The 2025 Montana State Bobcats football team represented Montana State University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bobcats were led by fifth-year head coach Brent Vigen and played home games at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana.

They defeated in-state rival Montana in the rivalry game to clinch the Big Sky conference title before advancing all the way to the championship game, defeating Yale, Stephen F. Austin and Montana (in the first ever December edition of the rivalry game) to reach their third FCS Championship Game in five seasons. In the championship game, the Bobcats defeated Illinois State 35–34 in overtime to win the program's first national championship since 1984.

The Montana State Bobcats drew an average home attendance of 21,877, the 4th-highest of all NCAA Division I FCS football teams.

2025 NFL draft

6 213 Tommy Mellott QB/WR Las Vegas Raiders

Transfers Outgoing Rohan JonesTEArkansasElijah ElliottRBBryantDru Polidore Jr.SCaliforniaKai GolanKCarrollLonyatta Alexander Jr.WRIdahoConner MooreOLMichigan StateCole BullockLBNew HampshireScottre HumphreyRBNew MexicoJon JohnsonDBNew MexicoRyder TrujilloDLNortheastern StateZachary Dodson-GreeneWRPortland StateBlake StillwellDBSouthern UtahAndrew PowdrellDBUNLVGarrett WalchliWRUnknown

Incoming Ife OhaleteDBCale BreslinRBBYUGeorge HelmsRBElonBryant MeredithDBBryson ParkerDBNevadaChris LongWRRutgersJustin LamsonQBStanford

Schedule

Game summaries

at No. 7 (FBS) Oregon

Statistics MTSTORE First downs 17 29 Plays–yards 58–244 64–506 Rushes–yards 27–46 39–253 Passing yards 198 253 Passing: –– 23–31–0 19–25–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 29:55 30:08 Team Category Player Statistics Montana State Passing Justin Lamson 23/31, 198 yards Rushing Julius Davis 5 carries, 16 yards Receiving Taco Dowler 12 receptions, 107 yards Oregon Passing Dante Moore 18/23, 213 yards, 3 TD Rushing Noah Whittington 10 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving Malik Benson 5 receptions, 51 yards, TD

No. 2 South Dakota State

Statistics SDST MTST First downs 16 17 Plays–yards 65–297 71–349 Rushes–yards 40–123 42–210 Passing yards 174 139 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–25–0 19–29–0 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 33:05 26:55 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Dakota State Passing Chase Mason 17/25, 174 yards, 3 TD Rushing Julius Loughridge 23 carries, 99 yards Receiving Lofton O'Groske 12 receptions, 125 yards, 2 TDMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 18/28, 123 yards Rushing Justin Lamson 20 carries, 96 yards, TD Receiving Dane Steel 3 receptions, 49 yards

San Diego

Statistics USD MTST First downs 12 28 Plays–yards 52–209 73–539 Rushes–yards 25–66 42–218 Passing yards 143 321 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–27–0 27–31–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 24:57 35:03 Team Category Player StatisticsSan Diego Passing Dom Nankil 13/24, 124 yards, TD Rushing Adam Criter 10 carries, 49 yards Receiving Peyton Smith 3 receptions, 35 yardsMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 23/26, 293 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Julius Davis 8 carries, 83 yards, TD Receiving Taco Dowler 8 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD

Mercyhurst

Statistics MERC MTST First downs 15 20 Plays–yards 59–263 58–354 Rushes–yards 23–58 41–233 Passing yards 205 121 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–36–1 12–17–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 31:26 28:34 Team Category Player StatisticsMercyhurst Passing Adam Urena 23/35, 206 yards, INT Rushing Brian Trobel 13 carries, 48 yards Receiving Rylan Davison 7 receptions, 84 yardsMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 12/17, 121 yards, INT Rushing Colson Coon 5 carries, 71 yards Receiving Adam Jones 3 receptions, 31 yards

Eastern Washington

Statistics EWU MTST First downs 14 25 Plays–yards 67–207 70–580 Rushes–yards 36–83 44–293 Passing yards 124 287 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–31–0 15–26–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 27:54 32:06 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Washington Passing Jared Taylor 5/12, 59 yards Rushing Nate Bell 13 carries, 41 yards Receiving Nolan Ulm 1 reception, 35 yardsMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 13/20, 270 yards, 3 TD Rushing Adam Jones 10 carries, 72 yards, 2 TD Receiving Taco Dowler 3 receptions, 64 yards, TD

at No. 13 Northern Arizona

Statistics MTST NAU First downs 18 22 Plays–yards 52–417 78–296 Rushes–yards 32–196 31–86 Passing yards 221 210 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–20–0 28–47–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 24:27 35:33 Team Category Player StatisticsMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 13/19, 213 yards, 2 TD Rushing Julius Davis 10 carries, 73 yards, TD Receiving Jabez Woods 3 receptions, 100 yards, TDNorthern Arizona Passing Ty Pennington 28/47, 210 yards, INT Rushing Seth Cromwell 10 carries, 40 yards, TD Receiving Quran Gossett 4 receptions, 45 yards

