Nashville Bound: Montana State and Illinois State Punch Championship Tickets

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The road to the 2025 FCS National Championship has officially converged on Nashville after a dramatic Saturday of semifinal action that pitted storied rivals against one another and saw a historic “Cinderella” run continue its march toward glory. In a day defined by high-octane offenses and gritty road performances, the Montana State Bobcats and the Illinois State Redbirds emerged as the final two teams standing, setting the stage for a title clash on January 5.

In Bozeman, the 125th meeting of the “Brawl of the Wild” carried the highest stakes in the rivalry’s long history as #2 Montana State hosted #3 Montana with a trip to the championship on the line. The Bobcats ultimately overwhelmed the Grizzlies in a 48-23 victory, but the scoreline belies a game that was fraught with tension until the final frame. Montana State jumped out to an early 20-3 lead behind the bruising running of Adam Jones, who finished the day with 131 yards and two scores. However, the Grizzlies mounted a furious comeback, scoring 20 unanswered points to take a 23-20 lead late in the third quarter following a Keali’i Ah Yat touchdown pass to Jake Olson. The resilience of the Bobcats proved too much, however, as they exploded for 21 points in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Justin Lamson accounted for four total touchdowns, including a back-breaking 87-yard strike to Taco Dowler, to ensure the Bobcats would return to the title game for the third time in five seasons.

While the atmosphere in Bozeman was explosive, the scene in Philadelphia provided its own brand of history as unseeded Illinois State continued its unprecedented postseason journey with a 30-14 dismantling of #12 Villanova. The Redbirds have become the ultimate “Road Warriors,” becoming the first team in FCS history to win four consecutive road playoff games to reach the final. Tommy Rittenhouse was clinical for the Illinois State offense, throwing for 251 yards and two touchdowns to Daniel Sobkowicz. The Redbirds’ defense was equally dominant, snapping Villanova’s nation-leading 23-game home winning streak and limiting the Wildcats to just a single touchdown until the final minutes of the game. Victor Dawson anchored the ground attack with 155 rushing yards, providing the physical edge that has defined the Redbirds’ late-season surge.

The results set up a fascinating National Championship matchup between a Montana State program looking to secure its first title since 1984 and an Illinois State squad that has defied every expectation as an unseeded underdog. For the Bobcats, it is a chance at redemption after falling in the title game twice in the last four years. For the Redbirds, it is a return to the championship stage for the first time since 2014. As the FCS world shifts its focus to Nashville, the contrast between the Bobcats’ high-powered, balanced attack and the Redbirds’ road-tested grit promises a historic conclusion to the 2025 season.