Honestly, if you looked at the scoreboard back in August at Autzen Stadium, you probably wouldn't have bet a dime on a national title. Seeing 13–59 flash against the Oregon Ducks is a gut punch for any program. It was messy. It was loud. It felt like a long way from Bozeman. But that's the thing about this team—they don't stay down.
The montana state football scores from this past 2025 season tell a story of a team that essentially decided to stop losing after the first week of September. After a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to South Dakota State (24–30) on September 6, something clicked. Brent Vigen’s squad didn't just win; they started dismantling people. They rattled off 14 straight wins.
Think about that for a second.
Fourteen wins in a row in the FCS is statistically ridiculous. It's not just about talent; it's about not having a "bad day" for four straight months.
The Run to the Big Sky Title
The middle of the season was basically a track meet. The Bobcats were putting up video game numbers. We’re talking about a 57–3 win over Eastern Washington and a 66–14 blowout against Weber State. Justin Lamson was playing like a man possessed. He finished the year with 3,172 passing yards and 26 touchdowns through the air, but his real value was his legs. 16 rushing touchdowns? That’s a cheat code for a quarterback.
Then came the game everyone circles in red ink. The Brawl of the Wild.
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Going into Missoula is never easy. The atmosphere at Washington-Grizzly Stadium is essentially a wall of sound. On November 22, it lived up to the hype. The Bobcats were down 21–7 at the half. It looked like the win streak was finally going to snap against their biggest rivals. But Caden Dowler—who had a monster year with six interceptions—snagged a pass and took it 34 yards to the house to spark a comeback.
They won 31–28.
That specific score didn't just win them the Great Divide Trophy; it secured the Big Sky Conference title. It proved they could win ugly when the shots weren't falling, so to speak.
Breaking Down the 2025 Playoff Scores
The postseason is where things got really weird and, frankly, stressful for the Bobcat faithful.
The second-round game against Yale was way closer than it should have been (21–13). Then, the quarterfinals against Stephen F. Austin saw the Bobcats explode for 44 points. Adam Jones was everywhere. Between his receiving touchdown and his late 16-yard score, he basically put the Lumberjacks to bed.
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The Semifinal Rematch
- Opponent: Montana Grizzlies
- Location: Bobcat Stadium, Bozeman
- Final Score: 48–23
- The Vibe: Complete dominance.
It’s rare to see a Cat-Griz game turn into a blowout, especially in the semifinals. But 48–23? That’s a statement. The defense held the Griz to just 23 points, and the offense was clicking on every cylinder. It punched their ticket to Nashville.
The Nashville Thriller (FCS Championship)
This was the one. January 5, 2026. Montana State vs. Illinois State at FirstBank Stadium.
If you like heart attacks, this was your game. It went into overtime tied at 28. Illinois State scored first in OT but missed the extra point—a mistake that will haunt them for decades. The Bobcats took the ball and didn't blink. They drove it down, scored the touchdown, and Myles Sansted—who was money all year with 126 kicking points—drilled the PAT.
35–34.
That's the score that ended a 41-year drought. Since 1984, the folks in Bozeman have been waiting for this.
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What the Stats Actually Mean
Looking at the raw montana state football scores, it's easy to just see the "W" column. But look closer. The team averaged over 40 points a game during the regular season. Julius Davis hit the 1,123-yard rushing mark, which gave the offense a balance that defenses couldn't solve. If you stacked the box to stop Julius, Lamson would burn you over the top to Taco Dowler.
Taco finished with over 1,000 receiving yards. That’s a lot of production from one family if you count Caden’s defensive heroics.
The defense wasn't just "good enough." Kenneth Eiden IV had 8 sacks. When you have a pass rush that consistent, it makes the secondary look like All-Americans. They weren't just winning games; they were suffocating teams in the fourth quarter.
Actionable Takeaways for the 2026 Season
If you're already looking ahead to next year, here is how you should track the progress of this program:
- Watch the QB Transition: Keep an eye on the spring practices. With the success of the 2025 season, the target on MSU's back is massive.
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: Brent Vigen has been a master at plugging holes. See who they bring in to replace the departing seniors like Zackry Martinez.
- Check the 2026 Schedule: The Cats open against Utah Tech on August 29. It’s a game they should win, but after the 2025 Oregon opener, they know not to take anything for granted.
- Secure Season Tickets Early: Expect Bobcat Stadium to be sold out every single Saturday in 2026. The waitlist is already growing.
The 2025 season wasn't just a lucky run. It was a 14-game masterclass in resilience. From getting blown out in Eugene to lifting the trophy in Nashville, this team redefined what Bobcat football looks like. If you missed it, the scores tell the story, but the grit behind those numbers is what really matters.