In a thrilling overtime battle held in Nashville, Tennessee, Montana State succeeded in securing the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national title for the first time since 1984. The Bobcats edged past Illinois State with a final score of 35-34, a victory punctuated by kicker Myles Sansted’s decisive extra point in overtime.
The journey to this championship was marked by significant challenges and previous near misses. One year prior, Montana State was on the cusp of clinching its first title in four decades but fell short in a shootout against North Dakota State, suffering the consequences of a sluggish start. Two seasons ago, the Bobcats’ season ended in Bozeman during the quarterfinals after a blocked extra point in overtime, again at the hands of North Dakota State.
This season began with similar adversity for Montana State after losing its first two games—an away match at Oregon and a double-overtime home defeat to South Dakota State. However, the team rallied impressively as the year progressed. The overtime victory against Illinois State provoked jubilant celebrations among players and a large group of Montana State supporters.
Coach Brent Vigen reflected on the milestone, noting, "To be able to clear that hurdle and know that yes, this ’25 group accomplished what hadn’t been done in a long time... You know, we’re building for more." His optimism underscores the team’s youth and potential, with only nine seniors on the roster primarily composed of local Montana talent.
The Bobcats finished the season with a strong 14-2 record, which notably included two wins over statewide rival Montana within a four-week period. The semifinal victory over Montana ensured Montana State’s return to the FCS title game for the second consecutive year, a testament to the Vigen era's consistency with three appearances in five years and four overall in program history.
The championship game was a nail-biter, featuring its first-ever overtime finish in the 48-year history of the title. Montana State led 21-7 at halftime and extended the lead to 28-14 in the third quarter. Crucial defensive plays kept the contest close, with player Jhase McMillan blocking Illinois State kicker Michael Cosentino’s 38-yard field goal attempt with less than a minute remaining, preserving a 28-28 tie at the end of regulation.
In overtime, a determined Illinois State took the lead when Tommy Rittenhouse completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Lord. However, Hunter Parsons blocked the ensuing extra point attempt, keeping Montana State within one point. With the game hanging in the balance, Justin Lamson responded with a critical 14-yard touchdown pass to wide-open Taco Dowler on a fourth-and-10 play, tying the game again. The decisive moment came as Myles Sansted successfully kicked the extra point that sealed the 35-34 win and sent the Bobcats and their fans into celebration.
Montana State’s championship celebrates the end of a prolonged title drought, joining previous national successes including the 1984 I-AA championship, the 1976 NCAA Division II title, and the 1956 NAIA championship. Vigen acknowledged the effort required to achieve the victory, saying, "What a hard fought game, and these things aren’t supposed to come easily, I guess." Lamson, who transferred onto the team in June, praised the decisive touchdown play, commenting, "Taco was wide open. I got hit so I was just trying to give him a chance and the rest is history, and Myles did his thing and that was the game."
On the opposing side, Illinois State, with a 12-5 record, made history as the first FCS team to win four consecutive road games en route to the championship game. Their playoff run included defeating the number one seed, North Dakota State, a powerhouse with 10 championships in the last 14 years. Despite their first championship appearance since 2014, the Redbirds left without the title. Coach Brock Spack expressed the agonizing closeness of the loss: "We needed to make one more play to win. When you look at a game that’s a one-point loss like that, there’s probably 10, 15, maybe 20 plays in the game if you make just one of them, you win. Wasn’t able to do that, and we came up short."
Statistically, Lamson completed 280 yards passing with two touchdowns and ran for two additional scores. Dowler contributed significantly with eight receptions for 111 yards. For Illinois State, quarterback Rittenhouse threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns, while Victor Dawson rushed for 126 yards. Receiver Dylan Lord amassed 13 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Illinois State made pivotal plays including forcing back-to-back three-and-outs in the fourth quarter and registering three sacks. Montana State's victory came despite 14 penalties totaling 93 yards, which reflected some self-inflicted challenges as highlighted by Coach Vigen’s acknowledgment of inconsistent offensive performance marked by "one step forward, maybe sometimes two steps back."
Special teams played a crucial role in game outcome. Spack suggested that potential ball-handling problems contributed to both a field goal and an extra point being blocked. Noting the capability of kicker Cosentino, Spack explained the decision to attempt the field goal was an effort to take the lead. He described the blocked attempts as "very disappointing."
Looking forward, Illinois State faces the task of replacing quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse. The team will also rely on leading tackler Tye Niekamp, who is expected to return for another season to play under the guidance of his father Travis, the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. Montana State anticipates the return of Lamson, whose mid-year transfer has been integral to the team’s offense.