Montana State beats Illinois State
35-34 in OT thriller for 1st national title since 1984
[January 06, 2026]
By TERESA M. WALKER
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Montana State finally found a way to answer
when it mattered most for the program’s first national championship
since 1984.
A year ago, Montana State missed winning its first title in 40 years
when a slow start doomed it in a shootout loss to North Dakota
State. Two years ago, the Bobcats’ season ended in Bozeman in the
quarterfinals on a blocked extra point in overtime against the
Bison.
They started this season losing the first two — at Oregon and a
double- overtime loss at home to South Dakota State.
So when Myles Sansted’s extra point went through the uprights in
overtime for a 35-34 victory over Illinois State on Monday night in
the Football Championship Subdivision title game, the Bobcats
chucked helmets in the air while sprinting around with a heavy
contingent of Montana State fans celebrating with them.
“To be able to clear that hurdle and know that yes this ’25 group
accomplished what hadn’t been done in a long time ...,” said coach
Brent Vigen, who’s already thinking ahead with a young,
Montana-laden team featuring only nine seniors. “You know, we’re
building for more.”
The Bobcats (14-2) capped a season that featured not one, but two
wins over in-state rival Montana over a four-week span. Beating
Montana in the semifinals put Montana State back into the title game
for the second straight season, third in five years under Vigen and
the fourth berth overall.
Montana State topped that accomplishment with its 14th straight win
in a thrilling finish in the first overtime in the 48 years of this
title game. The Bobcats led 21-7 at halftime and 28-14 in the third.
They needed Jhase McMillan’s block of Michael Cosentino’s 38-yard
field goal attempt with 57 seconds left in regulation to keep it
tied at 28.
In overtime, Justin Lamson tied it with a 14-yard touchdown pass to
Taco Dowler on fourth-and-10. Hunter Parsons blocked the extra point
attempt after Tommy Rittenhouse threw a 10-yard TD pass to Dylan
Lord to give Illinois State its only lead at 34-28 to open overtime.
Stansted’s kick started the celebration 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 1956 NAIA championship.
“What a hard fought game, and these things aren’t supposed to come
easily I guess,” Vigen said.
Lamson, who didn’t join the Bobcats until June, said the OT
touchdown was a great play call.
“Taco was wide open,” Lamson said. “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.”
Illinois State (12-5) already made history as the first FCS team to
win four straight road games to advance through the playoffs to this
championship game. That included a win over this postseason’s No. 1
seed and North Dakota State — winners of 10 of the last 14 FCS
championships including last year.
[to top of second column] |
Montana State place-kicker Myles Sansted (39) kicks a point after
try to win the FCS Championship NCAA college football game against
Illinois State in overtime Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.
(AP Photo/George Walker IV)
This was the Redbirds’ first time in this game
since 2014, and they leave empty-handed.
“Just couldn’t find one more play,” Illinois State coach Brock Spack
said. “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.”
Lamson finished with 280 yards passing and two TDs. He also ran for
two more scores. Dowler had eight catches for 111 yards.
Rittenhouse finished with 311 yards passing and four TDs. Victor
Dawson ran for 126 yards, and Lord had 13 catches for 161 yards
receiving and two TDs.
The takeaway
Illinois State made big defensive plays to give the Redbirds a
chance. They forced Montana State three-and-out on consecutive
drives in the fourth for a chance at the win and had three sacks.
Montana State won its 14th straight game despite too many
self-inflicted mistakes. The Bobcats were flagged 14 times for 93
yards. “We offensively showed flashes, but it was one step forward,
maybe sometimes two steps back,” Vigen said.
Blocked kicks
Spack said he thought ball-handling issues might be why both the
field goal and extra point attempts were blocked. Cosentino has the
ability to get the ball up in the air, which is why Spack decided to
go for the lead with the field goal attempt.
“It’s very disappointing,” Spack said.
Up next
Illinois State has to replace Rittenhouse. Leading tackler Tye
Niekamp has another season to play for his father Travis, the
defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach.
Montana State should get Lamson back. He joined the Bobcats after
stints at Syracuse and Stanford.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
|
