If you asked Montana football pundits and prognosticators for their predictions on how the Griz would emerge from the nonconference schedule, most would agree that a 2-1 record with plenty of offensive output sounded about right. After two lopsided wins with over 500 yards of total offense each and a heavy loss at No. 7 Washington, the Griz are right where most thought they would be. But now comes the real test.

The Big Sky Conference announced on Monday that Boise has been awarded hosting rights to the Big Sky women's and men's basketball tournaments. Boise's three-year cycle will begin with the 2018-19 season. The Big Sky tournaments will be held in Reno in March, the final year of that city's three-year cycle.

Montana put together a complete performance in all three phases of the game on Saturday, scoring eight touchdowns and keeping Savannah State out of the end zone in a 56-3 victory over the visiting Tigers. Quarterback Reese Phillips completed his first 13 passes for 148 yards and Alijah Lee scored the first two touchdowns of his career to give the Grizzlies an early 14-0 advantage. However, the game took a turn early in the second quarter when Phillips went down with a leg injury and had to be carted off the field.

A year ago, Montana's offensive line struggled at times during UM's 6-5 season. But with a core group of seniors leading the way in four of the five positions in 2017, the Grizzly front is bringing that DOLA attitude back to Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

"Learn from it, flush it, and move on," is the message from the coaching staff this week for the Montana Grizzlies as they rebound from a tough but fruitful nonconference game against the No. 6 Washington Huskies in Seattle. The Griz get back in the saddle on Saturday against an FCS opponent, hosting the Savannah State Tigers from Georgia.

As the Griz prepare for Big Sky play on Sept. 23, perhaps the biggest positive from Saturday's game in Seattle is that UM came out relatively unscathed on the injury front, with Stitt alluding to not much more than your typical "bumps and bruises" after going toe-to-toe with the ranked Huskies.

The No. 7 (FBS) Washington Huskies showed why they won the Pac-12 championship and played in the College Football Playoff a year ago, cruising to a 63-7 victory over Montana on Saturday night.

The Montana Grizzlies (1-0) are in Seattle to rekindle an old rivalry against the No. 7 ranked, and defending Pac-12 champion Washington Huskies (1-0) in their home opener at Husky Stadium (70,083). Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. local time (6 p.m. MT) Saturday.