GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- University of North Dakota Director of Athletics Brian Faison and head football coach Chris Mussman announced today that UND and the University of Montana have signed a contract to play each other in a home-and-home football agreement.

The Fighting Sioux will travel to Missoula, Mont., to face the Grizzlies on Nov. 13, 2010. Montana will make the return trip to the Alerus Center in Grand Forks on Sept. 14, 2013.

Montana, a Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program, is the preseason favorite to win the Big Sky Conference in league's annual media and coaches polls. The Grizzlies went 14-2 last season to win the conference championship and advanced to the DI FCS national championship game.

"Everyone knows Montana is one of best programs in the FCS," Mussman said. "Year in and year out, it does a great job in the Big Sky Conference and is one of the top teams in the country.

"It's a great matchup for us. Find out where we are programmatically, what we have to build, and then get an opportunity to get them here in Grand Forks and the Alerus Center, which, I think, is a big deal for the Alerus Center and the community."

The Grizzlies have won or shared the past 11 conference championships and can tie the national record for consecutive league titles with another league championship this season. Montana won national championships in 1995 and 2001.

UND's home-and-home series with Montana enhances an already-formidable non-conference schedule in future years for the Sioux, who will open the 2009 season on Sept. 5, at Texas Tech.

Other future non-conference opponents for UND include: Idaho (2010 and 2011, away), Fresno State (2011, away), Central Arkansas (2012, home) and San Diego State (2012, away).

- Go Sioux -