Montana State is sitting pretty at 7-1, a record that’s even better than the 6-1 FBS Lobos who just snagged a win. Here’s the wild part: the defending national champion Bobcats are doing it all while seemingly getting absolutely hammered by the transfer portal year after year. It feels like no other FCS team has been hit harder, yet these Cats just keep absorbing the hits better than anyone else.
Who Needs ‘Em? The Portal Punch List
Just look at Scottre Humphrey. He rushed for a massive 1,386 yards for the 2024 Bobcats. Now he’s leading New Mexico with 453 yards this season and even punched in a touchdown in their 21-16 victory over North Dakota State, picking up 31 yards on 10 carries. Meanwhile, MSU didn’t skip a beat. Their tandem of Adam Jones and Jared White, with White stepping in for an injured Colson Coon, tore off scoring runs of 27 and 57 yards in their come-from-behind 38-33 win against Weber State. Tom Stuber from skylinesportsmt.com pointed out that over the last four-plus games, MSU has eight touchdown runs of 27 yards or more. Humphrey would clearly be a huge boost to any run game, but the Cats are just chugging along without him.
And it’s not just Humphrey. Cedric Jefferson, a key player from the 2025 championship squad, left for Utah. That’s a year after fellow lineman Conner Moore bounced to Michigan State, and two years after front-line beasts Omar Aigbedion (Baylor) and Rush Reimer (Cal) hit the portal. Seriously, how in the Rohan Jones (who went to Arkansas, by the way) are they doing this? They just keep replacing talent and winning games.
When Losses Actually Hurt: The Otherside of the Portal
While Montana State seems immune, other teams definitely feel the sting of player movement and injury. Over at Montana, fans might be wishing they still had guys like Kyon Loud, who’s now starting at corner for Duke. But the Griz have bigger fish to fry, dropping two straight games, and they’re staring down another tough matchup against Eastern Washington’s standout quarterback Nate Bell this Saturday. Sure, they added linebacker Nai Mose, safety Braeden Orlandi, and defensive lineman Tyler King, but it hasn’t stopped the slide.
Then there’s Cal Poly, who Montana State will host this Saturday. They’ve been crushed by injuries, especially to linebacker Mikey D’Amato. D’Amato, who briefly spent 2022 at Montana State before landing at Saddleback Community College and then Cal Poly, was first-team all-Big Sky in 2025, racking up 137 tackles , the third-highest in program history. He’s missed four games, including Cal Poly’s 43-26 home loss to Utah Tech last week, a game where the Mustangs coughed up six turnovers. MSU coach Brent Vigen knows the impact: “His experience and his play-making ability, that loss is definitely felt… to lose a player of his caliber does take a toll.” So, everyone else feels it, but the Bobcats? Not so much.
The Bobcats are set to host Cal Poly this Saturday. Can they keep this wild ride going, proving that losing top talent doesn’t have to sink your season? You gotta wonder what’s in the water in Bozeman, because whatever it is, it’s working.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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