NASHVILLE, Tennessee. — Montana finally found a way to answer when it mattered most to the program's first national championship since 1984.
A year ago, Montana State missed out on its first title in 40 years when a slow start doomed it to a shootout loss. North Dakota. Two years ago, the Bobcats' season ended in the quarterfinals when Bozeman blocked an extra point in overtime against the Bison.
They started this season by losing their first two matches. Oregon and a double overtime loss at home to State of South Dakota.
So when Miles SansteadThe extra point came through the uprights in overtime. victory with a score of 35-34 over Illinois The Bobcats threw their helmets in the air Monday night in the football title game as they ran around with a large contingent of Montana State fans celebrating with them.
“To be able to overcome this hurdle and know that, yes, this '25 group has achieved something that hasn't been done in a long time…” said coach Brent Vigen, who is already thinking about a young Montana team that features just nine seniors. “You know, we're building for more.”
The Bobcats (14-2) are coming off a season that included not one, but two wins over rival Montana State in four weeks. Beating Montana In the semifinals, Montana State returned to the title game for the second straight season, finishing third in five years under Vigen and fourth overall.
Montana State surpassed that milestone with its 14th straight victory in a thrilling first-overtime finish in the 48-year history of the title game. The Bobcats led 21-7 at halftime and 28-14 in the third. They needed Jase McMillanblock Michael CosentinoA 38-yard field goal attempt with 57 seconds left in regulation left the score tied at 28.
During overtime work, Justin Lamson tied the game with a 14-yard touchdown pass. Taco dowler on fourth and 10. Hunter Parsons blocked an extra point attempt after Tommy Rittenhouse threw a 10 yard pass Dylan Lord to give Illinois State its only lead at 34-28 in overtime.
Stansted's strike began celebrations of the end of a long title drought. Along with the 1984 I-AA championship, Montana State also won the 1976 NCAA Division II title and the 1956 NAIA championship.
“What a tough game, and I think these things shouldn’t come easy,” Vigen said.
Lamson, who only joined the Bobcats in June, said the touchdown in OT was a great play call.
“Taco was wide open,” Lamson said. “I got hit so I just tried to give him a chance and the rest is history and Miles did his thing and it was a game.”
Illinois State (12-5) has already made history as the first FCS team to win four straight road games and advance from the playoffs into this championship game. That included beating the No. 1 seed in this postseason and a North Dakota State team that has won 10 of the last 14 FCS championships, including last year.
It was the Redbirds' first appearance in this game since 2014, and they came away empty-handed.
“Just couldn’t find another game,” Illinois coach Brock Spack said. “We needed to make one more play to win. When you look at a game that's down by one point, there's probably 10, 15, maybe 20 plays in the game, if you make even one of them, you win. We couldn't do it and we lost.”
Lamson finished with 280 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also ran for two more points. Dowler had eight catches for 111 yards.
Rittenhouse finished with 311 yards passing and four touchdowns. Victor Dawson rushed for 126 yards and Dylan Lord had 13 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns.
