Montana State defeats Montana in the 2025 FCS playoff semifinals, advances to national title
Montana State defeats Montana 48-23, advances to FCS Championship Game
A dominant start and a dominant finish powered Montana State to a win over rival Montana in the FCS semifinals, 48-23.
Montana State opened with a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and a 20-3 lead in the second quarter. While Montana rallied back with 20 unanswered points to take a 23-20 lead in the third quarter, the Bobcats responded with 28 unanswered points of its own to stamp their ticket to Nashville. Click or tap here for final stats from the game.
THE MONTANA STATE BOBCATS ARE GOING TO THE FCS CHAMPIONSHIP 🔥
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB)
It's the first FCS playoff win in the Montana State-Montana rivalry game in the storied rivalry's history, with the Bobcats winning twice over the Grizzlies in 2025. Montana State has now won three straight games in the series, but the Grizzlies hold a 75-45-5 head-to-head edge in the all-time series in the fourth-oldest rivalry in the FCS.
It's Montana State's second straight FCS Championship game appearance and third title game appearance under head coach Brent Vigen. The Bobcats will be searching for their first national championship win since 1984.
You can catch the 2025-26 FCS Championship Game on Monday, January 5, 2026 at theFirstBank Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Pick-Six Bobcats! Montana State 48, Montana 23 | 4Q - 7:01
Make that 28 unanswered points for Montana State after Bryce Grebe intercepted Montana quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat and returned it for a touchdown. The Bobcats lead the Griz by 25 points.
Click or tap here for live stats.
BRYCE GREBE PICK-SIX ‼️
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB)
📺 ABC
Lamson with the dagger! Montana State 41, Montana 23 | 4Q - 7:57
Montana State has answered Montana's 20 unanswered points with 21 unanswered points of its own as the Bobcats take a 41-23 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Montana State's latest score came from the legs of quarterback Justin Lamson, as he stepped up in the pocket before evading a defender as he dashed into the endzone for a seven-yard score.
Lamson now has two touchdowns through the air and on the ground for four total on the day. Click or tap here for live stats.
That's ANOTHER Justin Lamson TD 😤
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB)
📺 ABC
It's Taco Time! Montana State 34, Montana 23 | 4Q - 12:05
87 BIG ONES! Montana State finally made its downfield strike. Quarterback Justin Lamson escaped outside the pocket to his right and found wide receiver Taco Dowler open as the wideout did the rest, taking the catch 87 yards to the house.
That's the longest play in the Montana State-Montana rivalry since Bobcat running back Adam Jones ran 88 yards for a touchdown in 2024. Click or tap here for live stats.
Justin ➡️ Taco for 87 yards!! 🤯
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB)
📺 ABC x |
Fourth quarter — Montana State 27, Montana 23
Just four points separate Montana State and Montana as we enter the fourth quarter. Montana rallied back from 20 points down to take the lead before Montana State answered with a touchdown to retake the lead.
When play resumes, Montana will be facing third-and-nine from its own 40-yard line.
Click or tap here for live stats. See stats through three quarters below
Bobcats answer! Montana State 27, Montana 23 | 3Q - 2:07
Montana State has answered with a score of its own! A 14-play, 75-play drive was capped off by a jet touch pass to tight end Rocky Lencioni for a one-yard score.
We're in for a classic! Click or tap here for live stats
Rocky Lencioni puts the Cats back 🔛🔝
— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB)
📺 ABC
Grizzlies take the lead! Montana 23, Montana state 20 | 3Q - 8:47
Montana has rallied back and taken the lead! The Grizzlies have scored 20 unanswered points after forcing a punt on Montana State's first third quarter drive. The latest touchdown came after Montana quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat found tight end Jake Olson for a touchdown pass.
Ah Yat is now 21-of-27 passing (78 percent) for 204 yards and a touchdown, adding in a rushing touchdown. Click or tap here for live stats
THEIR FIRST LEAD OF THE GAME 🔥
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS)
Keali’i Ah Yat throws to Jake Olson for the touchdown, putting (3) up for the first time. x 🎥 ABC
One possession game at half! Montana State 20, Montana 16
Momentum has shifted in the FCS semifinal game. Montana has scored 13 unanswered points right before halftime to make the score 20-16 Bobcats. The latest touchdown game from quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat on a quarterback draw.
