BOZEMAN -- Montana State entered his fall with another quarterback battle. Head coach Jeff Choate wanted to make a decision on the starter after the Bobcats' final scrimmage last week. He then called Casey Bauman into the room.

“I feel like I put forth my best throughout the camp. So I was little bit nervous (in the meeting), for sure, but I feel like I gave myself the best chance I could,” said Bauman.

Choate and his staff awarded Bauman, a redshirt freshman, the starting role. But just because the competition is settled doesn’t mean Bauman can get complacent.

“It’s a good feeling, but it just means there’s more work to be done. We have a lot of games this year and some high expectations, so I’m excited,” he said.

Bauman is getting thrown into the fire in his new role, having only played against Cal Poly last season, taking a handful of snaps and completing his only pass attempt for four yards. But it’s not what happened on the field that has him ready to take this big step.

“The last half of the season I was Troy (Andersen's) backup, so you prepare like you’re the starter every week," Bauman said. "I think that helped me a lot because I was preparing like I was going to play every single week.”

Now his first career start is on a big stage, on the road at Texas Tech. Although the atmosphere will be crazy, Bauman will be calm.

“I think the nerves will be there, for sure, but at the end of the day, it’s just another day and I know that those guys are going to be riding for me, and I give my best for them, too,” said Bauman.

Montana State kicks off against Texas Tech in Lubbock Saturday Aug. 31 at 2 p.m.