Idaho State

Statistics IDST MTST First downs 17 35 Plays–yards 65–404 74–568 Rushes–yards 17–36 53–384 Passing yards 368 184 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–48–2 17–21–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 24:22 35:38 Team Category Player StatisticsIdaho State Passing Jordan Cooke 20/37, 307 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Carson Sudburry 6 carries, 16 yards Receiving Tsion Nunnally 9 receptions, 169 yards, TDMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 17/21, 184 yards, 4 TD Rushing Adam Jones 16 carries, 173 yards, TD Receiving Taco Dowler 6 receptions, 45 yards

at Cal Poly

Statistics MTST CP First downs 26 12 Plays–yards 80–466 50–241 Rushes–yards 50–290 15–50 Passing yards 176 191 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–30–0 22–35–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 36:31 23:29 Team Category Player StatisticsMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 19/30, 176 yards, TD Rushing Julius Davis 19 carries, 175 yards, TD Receiving Taco Dowler 6 receptions, 57 yardsCal Poly Passing Bo Kelly 20/30, 188 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Trey Wilson 6 carries, 21 yards Receiving Michael Briscoe 4 receptions, 39 yards

at Northern Colorado

Statistics MTST UNCO First downs 23 17 Plays–yards 61–532 75–261 Rushes–yards 38–189 35–104 Passing yards 343 157 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–23–0 24–40–1 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 24:38 35:22 Team Category Player StatisticsMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 16/22, 331 yards, 3 TD Rushing Adam Jones 10 carries, 74 yards, TD Receiving Taco Dowler 5 receptions, 138 yards, 2 TDNorthern Colorado Passing Eric Gibson Jr. 19/33, 93 yards, INT Rushing Mathias Price 8 carries, 54 yards Receiving Brayden Munroe 7 receptions, 61 yards

Weber State

Statistics WEB MTST First downs 12 29 Plays–yards 64–285 62–452 Rushes–yards 35–178 40–269 Passing yards 107 183 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–29–2 17–22–0 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 31:49 28:11 Team Category Player StatisticsWeber State Passing Dijon Jennings 12/18, 85 yards, TD, INT Rushing Spencer Ferguson 22 carries, 88 yards, TD Receiving Marvin Session 5 receptions, 65 yardsMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 12/16, 117 yards, 2 TD Rushing Julius Davis 10 carries, 114 yards, 2 TD Receiving Taco Dowler 2 receptions, 28 yards

No. 9 UC Davis

Statistics UCD MTST First downs 28 15 Plays–yards 83–424 50–377 Rushes–yards 46–190 32–233 Passing yards 234 144 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–37–2 10–18–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 37:14 22:46 Team Category Player StatisticsUC Davis Passing Caden Pinnick 22/36, 234 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jordan Fisher 17 carries, 76 yards Receiving Samuel Gbatu Jr. 10 receptions, 80 yards, TDMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 10/18, 144 yards, TD Rushing Justin Lamson 11 carries, 97 yards, 2 TD Receiving Taco Dowler 5 receptions, 78 yards

at No. 2 Montana (Brawl of the Wild)

Statistics MTST MONT First downs 23 20 Plays–yards 62–416 60–364 Rushes–yards 42–241 28–178 Passing yards 175 186 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–20–0 26–32–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 31:57 28:03 Team Category Player StatisticsMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 18/20, 175 yards, TD Rushing Julius Davis 15 carries, 106 yards Receiving Dane Steel 4 receptions, 54 yards, TDMontana Passing Keali'i Ah Yat 26/32, 186 yards, TD, INT Rushing Eli Gillman 15 carries, 132 yards, TD Receiving Brooks Davis 10 receptions, 113 yards, TD

No. 24 Yale (Division I Second Round)

Statistics YALE MTST First downs 24 20 Plays–yards 75–351 58–341 Rushes–yards 39–153 42–249 Passing yards 198 92 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–36–3 10–16–0 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 33:55 26:05 Team Category Player StatisticsYale Passing Dante Reno 20/35, 198 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Josh Pitsenberger 26 carries, 124 yards, TD Receiving Nico Brown 11 receptions, 107 yards, TDMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 10/16, 92 yards Rushing Adam Jones 18 carries, 107 yards, TD Receiving Adam Jones 2 receptions, 34 yards

No. 10 Stephen F. Austin (Division I Quarterfinal)

Statistics SFA MTST First downs 22 25 Plays–yards 72–344 68–473 Rushes–yards 29–102 42–227 Passing yards 242 246 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–43–1 20–26–1 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 24:32 35:28 Team Category Player StatisticsStephen F. Austin Passing Sam Vidlak 26/43, 242 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jerrell Wimbley 11 carries, 75 yards Receiving Kylon Harris 11 receptions, 85 yardsMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 20/26, 246 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Adam Jones 9 carries, 114 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dane Steel 3 receptions, 68 yards

No. 3 Montana (Division I Semifinal)

Statistics MONT MTST First downs 18 23 Plays–yards 67–347 63–449 Rushes–yards 25–96 44–240 Passing yards 251 209 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–42–1 13–19–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 28:17 31:43 Team Category Player StatisticsMontana Passing Keali'i Ah Yat 27/42, 251 yards, TD, INT Rushing Eli Gillman 16 carries, 106 yards, TD Receiving Michael Wortham 8 receptions, 85 yardsMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 13/19, 209 yards, 2 TD Rushing Adam Jones 16 carries, 131 yards, 2 TD Receiving Taco Dowler 5 receptions, 125 yards, TD

Vs. No. 17т Illinois State (Division I Football Championship Game)

Statistics ILST MTST First downs 33 20 Plays–yards 71–471 51–381 Rushes–yards 38–160 24–101 Passing yards 311 280 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 33–46–0 18–27–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 39:41 20:19 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 33/46, 311 yards, 4 TD Rushing Victor Dawson 29 carries, 126 yards Receiving Dylan Lord 13 receptions, 161 yards, 2 TDMontana State Passing Justin Lamson 18/27, 280 yards, 2 TD Rushing Adam Jones 5 carries, 46 yards Receiving Taco Dowler 8 receptions, 111 yards, TD

Ranking movements

Roster

References