UND sophomore wide receiver Mikey Griebel called his brother Mitch earlier this week to check in on his allegiance.
The Griebel family of Littleton, Colo., has plenty of history when it comes to UND vs. Montana State.
The Fighting Hawks (4-3) and Bobcats (5-2) face off at noon Saturday at the Alerus Center in a game with likely playoff implications for both programs.
Mitch Griebel, now 28, played wide receiver at Montana State. In a 2015 game against UND in Grand Forks, the elder Griebel caught seven passes for 60 yards and threw a 61-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to Manny Kalfell. UND won 44-38.
"I called (Mitch) and asked him who he was rooting for," Mikey said. "He's coming up to the game. He said 'North Dakota.' I was shocked. It's kind of a cool family bond between us and Montana State."
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Mikey, 21, visited his brother in Bozeman during his years with the Bobcats. Mitch spent his first two college seasons playing quarterback at Air Force.
"We went to a lot of games," Mikey said. "I'd say I probably went to 10. I loved to go watch him. It's a cool atmosphere up there. I'd beg my mom to buy me a flight and hang out with him."
Like Mitch, Mikey was a prep star in Colorado. He was named to the first team Class 5A all-state team as a junior and senior. He finished high school with 3,702 rushing yards and 56 touchdowns, as well as 38 catches for 789 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He even switched to quarterback for his final prep season and threw for 635 yards and ran for 774, with 24 total touchdowns.
Mikey's college decision came down to UND, Montana State and Air Force. A bond with UND's coaching staff and a hope to carve out his own niche in college football led Mikey to Grand Forks.
"They offered me, and I still know some of the coaches," Mikey said of Montana State.
Mitch was a captain at Montana State and one of the main targets for one of the top quarterbacks in the Big Sky Conference at the time in Dakota Prukop, who would eventually graduate transfer to the University of Oregon.
Mikey has started to make his mark in Grand Forks, too. His offensive snaps, although increased in recent weeks, are limited with UND's standout trio of wide receivers Noah Wanzek, Travis Toivonen and Garett Maag requiring a majority of the targets.
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Mikey has won the battle for punt returner, though, where he had a season-long 20-yard return last Saturday in a win at Cal Poly.
"I'm just doing my job," Mikey said. "I show up every day and come with the right mindset, just trying to earn whatever I can. If it's two or 10 snaps the whole game, I'm cool with it. Punt return is a big role, and I'm taking that seriously. I'm in a good spot and happy where I'm at."
