Montana State Survives Illinois State in Remarkable FCS Championship Win

Jared Miller Tue, January 6, 2026 at 6:32 AM UTC·5 min read There never has been… or maybe never will be… an FCS championship game like the one that played out in Nashville on Monday evening. 60 minutes was not quite enough time needed to crown Montana State the champion but, thanks to a blocked PAT and a fourth down touchdown throw in overtime, the Bobcats took home their first title in 41 years. The way Brent Vigen’s squad did it, though, could not have been dreamt up be even Hollywood’s most talented writers. Despite opening up a 14-0 lead over Illinois State, Montana State had to earn every bit of their second FCS championship. Aided greatly by uncharacteristic MSU procedural penalties,...