The first and only meeting between these teams before Saturday took place in 2021, also in the second round of the playoffs. Back then no. No. 8 seed MSU won that windy game – Tommy Mellott’s first career start at quarterback – over the unseeded Skyhawks 26-7 to begin its run to the national championship game.

The Bobcats (12-0) are the No. 1 seed this time around, and UT Martin (9-4) is unseeded again. The Skyhawks defeated 16th-seeded New Hampshire 41-10 in the first round last week while MSU had a bye.

MSU has the top-ranked rushing offense in the FCS (317.9 rushing yards per game). UT Martin’s rushing defense is fifth in the subdivision (84.9 rushing yards allowed per game).

MSU is the 19 1/2-point favorite to win Saturday’s game.

MSU Sports Information announced that MSU All-Big Sky Conference fullback Rohan Jones will miss the game due to injury.

Jones is one of four MSU starters out with injuries. Previously announced absences included running back Julius Davis (leg, out for at least the UT Martin game), defensive back Caden Dowler (ACL, out for the season), nose tackle Blake Schmidt (ACL, out for the season) and linebacker Danny Uluilakepa (ACL, out for the season).

Starting for UT Martin are tight end Tyler Dostin and wide receiver Zoe Roberts.

MSU got the ball first and launched a 5-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Mellott to Hunter Provience. It was the first career touchdown for Provience, a redshirt freshman from San Diego.

In the next two drives, each attack ended three times and ended.

UT Martin was forced to punt again despite gaining 7 yards on first down. Two consecutive incompletions were followed by consecutive false starts.

The Cats made a three-pointer and tied for the second straight game after Mellott made consecutive errors following an 8-yard run by Unterrio Latin-Henley.

Mellott sent Dowler for a 12-yard TD at 4 minutes, 22 seconds, giving MSU a 14-0 lead. It was Mellott’s 24th TD and seventh score for Dowler this season.

SCORE: Montana State 14, UT Martin 0

This story will be updated.