BOZEMAN, Mont. — Montana State University returns to action Saturday when the Bobcats host Mercyhurst University of the Northeast Conference. It’s the first meeting between the two as the Lakers are in the first year of their transition from Division II to Division I.

“I think we took advantage of the bye week,” MSU head football coach Brent Vigen said. “Our guys getting Saturday and Sunday off, I think that was beneficial for them, but I’m glad we came back and practiced this morning, and I’m glad we’re back home.”

Mercyhurst was added late to the 2024 schedule, as the Bobcats needed to fill a game after Stephen F. Austin canceled their trip to Bozeman in late May. Vigen revealed that the two teams were able to get the deal done, as MSU was in talks with the Lakers for a 2025 game.

Vigen confirmed the teams will play at Bobcat Stadium again in 2025, moving the Bobcats’ game against Drake University to a later season.

Mercyhurst of Erie, Pennsylvania is 1-2 on the season with its first win as an FCS program visiting Division II Wheeling University in West Virginia. With this being the final non-conference game before Big Sky competition begins, Montana State is taking no chances on an upset against the Lakers.

“I don’t think it really matters if we play Mercyhurst or the Dallas Cowboys,” MSU junior defensive end Hunter Parsons said. “I mean, we’re just going to go out there and do our best. We always say it’s about us.”

The bye week also gave the team a chance to get healthy on offense. The Bobcats returned two offensive linemen, senior JT Reed and sophomore Burke Mastel, and sophomore wide receiver Jacob Trimble to add production to the rotation.

This will boost an MSU offense that ranks second in the nation in rushing yards per game, and it should help the passing game. A focus of the bye week was to improve the passing game for more scoring by the wide receivers with just one touchdown in the first three games.

“We’re making the right plays that we need to make to get ahead and get to the end zone,” MSU junior wide receiver Junior Alexander said. “We’ve got to get better at actually getting to the end zone.”

Kick-off is on Saturday at 1:00 PM.