Overview
- Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, airing on ESPN with Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler and Stormy Buonantony and streaming on the ESPN app and Fubo, with radio coverage on SiriusXM 84.
- No. 2 Montana State is 13-2 with a 13-game win streak as it seeks its first FCS title since 1984 in its third championship appearance under coach Brent Vigen in five seasons.
- Unseeded Illinois State is 12-4 after true road playoff wins at Southeastern Louisiana, North Dakota State, UC Davis and Villanova to earn its second trip to the final.
- BetMGM lists Montana State as a double-digit favorite, and a published prediction picks the Bobcats 38-26.
- Montana State emphasized focus during its Nashville preparations, invited alumni to a final walkthrough to connect program eras, and players said they are here to win a football game.