Montana’s Split Zone Run Game: One Core Concept, Endless Variations
Montana has quietly put together a stellar 11-1 season in 2025, earning a spot in the FCS playoffs. Much of that success is tied to their explosive offense, which ranks top 10 nationally. While the Griz passing attack sits 8th in the country, what really caught my eye is how they have built out their split zone run game. Whether it is inside or outside zone, they use a full toolbox of alignments, personnel, and motions to create clean angles for their slice blockers. Montana does not just run split zone. They live in it. And their backs do a great job trusting the cutback lanes that open up behind those cross-formation blocks.
11 Personnel
This is a textbook look at traditional split zone. The offense runs inside zone to the left, and the flexed tight end comes across the formation after the snap to slice the edge defender on the backside. That block seals the chase player and opens the cutback lane for the back. It is a foundational answer against flowing second-level defenders and prevents the defense from crashing the backside freely. Montana uses the slice to handle any pursuit scraping down the line.
Now we get another 11 personnel variation, this time starting from a 2x2 open set. Before the snap, the Grizz bring the tight end in escort motion back toward the core to execute the slice block. It is the same core concept as before, just dressed up differently. The motion not only forces the defense to adjust, but it also gives the tight end built-in momentum to win leverage on the block. That movement creates a natural angle to seal the edge and keep the cutback lane clean for the back.
Still in 11 personnel, but now the Grizz offset the tight end in the backfield. Once again, he slices across the formation to handle the backside edge. It is another variation but still split zone. By changing where the slicer starts, Montana keeps the defense guessing and creates different angles for this critical block. It is a simple adjustment that makes the same play look different, which keeps second-level defenders hesitant and slows pursuit.