NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Illinois State football rallied to force overtime, but Montana State answered with a 35-34 victory Monday night in a messy but exciting NCAA FCS championship game at FirstBank Stadium.
Unseeded ISU (12-5) erased a 14-point second-half deficit to force OT, but kicking woes hurt the Redbirds in their bid for the program’s first national title.
“Heartbroken, honestly,” ISU linebacker Tye Niekamp said. “The worst part is going back in the locker room and seeing the seniors. It’s awful, honestly.
“Every year sucks, but it gets worse and worse every year, because you know the guys more and more. Then not to finish the goal and go back in there and see those guys, it breaks your heart. So it’s tough. It’s tough.”
Trailing 34-28 in overtime, Montana State (14-2) executed on fourth down when quarterback Justin Lamson beat the blitz and found receiver Taco Dowler for a 14-yard touchdown on fourth-and-10. The extra point from Myles Sansted clinched the Bobcats their first national title since 1984.
ISU struck first in overtime, getting a 10-yard touchdown catch from Dylan Lord from Tommy Rittenhouse, but the extra point try from Michael Cosentino was blocked, opening up the door for Montana State.
Illinois State also had a chance to win the game with just under a minute left in regulation, but had a 38-yard field goal try from Cosentino blocked by Montana State’s Jhase McMillan. ISU coach Brock Spack — who chose to kick instead of keep his offense on the field on fourth-and-1 — said there was “ball handling issue” from the snapper and holder, which caused the pay to develop late and the kick to go flat.
“I thought it was the right decision at the time,” Spack said. “We went back and forth about going on fourth down, but we cut a guy loose on the play before, and we kind of got beat pretty bad on the line of scrimmage. I thought, you know, we’re in field goal range. This is well into Mike’s range. He gets the ball up. I think we would be fine. Didn’t happen that way.
“Yeah, I thought we could win the game there.”
No. 2 seed Montana State overcame 93 yards in penalties and a near doubling up in time of possession to survive the upstart Redbirds, who came into the playoffs unseeded before reeling off four road wins to advance to Nashville.
Montana State’s Lamson finished 18-for-27 with 280 yards and four TDs — two passing and two rushing. His top target was Dowler, who ended with 111 yards on eight catches and two total TDs.
Rittenhouse led ISU, going 33-for-46 for 311 yards and four touchdowns. His top target was Lord with 13 catches for 161 yards and two TDs. Daniel Sobkowwicz (5-52) and Scotty Presson Jr. added TD catches, while running back Victor Dawson carried the ball 29 times for 126 yards.
ISU won four road games to make its first championship appearance since 2014, including an upset of No. 1 North Dakota State. Spack said the team believe it could beat anybody, anywhere.
“Just couldn’t find one more play, and we needed to make one more play in order to win it,” Spack said. “… There’s probably 10, 15, maybe even 20 plays in the game, if you just make one of them, you win it. …
“But I’m just really proud of our team. They’ve fought through a lot to get here.”
The Journal Star brought you live updates, scores and highlights from the game on the campus of Vanderbilt University:
Illinois State vs Montana State final score
Montana State scores on fourth down to win national championship
Montana State scores a 14-yard touchdown on fourth-and-10 in the first overtime, getting a TD pass from Justin Lamson to WR Taco Dowler. The extra point from Myles Sansted clinches the Bobcats their first national title since 1984.
Montana State 35, Illinois State 34 | FINAL OT
Dylan Lord touchdown: ISU grabs lead, but extra point missed
Illinois State strikes first in overtime, getting a 10-yard TD reception by Dylan Lord from Tommy Rittenhouse.
ISU had the extra point blocked, however, and Montana State will have the ball with a chance to win.
Illinois State 34, Montana State 28 | 1OT
Wild ending as FCS championship headed to overtime
Illinois State forces a punt and now ISU will run one play with 12 seconds to go, and we’ll head to overtime.
Montana State blocks field goal and takes over
The 38-yard field goal from Michael Cosentino was blocked by Montana State’s Jhase McMillan at :57 and the Bobcats now have a chance to win it.
ISU dominating time of possession
Headed to the two-minute warning, Illinois State has 38:26 in time of possession vs. 19:34 for Montana State.
Dylan Lord with big catch to get ISU into field goal range
WR Dylan Lord (12 catches, 151 yards, TD) catches a 33-yard pass from QB Tommy Rittenhouse to get ISU to the Montana State 30 at the two-minute warning. The Redbirds’ national championship hopes likely will come down to the leg of Michael Cosentino.
ISU Redbirds force punt and will take over with chance to win
Illinois State forced a punt and will have the ball with a chance to drive for the game-winning score. ISU takes over on its own 34 with 3:09 to go.
Illinois State football score update: ISU Redbirds tie FCS championship
ISU has battled back to tie the FCS championship game with an eight-play, 60-yard drive covering 3:52 — capped by a Tommy Rittenhouse 25-yard TD pass to Dylan Lord.
Illinois State 28, Montana State 28 | 5:10 4Q
ISU Redbirds football forces punt
Illinois State forced a punt after the first three-and-out from either team. QB Tommy Rittenhouse will have a chance to drive for the game-tying touchdown, taking over with 9:02 remaining.
