Montana State Earns No. 2 FCS Seed After Brawl Win, Montana Slotted No. 3
A pick-six plus a late TD run sealed the Big Sky crown, setting a home-field semifinal path through Bozeman.
Overview
- On the ESPN selection show, Montana State received the No. 2 overall seed with a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the semifinals, while Montana was awarded the No. 3 seed as North Dakota State took No. 1.
- Montana State beat Montana 31-28 in the 124th Brawl of the Wild to clinch the Big Sky title at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
- Caden Dowler’s 34-yard interception return in the third quarter swung the game, marking his second straight pick-6 and part of a four-interception surge over three games.
- Quarterback Justin Lamson went 18-of-20 for 175 yards and ran for 80, scoring the decisive 23-yard TD before the Bobcats closed it out with key late conversions.
- Second-round matchups are set to be hosted by both teams on Dec. 6, with Montana State to face Yale or Youngstown State and Montana to meet South Dakota State or New Hampshire, leaving open a possible semifinal rematch in Bozeman.