NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an exciting, action-packed game for the National Championship, Montana State blocked two late Illinois State kicks and iced the game with a score in their sole possession in overtime to win, 35-34. Illinois State overcame a 14- point deficit in the final period to even the score, 28-28.  With1:50 left in regulation, a 38-yard field goal try by Michael Cosentino was blocked by Montana State’s Jhase McMillan to prevent a Redbird (12-5) upset in the title 2025 title game.

The game intensified late in the first half. Montana State enjoyed a 14-0 lead with :57 left before fireworks really began.  Illinois State polished off an 80-yard drive with Tommy Rittenhouse connecting with WR Scotty Presson on a six -yard pass play.  However, three plays later, MSU QB Justin Lamson hit WR Dane Steel for a 33-yard catch and run to extend the lead with :18 on the board.  The MSU Bobcats led, 21-7, going into halftime.

Intangible factors figure in this championship

The stage was set for the second half. Unseeded, No. 17 Illinois State came into this game on a four-game FCS winning streak. It included 29-28 upset over No. 1 North Dakota State whom they had fallen to in the regular season, 33-16. Montana State rode in on a 13-game winning streak and sought to overcome last year’s championship loss, 35-32, against the same powerful Bison program.

Scores come in unusual ways

Following Montana State’s initial punt at the start of the third period, Illinois State put together a long drive to the one, prolonged by end zone interference. At the one, Victor Dawson (29 carries for 126 yards) coughed up the ball on a plunge over the middle.  After the pile was pulled apart, ISU lineman Logan Brasfield came up with the ball over the goal line for the touchdown. The officials confirmed on review.

Not to be outdone, Montana State responded with a 63-yard scoring drive. WR Taco Dowler (must have a good NIL deal) ran the ball in from 22 yards out to put the Bobcats up, 28-14, going into the final period.  This came on the wide out’s only carry of the game. He garnered six receptions for 96 yards and a TD.

ISU Redbirds claw back against Montana State Bobcats

The fourth started with Illinois State on the move at Montana State’s 40. On fourth and goal at the MSU four, Rittenhouse called the play from the shotgun. He gunned a pass to his leading receiver of the season, Dan Sobkowicz, for a leaping score with 10:13 left.  Now trailing 28-21, ISU forced a Bobcat punt. It went out of bounds to put them on their 40.

Rittenhouse (33 of 46, 311 yards, 4 TD passes) then focused on his primary receiver of the game, Dylan Lord (13 catches, 161 yards, two TDs).   A 16-yard reception put them at the Montana State 26.  Two plays later he connected with Lord again for a 25-yard TD pass and run with 5:10 to play. The FCS championship was knotted, 28-28.

How not to break a tie

MSU return man Jabez Wood returned the kickoff to the 27. On a third and 13 from the 24, Lamson targeted him, but the ISU DB broke up the pass.  The Redbirds started their series from the 34. A long pass to Lord got the Redbirds at the MSU 30 for the 2:00 time-out. With fourth and one at the 21, ISU HC Brock Spack called out his field goal unit.  Michael Cosentino booted it, but Jhase McMillan blocked it.  The ball rolled up field.  DB Seth Johnson picked it up and returned it to the ISU 40. A sack of Lamson and a 20-yard loss on a confused, errant, unexpected snap put the Bobcats back on their 37 for a fourth and 32.  They punted. The Redbirds ran out clock to go into overtime.

Hate when this happens

Illinois State scored on their second play in OT on a 10- yard scoring pass to Lord for six. Next: this is what I hate because I saw another ending like his in 2002 between UNLV and Wyoming in OT.  On the PAT, the snap was mishandled.  Consentino’s kick went low. Montana State blocked it easily.

On the Bobcats’ possession, on third and ten at the 14, Lamson’s pass was dropped.  On fourth down, the play called by Montana State HC Brent Vigen turned out to be brilliant.  Taco Dowler went out as the lone receiver to the left corner to beat man coverage. They flooded the end zone right.  Lamson (18 for 27, 280 yards, 2 TDs) avoided the pressure and threw to the far-left corner. Dowler made the diving catch to even the score.  PK Myles Sansted converted the PAT to give Montana State the 2025 FCS championship, its first since 1984, 35-34.

Great, exciting, hard-fought, mostly well-played game by both teams.  A fan of the game with no specific rooting interest couldn’t ask for more. Neither team turned the ball over.  Only wished that the game’s final score didn’t result because of a mishandled snap. Preferably, the final winning score would result based on some positive play rather than a negative one.

Collegefootballfan.com returns next year; will Montana State? Illinois State?

We’ll take the result for the great battle it turned out to be.  We enjoyed the opportunity to finally see the FCS finale and the season’s eventual champion crowned (we attended MSU’s opener against FBS Oregon losing, 59-13).  We really appreciated the fact that the championship game played so close to home for us.  We’ll be back next year. The 2026 FCS Championship returns to First Bank Stadium in Nashville.

Coming up Peaches

We’re now headed to Atlanta this Friday to watch aforementioned No. 5 Oregon meet No. 1 Indiana in the CFP Chick-Fil A Peach Bowl. Also, we travel on to Miami for the FBS finale on January 19.  What a great way to finish our 2025 season!

Read about our last 45 years of college football history!!

Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. Among 738 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some memories you encountered with us.

• Edited and written by Stephen J. Koreivo, member of Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Author of “Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.”