The Brawl of the Wild
since 1897
more
The fourth-oldest active rivalry in FCS, dating to November 26, 1897. For decades, Montana dominated—Montana led 74-44-5 entering 2025. The rivalry now belongs to the Bobcats.
Program outlook
Program outlook
The wound was generational: Montana seemed destined to dominate forever.
Since Oct 9: W 56-20 at Eastern Washington; W 38-33 vs Weber State; W 61-7 vs Cal Poly. 8-1 this season.
Read the full essay — 3 more paragraphs
The 2025 season shattered that narrative in 12 months. Under head coach Brent Vigen, Montana State finished the regular season 10-2 and earned the No. 2 playoff seed. Montana State won 31-28, a seismic upset that claimed the conference title and began the redemption arc. Three weeks later, in the FCS playoff semifinals, the Bobcats demolished Montana 48-23, reversing a one-time 74-44-5 series deficit to take a 12-11 lead.
Montana State faced Illinois State in the FCS National Championship game. The Bobcats won 35-34 in overtime on a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Lamson to Taco Dowler. The program that waited for generations finally got its moment.
Through October 3 Montana State is 5-1: 54-0 at Utah Tech, 51-24 over Butler, 20-7 at Nevada, 35-30 over Central Connecticut and 28-14 over Northern Arizona. Then, on October 3, a 35-34 loss at Idaho as a road favorite — the same score as the title game, this time the other way.
On the field
Montana State plays relentless, opportunistic football with an elite quarterback (Lamson), a dominant defense, and the ability to win on the road and in the playoffs.
Moment of the year · 2026
Won 51-24 vs Butler
Week 1 of 2026. A statement win, by 27 points.
2022–2025
Montana State has sent 3 players to the NFL Draft since 2022.
Steady. Consistent FCS presence on draft boards.
3
picks · last 5 drafts
#58
Troy Andersen
Inside Linebacker · 2022 · 
Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
#213
Tommy Mellott
Wide Receiver · 2025 · 
Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders
#235
Daniel Hardy
Outside Linebacker · 2022 · 
Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams
Players drafted: 15 · 1 in the first roundthe talent factory →
More in this tab
Conference
Big Sky standing · 2026
2nd in the Big Sky
Montana State is 2nd in the Big Sky at 5-1. One team above — that's the direct path to the title game.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Arizona | 6-1 |
| 2 | Montana State | 5-1 |
| 3 | Montana | 5-2 |
| 4 | Weber State | 5-3 |
| 5 | Idaho | 4-2 |
| 6 | Idaho State | 3-3 |
| 7 | UC Davis | 3-3 |
| 8 | Cal Poly | 3-4 |
| 9 | Southern Utah | 3-4 |
| 10 | Northern Colorado | 2-4 |
| 11 | Portland State | 2-4 |
| 12 | Eastern Washington | 1-5 |
| 13 | Utah Tech | 1-7 |
Coaching history
Coaching history
- Ott Romney departs
- Hired Ott Romney
Gameday customs
Rituals
The rituals that anchor a Saturday in this program's world.
Bobcat Stadium Roar
since 1986
more
Montana State fans pack Bobcat Stadium, built in 1986, to create one of the loudest atmospheres in the Big Sky Conference.
The Gold Rush
since 2000
more
Montana State fans dress in gold to create a sea of color at Bobcat Stadium, a tradition that amplifies home-field advantage and signals the program's identity as a rising power in the Big Sky.
Cultural identity
Postseason games
Recent postseason (2019-2025): 4-5
Most recent: 2025 — win 35-34 (home). Last 5 postseason: 3-2.
2025 W2025 W2024 L2024 W2023 L
This page may include content derived from public news sources, social media, and fan communities. We relay these sources as-is — we are not reporting them. Sources may be summarized or quoted imperfectly; for anything that matters, go look at the original source directly. The original source may also be wrong. Text written by our model says so in a line beneath it, and it can get facts wrong. All analysis is editorial opinion, not professional reporting. Data sources · About this site