Montana State beats Illinois State 35-34 in OT thriller for 1st national title since 1984

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — 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.

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.

''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.

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.

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