NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Montana State finally found a way to answer when it mattered most for the program’s first national championship since 1984.

A year ago, Montana State missed winning its first title in 40 years when a slow start doomed it in a shootout loss to North Dakota State. Two years ago, the Bobcats’ season ended in Bozeman in the quarterfinals on a blocked extra point in overtime against the Bison.

Montana State started this season losing its first two — at Oregon and in double overtime at home versus South Dakota State.

So, when Myles Sansted‘s extra point went through the uprights in overtime for a 35-34 victory over Illinois State on Monday night in the Football Championship Subdivision title game, the Bobcats chucked helmets in the air while sprinting around with a heavy contingent of Montana State fans celebrating with them.

“To be able to clear that hurdle and know that, yes, this ’25 group accomplished what hadn’t been done in a long time …,” said Bobcats coach Brent Vigen, who’s already thinking ahead with a young, Montana-laden team featuring only nine seniors. “You know, we’re building for more.”

The Bobcats (14-2) capped a campaign that featured two wins over in-state rival Montana across a four-week span. Beating the Grizzlies in the semifinals put Montana State back into the FCS title game for the second straight season and for the third time in five years under Vigen. It was the school’s fourth berth overall in the championship tilt.

Montana State topped those accomplishments with its 14th straight win in a thrilling finish in the first overtime in the 48 years of this title game. The Bobcats led 21-7 at halftime and 28-14 in the third. They needed Jhase McMillan‘s block of Michael Cosentino‘s 38-yard field goal attempt with 57 seconds left in regulation to keep it tied at 28.

In overtime, Montana State’s Hunter Parsons blocked the extra point attempt after Tommy Rittenhouse threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Lord to give Illinois State its only lead at 34-28 to open overtime. Justin Lamson tied it for the Bobcats with a 14-yard scoring pass to Taco Dowler on fourth-and-10.

Stansted’s extra point started the celebration of the end of a long title drought. Along with the 1984 Division I-AA championship, Montana State also won the 1976 NCAA Division II title and the 1956 NAIA championship.

“What a hard-fought game, and these things aren’t supposed to come easily, I guess,” Vigen said.

Lamson, who didn’t join the Bobcats until June, said Montana State’s overtime touchdown was the result of a great playcall.

“Taco was wide open,” Lamson said. “I got hit, so I was just trying to give him a chance, and the rest is history — and Myles did his thing and that was the game.”

Illinois State (12-5) already had made history as the first FCS team to win four straight road games to advance through the playoffs to this championship contest. That included a win over this postseason’s No. 1 seed in North Dakota State — winners of 10 of the past 14 FCS titles, including last year.

It was the Redbirds’ first time in FCS championship game since 2014, and they left empty-handed.

“Just couldn’t find one more play,” Illinois State coach Brock Spack said. “We needed to make one more play to win. When you look at a game that’s a one-point loss like that, there’s probably 10, 15, maybe 20 plays in the game if you make just one of them, you win. Wasn’t able to do that, and we came up short.”

Lamson finished with 280 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also ran for two scores. Dowler had eight catches for 111 yards.

Rittenhouse registered 311 yards passing and four TDs. Lord collected 13 catches for 161 yards and two TDs, and Victor Dawson ran for 126 yards.

Ole Miss star running back Kewan Lacy signed a deal to return for the Rebels in 2026, sources told ESPN on Monday.

The All-America running back ranks third nationally in rushing yards with 1,464 yards and 23 touchdowns and has helped lead the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals in his debut season.

Ole Miss secured a commitment from Lacy in its ongoing efforts to retain top returning players amid former coach Lane Kiffin’s departure to LSU.

The first-team All-SEC performer was expected to be a priority target for the Tigers if he entered the portal after running backs coach Kevin Smith agreed to join Kiffin in Baton Rouge.

The sophomore running back from Dallas transferred to Ole Miss after a year at Missouri and developed into one of the SEC’s top offensive playmakers, surpassing 100 yards from scrimmage in eight games, including a career-high 229 yards against Florida.

Lacy rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the Rebels’ 39-34 win over No. 3 Georgia in the CFP quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl last Thursday. They’ll face No. 10 seed Miami in the semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Thursday.

New Ole Miss coach Pete Golding and school officials have secured commitments from a several key starters to remain in the program in 2026 rather than enter the transfer portal after the season.

Ole Miss star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss also announced Monday he planned to return pending the approval of an NCAA waiver for an additional year of eligibility.

Chambliss was one of seven Rebels players who announced Monday they’ll be back next season.