FCS Semifinals: The Brawl Became a Maul, and the Redbirds Refuse to Go Home
If you had "$600 for a ticket to freeze to death in Bozeman" on your 2025 Bingo card, congratulations: You are either a die-hard resident of Montana or you have terrible financial literacy.
The FCS Semifinals are in the books, and we have our title matchup. One team turned a historic rivalry into a crime scene, and the other team has apparently decided they prefer living on a bus to sleeping in their own beds.
Here is what went down in the FCS Final Four.
The Brawl of the Wild (Emphasis on "Wild")
Montana State 48, Montana 23
For the first time in 125 games, the "Brawl of the Wild" was a playoff game. The hype was astronomical. The secondary market ticket prices rivaled a Taylor Swift concert. And for a while, the game actually lived up to the billing.
Montana State (13-2) jumped out to a 20-3 lead, only for the Grizzlies to storm back with 20 unanswered points to take the lead. It looked like we were heading for a nail-biter.
Then, Taco Dowler happened.
Facing a 3rd-and-20 from their own 13-yard line—a situation where most teams just run a draw play and pray for a good punt—Bobcats QB Justin Lamson scrambled for his life and heaved a prayer downfield. Dowler (whose name is legally required to be shouted with enthusiasm) caught it between two defenders, broke ankles, and sprinted for an 87-yard touchdown.
That play broke the Grizzlies' spirit. The Bobcats poured it on, outscoring Montana 28-3 down the stretch. Lamson finished with 4 total touchdowns (2 passing, 2 rushing), and running back Adam Jones added 131 yards on the ground.
Montana State is heading to their third title game in five years. They are looking for their first ring since 1984, mostly to stop hearing about 1984.
The Road Warriors from Normal
Illinois State 30, Villanova 14
At this point, Illinois State should just sell their stadium and buy a nicer bus.
The Redbirds (12-4) were one of the last teams to sneak into the playoffs. Since then, they have become the college football equivalent of a house guest who refuses to leave. They have rattled off four consecutive road wins in the playoffs, including Saturday’s dismantling of Villanova in Philadelphia.
Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse threw for 251 yards, hooking up twice with his favorite target, Daniel Sobkowicz. If you don't know Sobkowicz, you should. He has over 1,000 yards receiving this year and has been tearing apart secondaries like cheap wrapping paper all postseason.
Running back Victor Dawson added 155 rushing yards, proving that Illinois State’s strategy of "run the ball and ruin the home team's weekend" is foolproof. This marks the 15th straight year the Missouri Valley Football Conference has a team in the title game. At this point, they should just name the trophy after the Midwest.
The Championship Matchup
Montana State vs. Illinois State
Jan. 5 | Nashville, Tenn.
We are heading to Music City. It’s the team that just won the biggest game in the history of Montana versus the team that has won nine straight road games and refuses to die.
Get your cowboy boots ready!!
