Cat-Griz Insider Podcast: Grizzly hoopers depart, Bobcats spring football camp starts

Missoula and Bozeman are experiencing very different spring rhythms, according to the latest Cat-Griz Insider Podcast from 406 MT Sports. Hosts Victor Flores and Frank Gogola devoted the full episode to the diverging paths of Montana and Montana State athletics, touching on basketball departures, football arrivals, and the quarterbacks who could define the 2026 season.

The show opened with a look at Montana State’s women’s basketball team, whose memorable WNIT run ended in defeat at 3:25 of the segment. Just five minutes later, attention shifted west as multiple Montana Grizzlies basketball players officially entered the transfer portal, signaling a significant roster overhaul for the program.

Football dominated the back half of the discussion. At 18:27 the hosts broke down recent commits for the Grizzlies, including Kalispell Glacier wide receiver Cooper Pelc—now the fourth pledge in head coach Bobby Kennedy’s inaugural recruiting class. Montana’s defensive reinforcements were also highlighted, with linebacker Tuliaupupu—who posted 43 tackles in 2025—expected to anchor the unit.

Meanwhile, in Bozeman, the Bobcats opened spring camp at 27:13, offering the staff an early glimpse of roster depth and positional battles. Quarterback development took center stage at 29:58, with both MSU and UM staffs evaluating signal-callers who could decide the 2026 rivalry game.

Individual accolades peppered the conversation. The former Billings West and Roberts standout collected Big Sky Conference MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors last season, while Money Williams earned unanimous All-Big Sky first-team recognition and Big Sky Tournament MVP accolades. On the track, Montana sprinter Karsen Beitz transformed from Missoula Sentinel walk-on to Big Sky champion, and Montana State’s Swedish sophomore led 15 Bobcat victors on the final day of the Cat-Griz Dual/Al Manuel Invitational.

Grizzlies running backs coach Dom Daste faces the task of building depth behind All-American Eli Gillman, and the podcast closed with a nod to the loyal fan bases: “When you look at the crowd support we get game in and game out all season, it makes me really proud and really excited for the future,” one staffer said.

From portal departures in Missoula to spring drills in Bozeman, the latest Cat-Griz Insider Podcast captures a rivalry in transition on every front.