Montana State wins first FCS national championship since 1984 after thrilling OT victory over Illinois State

The Montana State Bobcats defeated the Illinois State Redbirds 35-34 successful an overtime thriller to triumph the program's archetypal FCS title since 1984 connected Monday night.

Last season, the Bobcats mislaid successful the title successful a shootout. The play before, they mislaid successful the quarterfinals aft they had an other constituent blocked.

This play had an inauspicious start, arsenic the Bobcats mislaid their archetypal 2 games. However, the Bobcats rattled disconnected 14 consecutive wins to seizure the elusive nationalist title.

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Montana State violative lineman Titan Fleischmann (66) celebrates aft winning the FCS title crippled successful overtime against Illinois State successful Nashville, Tennessee, connected Jan. 5, 2026. (George Walker IV/AP Photo)

Montana State bushed their in-state rivals, Montana, doubly successful a four-week span arsenic they bushed them successful the semifinals.

Head manager Brent Vigen is already focused connected adjacent year, saying the squad is gathering for more.

"To beryllium capable to wide that hurdle and cognize that yes, this ’25 radical accomplished what hadn’t been done successful a agelong time," Vigen said. "You know, we’re gathering for more."

The aboriginal looks agleam for the Bobcats, arsenic they had conscionable 9 seniors connected their title-winning team.

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Montana State players observe aft winning the FCS title crippled against Illinois State successful Nashville, Tennessee, connected Jan. 5, 2026. (George Walker IV/AP Photo)

The Bobcats jumped retired to a 21-7 pb astatine halftime, and kept it a two-score crippled successful the 3rd quarter, starring 28-14, but the Redbirds stormed back.

Illinois State tied the crippled astatine 28-28 and had a accidental to instrumentality the pb with 57 seconds near successful the 4th quarter. Redbirds kicker Michael Consentino had a 38-yard tract extremity attempt, but it was blocked by Bobcats antiaircraft backmost Jhase McMillan.

Illinois State scored archetypal successful overtime, arsenic backmost Tommy Rittenhouse connected with wide receiver Dylan Lord connected a 10-yard touchdown to spell up 34-28, but ran into much kicking woes. Bobcats antiaircraft extremity Hunter Parsons blocked the other point, keeping the people astatine 34-28.

Bobcats backmost Justin Lamson tied the crippled with a 14-yard touchdown walk to wide receiver Taco Dowler to marque it 34-34, and kicker Myles Sanstead buried the other constituent to springiness Montana State the win.

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Montana State choky extremity Rylan Schlepp (88) and violative tackle Tommy Nilson (60) observe aft winning the FCS title crippled against Illinois State successful Nashville, Tennessee, connected Jan. 5, 2026. (George Walker IV/AP Photo)

"Taco was wide open," Lamson said. "I got deed truthful I was conscionable trying to springiness him a accidental and the remainder is history, and Myles did his happening and that was the game."

Vigen, who was successful his 3rd rubric quality successful 5 seasons arsenic caput coach, said that the wins aren’t expected to travel easily.

"What a hard-fought game, and these things aren’t expected to travel easily, I guess," Vigen said.

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