BOZEMAN, Montana – It’s a curious exercise to analyze the psychology of a champion.
And it certainly can vary from standout to standout, team to team.
For much of the 2024 season, Montana State made a habit of making short work of its opponents. “Touchdown” Tommy Mellott and the Bobcat offense relentlessly bludgeoned opponents with a bruising run game that helped MSU not only roll up points but also control the ball and, in turn, the clock. Earning leads of five and six touchdowns early in the second half became commonplace as that version of the Bobcats bulldozed the Big Sky Conference and marched all the way to Frisco, Texas with an undefeated record.
Of course, following a 35-32 heartbreaking loss at the hands of FCS oligarch North Dakota State, Montana State’s deliberate yet dominant style was drawn into question. And MSU head coach Brent Vigen’s parting words at the post-game press conference was “I guess we still have more lessons to learn”, a reference to the fact that the seniors on the 2024 Bobcats had gone through all sorts of shortfalls before nearly summiting Everest.
While the 2024 Bobcats obsessed over taking their quest for a national championship one day at a time — the “1-0 mentality” seemed to appear in every quote used in any story about the team — the 2025 Bobcats proved to be fighters.
The entire off-season, the Bobcats seemed to be fueled by a collective mentality of proving the world wrong. “How would Montana State replace the most decorated senior class in program history”, so went the narrative. “How could the Bobcats graduate a three-year starter at quarterback (Mellott), a three-time All-American at defensive end (Brody Grebe), the only two-time first-team All-American offensive linemen in program history (Marcus Wehr), and a collection of other all-time great Bobcats and still contend?”
That backs against the wall mentality was only ignited further when the Bobcats got drilled to open their season at No. 6 Oregon of the FBS, then lost an overtime thriller to South Dakota State in Bozeman for the first regular-season home loss since Homecoming in 2019.
MSU, of course, did not lose again, using a pair of signature victories over archrival Montana in the span of 28 days plus a thrilling 35-34 overtime win over Illinois State in the FCS national title game to earn a watershed moment in the program’s proud history.
Montana State’s national title last season was the fourth in school history, including the second as a Division I member. But it marked the first time since 1984 that MSU won it all.
The Brawl victories came by three points (31-28) and 25 points (48-23) but the rest of the playoff victories by an average of eight points. Before that though, Montana State beat teams by an average of 31 points during its 10-game winning streak entering the playoffs.
This season, Montana State has made a habit of getting into dog fights, particularly at home. Over MSU’s last three home games, the Bobcats found themselves either tied or trailing at halftime. And all three times, including Saturday’s season-defining rally to earn a 38-33 win over No. 22 Weber State, the Bobcats found a way.
“I think belief comes from a lot of places, and it comes from experience,” Vigen said. “This group has been through a lot together. We’ve overcome deficits before, overcome first halves where we maybe didn’t play exactly how we wanted to. One thing I said is, ‘Don’t believe because I say so. Believe because you do.’ And that’s what the guys, I think, proved in the second half.”
MSU trailed 21-7 early in the third quarter to Central Connecticut State, a team from the partially funded Northeast Conference. Montana State rallied for a 35-30 win.
Before a nationally televised showdown with No. 18 Northern Arizona, Skyline Sports reported that All-American senior quarterback Justin Lamson, All-American senior running back Adam Jones and All-American senior wide receiver Taco Dowler were joining an injured list that also included senior All-American safety Caden Dowler, senior starting defensive end Dominic Solano and senior linebacker Neil Daily.
MSU still found a way, pitching a second half shutout on the way to a 28-14 victory in which backup quarterback Patrick Duchien (278 total yards), backup running back Colson Coon (197 yards rushing) and backup freshman wide receiver Carter Dahlke (117 yards receiving) all had breakout performances.
And with a surging Weber State team tied with MSU atop the Big Sky Conference standings under revitalizing first-year head coach Eric Kjar, MSU shot itself in the foot on special teams pretty much relentlessly during a horrific second quarter that had much of the sellout crowd stunned.
MSU gave up a kickoff return touchdown, fumbled a kickoff to give Weber State another easy touchdown and missed a field goal before halftime to go into the break down 27-17.
But the Bobcats used a 21-0 spurt to rally for a 38-33 victory that puts Montana State in the driver’s seat to win a third straight Big Sky title, which would be their fourth league crown in six seasons under Vigen.
“Just having belief, never, never, never thinking you’re out of the fight, always believing,” senior captain defensive end Zac Crews said. “The halftime speech from Coach Vigen was believe. Believe that we’re going to get the job done, and believe in the guys next to you. And so that’s what we did.”
Bobcat Nation might have become accustomed to MSU consistently routing its opponents, especially FCS opponents and Big Sky foes. After all, Montana State has posted an average margin of victory of 26.7 points during a 22-2 stretch during the 2024 and 2025 regular seasons.
But this version of the Bobcats just keeps winning. And that’s what makes the dream and quest for a repeat a reality for Montana State.
