This non-Utah football game is a party to watch in SLC

Why it matters: The Cat-Griz games bring some of the biggest — and happiest — crowds to the downtown bar, where many of Salt Lake's alumni clubs gather each Saturday of football season.

What they're saying: "Out of any of the college rivalries, it's the best crowd to hang out with," confirmed Shawn "Notti" Nottingham, longtime door host at Gracie's.

The intrigue: Unlike other big rivalry games, where tension sometimes overheats to violence, the fans from Big Sky Country "have fun with it," Notti told Axios.

• The game frequently fills the entire bar with fans — and some years the dining room overflows, too.

Flashback: The game dates back to 1897, making it one of the oldest college football rivalries in the Mountain West.

• Since 2001, the teams have fought for the massive Great Divide Trophy — modeled and named after the Continental Divide, which separates the two campuses.

Catch up quick: The University of Montana leads the all-time series 75-42-5, but this year they face an undefeated team.

• The Bobcats are 11-0 for the first time in Montana State University's history.

When: Kickoff is at noon on Saturday.