Illinois State football score update: Daniel Sobkowicz touchdown
QB Tommy Rittenhouse changes the play at the line of scrimmage and finds WR Daniel Sobkowicz to pull ISU within a touchdown. The TD throw capped a 15-play, 81-yard drive that took 8:05 off the clock.
Montana State 28, Illinois State 21 | 10:13 4Q
ISU Redbirds football driving: Penalty gets ISU inside 10
Illinois State gets another break from Montana State as a personal foul penalty puts the Redbirds inside the 10 with a chance to pull within a touchdown.
Illinois State driving at end of third quarter
ISU trails by 14 at the end of the third quarter and will need another comeback if it wants to hoist its first national championship.
Montana State 28, Illinois State 14 | END 3RD
Taco Dowler touchdown: Montana State score update
Montana State responds to ISU yet again, getting a shifty 22-yard run from WR Taco Dowler. The Bobcats needed only 2:14 to go 64 yards in six plays and regain a two-touchdown lead.
Montana State 28, Illinois State 14 | 3:18 3Q
ISU Redbirds football update: Big man touchdown
Illinois State football has pulled within a touchdown, opening the third quarter with a long drive — capped by a touchdown. The drive ended when RB Victor Dawson fumbled the ball into the endzone and it was recovered by 6-foot-3, 315-pound lineman Logan Brasfield.
Montana State 21, Illinois State 14 | 5:32 3Q
Illinois State quick start to second half
ISU forced a punt on Montana State’s first possession of the second half and now has the ball in Bobcats territory.
Montana State answers with quick touchdown: FCS championship
Montana State needed only three plays to go 75 yards in 36 seconds to answer right back and extend their lead back to 14 just before halftime. Impressive 33-yard touchdown catch-and-run from Dane Steel.
Montana State 21, Illinois State 7 | 0:18 2Q
ISU score: Scotty Presson Jr. touchdown
QB Tommy Rittenhouse finds Scotty Presson Jr. for a 6-yard touchdown on a crossing route. The TD came two plays after ISU converted a fourth down.
Montana State 14, Illinois State 7 | 0:54 2Q
Illinois State driving late in second quarter
Illinois State has taken advantage of a personal foul penalty and a couple of big swing passes to get inside the redzone for the first time tonight. They face fourth-and-2 at the two-minute warning. Big play here.
Caden Dowler returns to the field
After leaving the field holding his shoulder during the last defensive drive, Big Sky defensive POY Caden Dowler is back on the field.
Caden Dowler injury: Montana State defender in injury tent
Big Sky Conference defensive player of the year Caden Dowler leaves the game with a shoulder injury, and his status is unknown.
RB Adam Jones is back on the field after heading to the locker room.
Adam Jones leaves field and heads to locker room
Montana State RB Adam Jones was seen jogging to the locker room, according to the ESPN broadcast. It is not known if the 1,000-yard rusher is injured.
Justin Lamson quarterback sneak: Montana State score update
Montana State takes advantage of the ISU targeting call to extend its lead early in the second. QB Justin Lamson capped an 80-yard drive with his second rushing TD of the game.
Montana State 14, Illinois State 0 | 10:49 2Q
La’Shavion Brown ejected for targeting
Illinois State all-MVFC DB La’Shavion Brown was ejected after being called for targeting on a catch from Chris Long, who was struck in the helmet by the crown of Brown’s helmet. After the 33-yard catch and 15-yard penalty, Montana State is in ISU territory early in the second quarter.
Illinois State offensive pass interference near goalline
Illinois State WR Daniel Sobkowicz was called for offensive pass interference penalty on a third-and-10 completion that would have put the Redbirds inside the 5. Instead, they’ll try third-and-25 to start the second quarter.
“I get letting them be physical, but let them be physical,” ISU coach Brock Spack said between quarters to the ESPN sideline reporter. “That was a horrible call.”
Montana State with costly penalty
Montana State had held Illinois State to its second punt in two drives, but gets called for running into the kicker and will extend the ISU drive.
Montana State touchdown: FCS championship update
Montana State overcame a few big-loss plays, but orchestrated a 10-play, 90-yard drive to draw first blood in this FCS championship game. QB Justin Lamson was 4-for-4 passing for 83 yards and capped the drive with a TD run.
Montana State 7, Illinois State 0 | 4:51 1Q
Illinois State vs. Montana State: Players to watch
Here are the all-Americans for ISU and Montana State:
Illinois State made FCS history with victory
Illinois State is the first team to win four road games in one Football Championship Series playoffs and just the second unseeded team to make the title game in the 24-team playoff era, joining Youngstown State in 2016.
Four unseeded teams have won the FCS championship — Georgia Southern (1985), Youngstown State (1991, 1993), Marshall (1992), Western Kentucky (2002) — but each of those won fewer than four road games in their runs.
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Illinois State vs. Montana State spread, odds, line
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, Jan. 5
FCS playoffs semifinal scores
Saturday, Dec. 20 semifinals
FCS championship game
Jan. 5, 2026 at FirstBank Stadium, Nashville
Montana State football schedule
Illinois State football schedule
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois State vs. Montana State FCS championship recap: ISU rallies, but falls short in OT
Reporting by Wes Huett, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
