Montana linebacker solomon tuliaupupu Will return for the 2026 season after being granted a ninth year of eligibility by the NCAA.
The school announced Tuuliupupu’s return on social media Monday, along with the sixth-year offensive lineman dylan jemtegaard.
Tuliupupu is entering his second season at Montana after beginning his collegiate career usc In 2018. He was sidelined for his entire undergraduate campaign at USC after suffering two injuries that required surgery in his foot (2018) and knee (2020).
The linebacker’s first season at Montana – and eighth overall – was his second full season played and third with game action.
He saw the field for the first time as a redshirt senior in 2022, appearing in all 14 games for the Trojans and recording 10 tackles, including three for loss, and a quarterback hurry.
Tuliupupu was sidelined by another injury in 2023 and missed the entire season. He finished his USC career in 2024, playing in seven games for the Trojans before the season was cut short due to illness. He relocated to Montana in 2025.
Tuuliupu will play under new Montana coach Bobby Kennedy. Kennedy is replacing Bobby Hawk, Who was named defensive coordinator at Illinois on Monday after a brief retirement.
