, MT	Idaho	40–39
68	October 19, 1985	Moscow, ID	#4 Idaho	38–0
69	November 1, 1986	Missoula, MT	Idaho	38–31
70	October 10, 1987	Moscow, ID	Idaho	31–25
71	September 24, 1988	Missoula, MT	#16 Montana	26–17
72	November 26, 1988^A	Moscow, ID	#1 Idaho	38–19
73	September 28, 1989	Moscow, ID	Idaho	30–24
74	November 10, 1990	Missoula, MT	#17 Idaho	35–14
75	November 16, 1991	Moscow, ID	Montana	35–34
76	November 7, 1992	Missoula, MT	Montana	47–29
77	November 6, 1993	Moscow, ID	Montana	54–34
78	October 29, 1994	Missoula, MT	Montana	45–21
79	October 21, 1995	Moscow, ID	Idaho	55–43
80	November 13, 1999	Missoula, MT	Idaho	33–30
81	September 9, 2000	Pullman, WA	#10 Montana	45–38
82	November 24, 2001	Missoula, MT	#1 Montana	33–27
83	October 5, 2002	Moscow, ID	#1 Montana	38–31
84	September 27, 2003	Missoula, MT	#9 Montana	41–28
85	November 10, 2018	Moscow, ID	Montana	46–27
86	November 9, 2019	Missoula, MT	#6 Montana	42–17
87	October 23, 2021	Moscow, ID	#11 Montana	34–14
88	October 15, 2022	Missoula, MT	Idaho	30–23
89	October 14, 2023	Moscow, ID	#10 Montana	23–21
Series: Idaho leads 56–31–2
^A Division I-AA playoff game

Years not played: 1904–13, 1918, 1943–44, 1954, 1963–64, 1996–98, 2004–17, 2020

Coaching records

Since 1945; Idaho led the first 29 meetings (through 1942) at 20–8–1 (.707)).

Idaho

Head Coach	Team	Games	Seasons	Wins	Losses	Ties	Pct.
Babe Brown	Idaho	2	1945–46	1	1	0	.500
Dixie Howell	Idaho	4	1947–50	2	2	0	.500
Babe Curfman	Idaho	3	1951–53	3	0	0	1.000
Skip Stahley	Idaho	7	1954–61	6	1	0	.857
Dee Andros	Idaho	1	1962–64	0	1	0	.000
Steve Musseau	Idaho	3	1965–67	3	0	0	1.000
Y C McNease	Idaho	2	1968–69	1	1	0	.500
Don Robbins	Idaho	4	1970–73	3	1	0	.750
Ed Troxel	Idaho	4	1974–77	2	1	1	.625
Jerry Davitch	Idaho	4	1978–81	3	1	0	.750
Dennis Erickson (a)	Idaho	5	1982–85	4	1		.800
Keith Gilbertson	Idaho	4	1986–88	3	1		.750
John L. Smith	Idaho	6	1989–94	2	4		.333
Chris Tormey	Idaho	2	1995–99	2	0		1.000
Tom Cable	Idaho	4	2000–03	0	4		.000
Nick Holt	Idaho	0	2004–05
Dennis Erickson (b)	Idaho	0	2006
Robb Akey	Idaho	0	2007–12
Paul Petrino	Idaho	3	2013–21	0	3		.000
Jason Eck	Idaho	2	2022–23	1	1		.500
Total	Idaho	59	1945–2022	36	23	1	.619

Montana

Head Coach	Team	Games	Seasons	Wins	Losses	Ties	Pct.
George Dahlberg	Montana	1	1945	0	1	0	.000
Doug Fessenden	Montana	3	1946–48	2	1	0	.667
Ted Shipkey	Montana	3	1949–51	1	2	0	.333
Ed Chinske	Montana	2	1952–54	0	2	0	.000
Jerry Williams	Montana	3	1955–57	0	3	0	.000
Ray Jenkins	Montana	5	1958–63	2	3	0	.400
Hugh Davidson	Montana	2	1964–66	0	2	0	.000
Jack Swarthout	Montana	9	1967–75	3	5	1	.389
Gene Carlson	Montana	4	1976–79	0	4	0	.000
Larry Donovan	Montana	7	1980–85	2	5		.286
Don Read	Montana	11	1986–95	5	6		.455
Mick Dennehy	Montana	1	1996–99	0	1		.000
Joe Glenn	Montana	1	2000–02	3	0		1.000
Bobby Hauck (a)	Montana	1	2003–09	1	0		1.000
Robin Pflugrad	Montana	0	2010–11
Mick Delaney	Montana	0	2012–14
Bob Stitt	Montana	0	2015–17
Bobby Hauck (b)	Montana	5	2018–23	4	1		.800
Total	Montana	59	1945–2022	23	36	1	.381

Last tie was in 1974 and the Big Sky enacted overtime for conference games in 1980;^[15] all Division I games went to overtime in 1996.
Two games in 1982 and 1988; regular season at Montana and playoff (I-AA) at Idaho: home teams won all four games
No games in 1954, 1963, 1964, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004–2017, 2020

