Why Would CMU Want to Play an NCAA Division I-AA Football Powerhouse Like Montana State?

Montana State is a good football team. They have an outstanding football program. With three consecutive conference championships and a conference record of 21-3 over the past three years, and a number 3 national ranking, the Bobcats certainly represent a huge challenge for the CMU Mavericks this Saturday in Bozeman. I am probably not the only one who has wondered why CMU would schedule a football game with such an opponent. Head Coach Russ Martin answered that question Monday night on the CMU Mavericks Coaches Show at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Playing Montana State certainly wasn't CMU's first choice. And for that matter, neither was playing NAIA school Menlo College in week one. The problem is finding Division II schools that are relatively close and also have the same dates open.

"We thought we had a contract with Dixie for this year, " Martin said, "so we thought we were looking for just one game. But nobody had a contract. We were late in the year last year and we were hunting for games. We were calling teams in surrounding conferences and there wasn’t anybody. These were the only teams we could get for matching weekends. Our idea is not to play NAIA schools if we can help it. Our idea is not to go out for a  money game against a division one double A school like Montana State. We want to play  division II teams."

When choosing non-conference opponents Coach Martin said CMU wants at least one of those games to be against a formidable opponent, which can help out when it comes time to decide playoff teams and seeding.(Obviously, Martin is expecting this Maverick football team to be playoff contenders in the near future.)

This year, Menlo College and Montana State were the best options. Next  year's non-conference schedule will include Dixie State, from St. George, Utah, and Texas A & M Kingsville, a division II powerhouse.