1976 Montana State Bobcats football team

1976 Montana State Bobcats football
NCAA Division II champion
Big Sky champion
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
Record12–1 (6–0 Big Sky)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDon Christensen (6th season)
Defensive coordinatorSonny Lubick (6th season)
Home stadiumReno H. Sales Stadium
Seasons
← 1975
1977 →
1976 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Montana State $^ 6 – 0 – 0 12 – 1 – 0
Idaho 5 – 1 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Northern Arizona 4 – 2 – 0 8 – 3 – 0
Montana 3 – 3 – 0 4 – 6 – 0
Boise State 2 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 1
Weber State 1 – 5 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Idaho State 0 – 6 – 0 0 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division II AP Poll

The 1976 Montana State Bobcats football team represented the Montana State University in the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. The team was led by sixth-year head coach Sonny Holland and won the Division II national championship.[1] The Bobcats played their home games on campus in Bozeman at Reno H. Sales Stadium.

Entering August practices, the Bobcats were expected to finish in the middle of the conference standings.[2] Led on the field by southpaw sophomore quarterback Paul Dennehy,[3][4] Montana State went undefeated in the Big Sky and against all Division II opponents, falling only to Fresno State of Division I. Montana State finished their schedule with a 28–7 victory at Hawaii to end the regular season at 9–1.[5]

  1. ^ "Dennehy leads Montana State's bowl win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 12, 1976. p. D1.
  2. ^ Emerson, Paul (August 1, 1976). "ISU picked as Big Sky grid favorite". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.
  3. ^ "Idaho, Montana (State) fight for lead". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). October 22, 1976. p. 16.
  4. ^ Payne, Bob (October 24, 1976). "Dennehy inspires Bobcats". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. D1.
  5. ^ Clemens, Dave (November 15, 1976). "Montana State looks for postseason berth". Prescott Courier. (Arizona). Associated Press. p. 7.