Montana State has challenging 2017 schedule

(STATS) - A season-opening Pac-12 opponent and four matchups against qualifiers in this year's FCS playoffs are part of Montana State's 11-game 2017 schedule that was announced Monday.

The Bobcats will open the season Sept. 2 at Washington State, where coach Jeff Choate was an assistant under Mike Leach in 2012.

Montana State will host South Dakota State (Sept. 9) and fellow Big Sky Conference member Weber State (Sept. 30) - which both played in this year's playoffs - as well as Portland State (Oct. 7), Idaho State (Oct. 28) and rival Montana (Nov. 18) in conference matchups. The Bobcats will take on Kennesaw State (Nov. 4) in a nonconference matchup.

The road portion of the schedule also has four Big Sky games, including against North Dakota (Sept. 23) and Eastern Washington (Oct. 14) - the two conference co-champs who were playoff qualifiers. The Bobcats also will play at Northern Colorado (Oct. 21) and Northern Arizona (Nov. 11).

Montana State finished 4-7 this season. Eight of its 2017 opponents had winning records.

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2017 Montana State Schedule

Sept. 2, at Washington State

Sept. 9, South Dakota State

Sept. 23, at North Dakota*

Sept. 30, Weber State* (Homecoming)

Oct. 7, Portland State*

Oct. 14, at Eastern Washington*

Oct. 21, at Northern Colorado*

Oct. 28, Idaho State*

Nov. 4, Kennesaw State

Nov. 11, at Northern Arizona*

Nov. 18, Montana*

* - Big Sky Conference game