In a stunning display of dominance, Montana State crushed Montana with a score of 48-23 on December 20, 2025, in a game that will be remembered for its high-scoring plays and nail-biting moments.
Justin Lamson was the star of the show, accounting for an impressive four touchdowns. Adam Jones was another key player, racking up 131 rushing yards and two touchdowns. This victory propelled the second-seeded Montana State Bobcats past the No. 3 seed Montana Grizzlies in the FCS playoffs.
Montana State (with a record of 13-2) is now set to face unseeded Illinois State in the national championship. The game will be held on January 5 in Nashville, Tennessee. This marks the Bobcats' fourth title game appearance and their third under coach Brett Vigen. The team previously won the national championship in 1984, but lost in the 2021 and 2024 title games against North Dakota State.
Adding to the excitement, Bryce Grebe scored a touchdown with a 35-yard interception return, putting the finishing touches on the scoreboard with just over 7 minutes left in the game.
Lamson's performance was outstanding, with 13 of 19 passes completed for 209 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for touchdowns of 4 and 7 yards. Taco Dowler was another standout, catching five passes for 125 yards, including an incredible 87-yard touchdown. On the other side, Keali'i Ah Yat completed 27 of 42 passes for 251 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, while Taco Dowler's twin brother added a 5-yard TD run. Eli Gillman had 106 rushing yards and a touchdown for Montana.
But here's where it gets controversial: Montana State's defensive back Caden Dowler, the Big Sky Conference's defensive player of the year, had to leave the game in the first quarter due to a wrist injury. Before the game, he had an impressive six interceptions in his last five games, two of which were returned for touchdowns. The Grizzlies also faced injury woes, with Brooks Davis, Evan Shafer, and Jereb Ramos all leaving the game and not returning. Additionally, Micah Harper was ejected early in the second quarter for targeting.
A crowd of 25,437 fans packed Bobcats Stadium for the 125th meeting between these two teams—the first in the playoffs. This event was arguably the biggest sporting event in the state's history. The Grizzlies still lead the all-time series 75-45-5, but Montana State has won three straight and eight of the last ten games. Montana State also previously beat the Grizzlies 31-28 on November 22 to clinch the Big Sky Conference regular-season title.
What do you think? Did the injuries significantly impact the game's outcome? Do you think Montana State has what it takes to win the national championship? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
