Both schools entered the Big Sky Conference as charter members in 1963, with Montana then holding a 43–16–5 (.711) series lead.

A new period began in 1986, often known in Montana as "The Streak",[citation needed] in which the Grizzlies won sixteen straight in the series; a few games were close, but most gave a strong indication that the programs were going in very different directions.

On November 19, 2022, ESPN's College GameDay broadcast live from Dyche Field on the campus of Montana State in Bozeman on the morning prior to the 121st edition of the rivalry.

In 1968, quarterback Dennis Erickson, flanker Ron Bain, and running back Paul Schafer lead a monumental comeback as the Bobcats clinched a tie for the Big Sky championship—their third straight.

Trailing 24–9 in the fourth quarter, Montana State scored twenty points in the last nine minutes and won 29–24 when Schafer, who had 58 carries for 234 yards in the game, dove into the end zone with twelve seconds left.

Bain's brother, Doug of the Grizzlies, gave Montana a 17–9 lead early in the quarter on a pass from Ray Brum.

Schaefer scored on a short run with 8:15 to play and Erickson hit Bain for a touchdown with five minutes left cutting the lead to two at 24–22.

In another exciting finish in the series, Montana State fought back from a 21–7 halftime deficit only to lose 27–25 on an improbable last-second field goal by Kris Heppner.

The Grizzlies made the Bobcats pay for this mistake by scoring a touchdown on a long TD pass by Brian Ah Yat to end the half.

Behind the passing of Rob Compson MSU methodically worked its way back into the game and took a 25–24 lead on a three-yard run by Eric Kinnamon with 22 seconds to play in Bobcat Stadium.

After an incomplete pass, UM quarterback Brian Ah Yat found receiver Justin Olsen for a completion of 46 yards to the MSU 19 with eight seconds to play.

After a UM timeout, Kris Heppner kicked a 38-yard field goal as time expired, giving Montana the 27–25 win.

Leading in this game 21–20, and ahead for most of the second half, the Bobcats fell when Dallas Neil took a pass from Brian Ah Yat and tightroped the sideline for an 18-yard touchdown with just over five minutes to play.

The Bobcats would finally put an end to their losing streak against the Griz at 16 games when true freshman quarterback Travis Lulay led them to a 10–7 win in Missoula on a snowy, windy day.

MSU was led by senior running back Ryan Johnson, who ran for 132 yards, and cornerback Joey Thomas, who blocked a field goal and played a big role in Edwards' struggles.

UM advanced the ball inside the MSU 10-yard line twice in the second half, but the Bobcats forced fumbles on both possessions, including one by star running back Chase Reynolds.

O'Connell (who had just returned from a severely broken collarbone) and linebacker Jody Owens dropped Reynolds for a one-yard loss on first down.

UM would get one more chance to score when it moved the ball to the MSU 34, but the Bobcats sealed the win with an interception on the goal line by senior captain Michael Rider on the last play of the game.

The Grizzlies put an end to that in humiliating fashion with a 36–10 win in front of the largest crowd (20,247) to attend a Cat-Griz game in Bozeman.

After Montana State scored quickly to start the second half, the Grizzlies answered on the next play with a 79-yard bomb from Jordan Johnson to Jabin Sambrano.

Coach Pflugrad led Montana to a Big Sky Conference title and a national semifinal appearance in 2011, but the Brawl of the Wild win, the title and semifinal appearance were vacated by the NCAA on July 26, 2013 due to infractions involving booster benefits to players, including bail money and free legal representation.

[9] Montana hadn't had a losing season since 1986, the year it moved into Washington-Grizzly Stadium, but that would all change as the Bobcats won 16–7 to take their second straight win and third in six tries in what is arguably the toughest road venue in the FCS.

Kruiz Siewing, from tiny Saco, Montana, scored MSU's only TD on a pass from DeNarius McGhee, and Rory Perez kicked three field goals, including the game-clincher with 2:32 to play.

The Bobcats found themselves in a 7–0 hole after the first offensive play of the game by UM, as Brady Gustafson hit Justin Calhoun from 58 yards.

To add to the drama, both teams entered the day with 6–4 records with the winner earning an at-large spot in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

The timeout call was met with boos from the large Grizzly crowd who felt the GRIZ had already hiked the ball and a touchdown scored .

After a UM field goal made it 25–15, the Bobcats marched 75 yards and once again got a TD run by Andersen to draw within three points at 25–22.

For the first time in the history of the Brawl of the Wild, both teams entered the game both ranked in the top 5 of the FCS Stats poll.