Justin Lamson and Taco Dowlers led the Montana State Bobcats to a dramatic 35-34 overtime win over the Illinois State Redbirds on Sunday, securing the 2026 FCS Championship and the program's first national title in 41 years.

Watch full highlights of the in-state rivalry matchup between Montana State and Montana in the 2025 FCS semifinals.

The NCAA Football Championship Series playoffs continued with the quarterfinals on Saturday, Dec. 13. Illinois State pulled off another upset, defeating UC Davis to advance to the semifinals.

This is the first time the FCS title game has landed in Music City, and the setting fits the moment. A new venue, a national audience, and two teams that took very different paths to reach the same destination.

Montana State vs. Illinois State can also be streamed live on Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users. You can listen to the Montana State vs. Illinois State radio broadcast on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channel 84 for those in vehicles.

While getting a seed is an advantage by itself, recent FCS history shows the value of a top seed is even more important than it might appear at first glance.

The Illinois State Redbirds and the Montana State Bobcats will battle for a national championship on Monday, Jan. 5, at FirstBank Stadium on Vanderbilt University’s campus. Kickoff is set

We take an in-depth look at the semifinal matchup between Illinois State and Villanova in the 2025 FCS Playoffs

The FCS Championship is Monday, Jan. 5. Here’s the time, TV channel (ESPN), streaming options, location, and quick team primers.

Here's everything you need to know about Montana State vs. Illinois State, including TV channel and streaming options for the FCS Championship game.