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Montana State vs. Illinois State FCS National Championship heads to overtime originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Illinois State and Montana State were tied 28-28 after regulation in the 2026 FCS national championship game, sending the title matchup to overtime in Nashville. The championship pits unranked Illinois State against No. 2 seed Montana State to cap the 2025 FCS season on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.
For Illinois State, their path to the championship culminated in four straight road playoff wins, while Montana State entered on an 11-game win streak as the higher seed. Montana State controlled the first half, building a multi-score lead behind quarterback Justin Lamson’s rushing and timely passing, including multiple touchdown drives before halftime.
Illinois State stormed back after the break, scoring 14 points in the third quarter and adding 14 more in the fourth to erase a 21-point deficit and force a 28-28 tie by the end of regulation. The Redbirds’ rally featured touchdown passes from quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse to receivers, including Daniel Sobkowicz and Dylan Lord, with Lord’s grab tying the game at 28 with just over five minutes remaining.
It was all defense for Illinois State in the fourth, repeatedly getting off the field to give the offense extra possessions to complete the comeback. With regulation ending at 28-28, the FCS championship moved to overtime with each team guaranteed a possession under college football rules.
Illinois State will look to finish an unlikely title run as a road-tested underdog, while Montana State aims to salvage its dominant season with its first national crown since 1984.
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