Saturday's Montana State vs Nevada matchup is more than a nonconference test. It also marks Nevada's first game to air on The CW, giving the Wolf Pack a national television window at a time when the program is trying to build momentum toward its first bowl berth since 2021.
The game is set for 7:30 p.m. Pacific time at Mackay Stadium, with a 60-minute pre-game show beginning at 6:30 p.m. For viewers following along on television, The CW will carry the broadcast, and Jack McMullen will handle play-by-play. The game will also be available on the App, while radio coverage will be on 105.7 FM and The Varsity Network.
A notable broadcast milestone for Nevada
This is a meaningful date for Nevada because The CW is in its first season as a Mountain West national television partner. For the Wolf Pack, that means a chance to be seen on a broader stage while the team works to turn its season-opening win over Western Kentucky into a more sustained start.
The matchup is not coming against a soft opponent, either. Montana State arrives as the defending FCS national champion and has already shown its early-season form with a 54-0 win over Utah Tech and a 51-24 win over Butler. Those results underline why this is such a useful measuring stick for Nevada: it is a game that can say something about both visibility and viability.
What the matchup means on the field
There is also a football argument here beyond the broadcast milestone. Nevada enters as a 3.5-point favorite in a game with a 49.5-point total, which suggests oddsmakers see a relatively tight contest with enough scoring to create pressure on both sides. Nevada's 49-14 win over Western Kentucky showed what the offense can look like when it finds rhythm, but Montana State's two dominant victories make it clear this will be a more serious challenge.
That is why Saturday matters in two ways. First, it is a chance for Nevada to add a strong result against a defending FCS national champion. Second, it is a chance to do it in a setting that reaches viewers beyond the usual local audience. In a season where exposure and execution can both matter, this one offers a little of each.
For fans of Nevada and Montana State, the basics are simple: tune in at 7:30 p.m. Pacific time, catch the pre-game show at 6:30 p.m., and watch a game that carries more weight than the average early-season meeting. For Nevada, the night is about more than just a win. It is also about being part of The CW's first chapter with the Mountain West.