Keeper for 🤯
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf)
It’s a 20-16 game at the half
After the touchdown Montana cut the deficit to four points with a extra point, over a potential two-point conversion to cut the deficit to three points. It's an impressive rally from the Grizzlies after facing a 17-point deficit early in the second quarter.
Running backs for both teams have started to pickup steam as Montana's Eli Gilman has 85 yards and a touchdown on 8.5 yards per carry while Montana State's Adam Jones has 101 yards and two touchdowns on 12.6 yards per carry.
When play resumes, Montana State will receive the ball to start the second half.
Click or tap here for live stats. See first half stats below
BALL! Montana recovers a fumble! — 2Q - 3:23
Montana linebacker Peyton Wing hit wide receiver Jabez Woods after catch to force the game's first turnover as the Grizzlies recovered a fumble. Montana will take over with the ball on the Montana State 40-yard line. Click or tap here for live stats.
BALL ON THE DECK and the Griz have it!
— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB)
Grizzlies find the endzone! Montana State 20, Montana 9 | 2Q - 7:02
Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year Eli Gilman ran 17 yards up the middle to give Montana its first touchdown of the FCS semifinals. It was one of three 10-plus yard carries from Gilman on the drive, yet the scoring play was set up through the air. Montana quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat moved to 5-of-6 for 56 yards after delivering a 13-yard strike under pressure to get the Grizzlies into the redzone.
A bad snap on an extra point keeps the score at nine. Click or tap here for live stats.
The Griz respond 👊 makes it 20-9
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf)
Jones does it again! Montana State 20, Montana 3 | 2Q - 11:25
Montana State running back Adam Jones is now up to 96 rushing yards and two touchdowns after scampering in for a 54-yard score to put the Bobcats up 20-3 on the Grizzlies.
Montana State now has 139 rushing yards to Montana's 16 as the Grizzlies trail by the most points they've trailed by all season. Click or tap here for live stats.
Missoula Kid for 6 👀 scores his second TD of the day to make it 20-3
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf)
Grizzlies on the board! Montana State 13, Montana 3 | 2Q - 12:52
Montana converted a third-down to open the quarter before quarterback Keali'i Ah Yat found tight end Evan Shafer for an 18-yard completion a few plays later. While Shafer would exit with an injury, his catch set up a first-and-goal opportunity.
From there, Montana State's defense tightened up, holding the Grizzlies to a 21-yard field goal. Click or tap here for live stats.
First Quarter — Montana State 13, Montana 0
Montana State leads Montana 13-0 after one quarter in the FCS semifinals. Montana State had a dominant start, averaging 5.92 yards per carry enroute to two touchdown drives.
The Bobcats defense forced Montana's explosive offense to two punts on their opening drives, but when play resumes, the Grizzlies will face third and six from the Montana State 41-yard line. Click or tap here for live stats.
See complete first half stats below
Injury update
Some stars are getting dinged up on both sides here in the semifinals.
Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Caden Dowler suffered a wrist injury on Montana State's second defensive drive. While it was reported that his wrist is not broken and he could return to the game, he has since appeared on the sideline without pads on.
Meanwhile, Montana wide receiver Brooks Davis went down with an ankle injury on Montana's third drive of the game and needed to be helped off the field.
Bobcats add another! Montana State 13, Montana 0 | 1Q - 2:59
It's all Bobcats early in this one. The Montana State defense forced another punt before the offense drove the ball 55 yards in just over four minutes as running back Adam Jones ran in for an 11-yard score for the team's second touchdown of the game. A bad snap on the extra point keeps the score at 13.
On this drive, the Bobcats opened with seven straight rushes, getting the ball to the Montana 22-yard line before the first pass. On the pass, Montana had its third penalty of the game, as a pass interference penalty gave the Bobcats a first-and-goal. Click or tap here for live stats.
Make that 13-0 😳
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf)
‘Cats are rolling at home