In 1986, the Montana Grizzlies football team won the NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship. The team, led by head coach Don Read, had a record of 12-3 on the season and defeated the Furman Paladins 22-20 in the championship game. This was the first national championship for the Montana Grizzlies football program. The team had standout players such as quarterback Brent Pease, running back Brian Salonen, and linebacker Doug Betters, who was later named the FCS National Defensive Player of the Year.