References

^ ^a ^b "Vandals still seeking a win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). October 20, 1948. p. 18.
^ ^a ^b Payne, Bob (October 18, 1974). "Tips riding two-game win streak". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 29.
^ ^a ^b "Football". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1943. p. 233.
^ "Montana tickets on sale to season ticket holders". University of Idaho Athletics. August 27, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
^ ^a ^b Meehan, Jim (September 28, 2003). "Idaho collapses in Montana". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. C13.
^ ^a ^b Bauer, Doug (September 28, 2003). "Griz catch Vandals with pants down". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.
^ ^a ^b Welsch, Jeff (April 30, 2016). "Idaho's twice-bruised ego offers cautionary tale for Griz, Cats". Billings Gazette. (Montana). Retrieved October 4, 2016.
^ "Idaho opponents: vs. Montana". CFB Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
^ "Idaho, Montana renew old football rivalry at Boise". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 18, 1961. p. 2.
^ "Vandals repel late Montana bid for 16-14 upset victory". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 19, 1961. p. 8.
^ "Montana eleven wallops Vandals". Bend Bulletin. (Oregon). United Press. November 8, 1947. p. 2.
^ Missildine, Harry (February 26, 1963). "Six western schools create Big Sky athletic conference". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 12.
^ "Big Sky is ready for league action". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). February 26, 1963. p. 13.
^ "Idaho football to Big Sky Conference". Big Sky Conference. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
^ Kasper, John (September 25, 2013). "No. 48 Big Sky Innovation". Big Sky Conference. Retrieved June 9, 2016.

v t e Idaho Vandals football
Venues	MacLean Field (1914–1936) Neale Stadium (1937–1968) Rogers Field (1969–1970) Joe Albi Stadium (1971) Kibbie Dome (1971–present) Martin Stadium (1999–2001)
Bowls and rivalries	Bowl games Boise State Gonzaga (defunct) Idaho State Montana: Little Brown Stein Washington State: Battle of the Palouse
Culture and lore	History Joe Vandal Go, Vandals, Go The Sound of Idaho
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Starting quarterbacks
Seasons	1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

v t e University of Idaho
Located in Moscow, Idaho
Academics	Law Music Outdoor Science
Facilities	Kibbie Dome Memorial Gymnasium ICCU Arena MacLean Field (defunct) Neale Stadium (defunct) Golf Course Arboretum Ridenbaugh Hall Gym & Armory
Athletics	Idaho Vandals Football Men's basketball Women's basketball Baseball (defunct) Rivalries Battle of the Palouse Little Brown Stein Battle of the Domes Boise State Gonzaga Fight song
Media	Fugue KUOI-FM University of Idaho Press
Related	Idaho Gem Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Alumni Timeline 2022 UI killings

v t e Montana Grizzlies football
Venues	Dornblaser Field (I) (1912–1967) Naranche Stadium (alternate (Butte), 1938–1950) Dornblaser Field (II) (1968–1986) Washington–Grizzly Stadium (1986–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Eastern Washington: EWU–UM Governors Cup Idaho: Little Brown Stein Montana State
Culture and lore	Monte "Up With Montana" University of Montana Grizzly Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees
Seasons	1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
National championship seasons in bold

v t e University of Montana
Schools and Colleges	College of Arts and Sciences College of Education and Human Sciences College of Forestry and Conservation College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences College of Technology School of Business Administration School of Journalism School of Law College of Visual and Performing Arts
Campuses	University of Montana ‒ Missoula University of Montana – Helena College of Technology Montana Tech of the University of Montana University of Montana Western Flathead Lake Biological Station
Athletics	Montana Grizzlies and Lady Griz Football Brawl of the Wild Little Brown Stein Washington–Grizzly Stadium Men's basketball Women's basketball Dahlberg Arena Soccer Dornblaser Field Marching Band Monte "Up With Montana"
Historic buildings and landmarks	University Hall Forestry Bld. Schreiber Gym Rankin Hall Social Science Bld. Fine Arts Bld. The Oval The "M" Trail Memorial Row The Payne Family Native American Center
Student life	Student Organizations
Media	Camas CutBank Montana Kaimin Montanan KBGA 89.9 FM Montana Public Radio Montana PBS
Category

v t e Big Sky Conference football rivalries
Conference	Battle for the Golden Horseshoe (Cal Poly–UC Davis) EWU–UM Governors Cup (Eastern Washington–Montana) The Dam Cup (Eastern Washington–Portland State) Battle of the Domes (Idaho–Idaho State) Little Brown Stein (Idaho–Montana) Montana–Montana State Causeway Classic (Sacramento State–UC Davis)
Non-conference	Boise State–Idaho Gonzaga–Idaho Battle of the Palouse (Idaho–Washington State) Grand Canyon Rivalry (Northern Arizona–Southern Utah) Beehive Bowl (Southern Utah–Weber State)