2025 Montana State Bobcats football team

2025 Montana State Bobcats football
Big Sky champion
NCAA Division I Football Championship Game, vs. Illinois State
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
Ranking
STATSNo. 2
FCS CoachesNo. 2
Record13–2 (8–0 Big Sky)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorPete Sterbick (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorShawn Howe (2nd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumBobcat Stadium
2025 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 Montana State $^   8 – 0     13 – 2  
No. 3 Montana ^   7 – 1     13 – 2  
No. 11 UC Davis ^   6 – 2     9 – 4  
Sacramento State   5 – 3     7 – 5  
Idaho State   5 – 3     6 – 6  
Northern Arizona   4 – 4     7 – 5  
Eastern Washington   4 – 4     5 – 7  
Cal Poly   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Idaho   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Northern Colorado   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Weber State   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Portland State   1 – 7     1 – 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
As of December 23, 2025
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Montana State Bobcats football team represent Montana State University as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bobcats are led by 5th-year head coach Brent Vigen and play home games at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana. They defeated in-state rival Montana in the rivalry game to clinch the Big Sky conference title before advancing all the way to the championship game, defeating Yale, Stephen F. Austin and Montana (in the first ever December edition of the rivalry game) to reach their third FCS Championship Game in five seasons.

2025 NFL draft

See also: 2025 NFL draft
Round Pick Player Position Team
6 213 Tommy Mellott QB/WR Las Vegas Raiders

Transfers

Outgoing

Player Position Destination
Rohan Jones TE Arkansas
Elijah Elliott RB Bryant
Dru Polidore Jr. S California
Kai Golan K Carroll
Lonyatta Alexander Jr. WR Idaho
Conner Moore OL Michigan State
Cole Bullock LB New Hampshire
Scottre Humphrey RB New Mexico
Jon Johnson DB New Mexico
Ryder Trujillo DL Northeastern State
Zachary Dodson-Greene WR Portland State
Blake Stillwell DB Southern Utah
Andrew Powdrell DB UNLV
Garrett Walchli WR Unknown

Incoming

Player Position Previous school
Ife Ohalete DB Blinn
Cale Breslin RB BYU
George Helms RB Elon
Bryant Meredith DB Fullerton
Bryson Parker DB Nevada
Chris Long WR Rutgers
Justin Lamson QB Stanford

[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 302:00 p.m.at No. 7 (FBS) Oregon*No. 2
BTNL 13–5957,257
September 66:00 p.m.No. 2 South Dakota State*No. 3
ESPN+L 24–30 2OT22,117
September 131:00 p.m.San Diego*No. 4
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 41–721,917
September 201:00 p.m.Mercyhurst*No. 4
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 17–021,317
September 272:00 p.m.Eastern WashingtonNo. 4
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 57–322,277
October 43:00 p.m.at No. 13 Northern ArizonaNo. 5
ESPN+W 34–10  7,837
October 111:00 p.m.Idaho StateNo. 5
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 48–1422,267
October 256:00 p.m.at Cal PolyNo. 5
ESPN+W 34–17  6,403
November 112:00 p.m.at Northern ColoradoNo. 4т
ESPN+W 55–7  4,092
November 81:00 p.m.Weber StateNo. 3
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN+W 66–1421,467
November 158:15 p.m.No. 9 UC DavisNo. 3
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT
ESPN2W 38–1721,777
November 2212:00 p.m.at No. 2 MontanaNo. 3
ESPN+W 31–2827,340
December 612:00 p.m.No. 24 Yale*No. 2
ESPN+W 21–1320,867
December 127:00 p.m.No. 10 Stephen F. Austin*No. 2
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal)
ESPNW 44–2819,807
December 202:00 p.m.No. 3 Montana*No. 2
  • Bobcat Stadium
  • Bozeman, MT (NCAA Division I Semifinal)
ESPN2/ABCW 48–2325,437
January 5, 20265:30 p.m.vs. No. 17т Illinois State*No. 2
ESPN

[7]

Game summaries

at No. 7 (FBS) Oregon

See also: 2025 Oregon Ducks football team
No. 2 Montana State Bobcats (0-0) at No. 7 (FBS) Oregon Ducks (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 2 Bobcats 0 3 3713
No. 7 (FBS) Ducks 17 21 14759

at Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR

Game information
First quarter
  • ORE – Jayden Limar 16-yard run (Atticus Sappington kick), 11:57. Ducks 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 74 yards, 2:03.
  • ORE – Kenyon Sadiq 20-yard pass from Dante Moore (Atticus Sappington kick), 9:16. Ducks 14–0. Drive: 3 plays, 40 yards, 1:18.
  • ORE – Atticus Sappington 23-yard field goal, 6:16. Ducks 17–0. Drive: 4 plays, 5 yards, 1:25.
Second quarter'
  • ORE – Jordon Davison 2-yard run (Atticus Sappington kick), 11:08. Ducks 24–0. Drive: 12 plays, 59 yards, 5:27.
  • ORE – Noah Whittington 1-yard run (Gage Hurych kick), 4:34. Ducks 31–0. Drive: 10 plays, 52 yards, 5:10.
  • MTST – Myles Sansted 42-yard field goal, 1:03. Ducks 31–3. Drive: 13 plays, 50 yards, 3:31.
  • ORE – Malik Benson 11-yard pass from Dante Moore (Atticus Sappington kick), 0:03. Ducks 38–3. Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 1:00.
Third quarter
  • MTST – Myles Sansted 42-yard field goal, 10:14. Ducks 38–6. Drive: 9 plays, 51 yards, 4:46.
  • ORE – Gary Bryant Jr. 14-yard pass from Dante Moore (Atticus Sappington kick), 6:43. Ducks 45–6. Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 3:31.
  • ORE – Jordon Davison 8-yard run (Gage Hurych kick), 0:26. Ducks 52–6. Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 2:02.
Fourth quarter
  • ORE – Jordon Davison 1-yard run (Gage Hurych kick), 6:50. Ducks 59–6. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:47.
  • MTST – Adam Jones 2-yard run (Myles Sansted kick), 2:22. Ducks 59–13. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:28.
Statistics MTST ORE
First downs 17 29
Plays–yards 58–244 64–506
Rushes–yards 27–46 39–253
Passing yards 198 253
Passing: comp–att–int 23–31–0 19–25–0
Time of possession 29:55 30:08
Team Category Player Statistics
Montana State Passing Justin Lamson 23/31, 198 yards
Rushing Julius Davis 5 carries, 16 yards
Receiving Taco Dowler 12 receptions, 107 yards
Oregon Passing Dante Moore 18/23, 213 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Noah Whittington 10 carries, 68 yards, TD
Receiving Malik Benson 5 receptions, 51 yards, TD

No. 2 South Dakota State

See also: 2025 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team
No. 2 South Dakota State Jackrabbits (1-0) at No. 3 Montana State Bobcats (0-1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OT2OTTotal
No. 2 Jackrabbits 3 7 077630
No. 3 Bobcats 0 10 077024

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

  • Date: September 6
  • Game time: 6:00 PM MDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 81 °F (27 °C) • Wind: NW at 1 mile per hour (1.6 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 22,117
  • Referee: Kelly Holman
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Ben Creighton (play-by-play), Ty Gregorak (analyst) and Grace Lawrence (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (9:02) SDST – Eli Stader 25-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 68 yards, 5:58; South Dakota State 3–0)
Second Quarter
  • (10:47) MTST – Justin Lamson 7-yard run, Myles Sansted kick (Drive: 9 plays, 88 yards, 4:07; Montana State 7-3)
  • (1:06) SDST – Chase Mason 8-yard run, Eli Stader kick (Drive: 2 plays, 21 yards, 0:46; South Dakota State 10-7)
  • (0:00) MTST – Myles Sansted 33-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards, 1:00; 10-10)
Third Quarter

No scoring plays

Fourth Quarter
  • (9:08) SDST – Lofton O'Groske 8-yard pass from Chase Mason, Eli Stader kick (Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 3:40; South Dakota State 17-10)
  • (6:37) MTST – Seth Brock 2-yard fumble return, Myles Sansted kick (Drive: 4 plays, -11 yards, 1:38; 17-17)
Overtime
  • MTST – Adam Jones 2-yard run, Myles Sansted kick (Drive: 6 plays, 25 yards; Montana State 24-17)
  • SDST – Lofton O'Groske 2-yard pass from Chase Mason, Eli Stader kick (Drive: 2 plays, 25 yards; 24-24)
2nd Overtime
  • SDST – Baryden Delahoyde 25-yard pass from Chase Mason, two-point pass conversion failed (Drive: 1 play, 25 yards; South Dakota State 30-24)
Statistics SDST MTST
First downs 16 17
Total yards 297 349
Rushing yards 123 210
Passing yards 174 139
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17-25-0 19-29-0
Time of possession 33:05 26:55
Team Category Player Statistics
South Dakota State Passing Chase Mason 17/25, 174 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Julius Loughridge 23 carries, 99 yards
Receiving Lofton O'Groske 12 receptions, 125 yards, 2 TD
Montana State Passing Justin Lamson 18/28, 123 yards
Rushing Justin Lamson 20 carries, 96 yards, TD
Receiving Dane Steel 3 receptions, 49 yards

San Diego

See also: 2025 San Diego Toreros football team
San Diego Toreros (1-1) vs. No. 4 Montana State Bobcats (0-2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Toreros 0 0 077
No. 4 Bobcats 10 14 14341

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. MDT
  • TV: ESPN+
Statistics USD MTST
First downs 12 28
Total yards 209 539
Rushing yards 66 218
Passing yards 143 321
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14-27 27-31-1
Time of possession 24:57 35:03
Team Category Player Statistics
San Diego Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Montana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Mercyhurst

See also: 2025 Mercyhurst Lakers football team
Mercyhurst Lakers (1-2) vs. No. 4 Montana State Bobcats (1-2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lakers - - --0
No. 4 Bobcats - - --0

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. MDT
  • TV: ESPN+
Statistics MERC MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Mercyhurst Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Montana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Eastern Washington

See also: 2025 Eastern Washington Eagles football team
Eastern Washington Eagles (1-3) vs. No. 4 Montana State Bobcats (2-2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Eagles 0 3 003
No. 4 Bobcats 24 6 20757

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

  • Date: September 27
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Ben Creighton (play-by-play), Ty Gregorak (analyst) and Grace Lawrence (sideline)
Statistics EWU MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Eastern Washington Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Montana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 13 Northern Arizona

See also: 2025 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team
No. 5 Montana State Bobcats (3-2) vs. No. 13 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (4-1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 4 Bobcats 0 20 7734
No. 13 Lumberjacks 7 0 0310

at Walkup Skydome • Flagstaff, AZ

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. MDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Ben Creighton (play-by-play), Ty Gregorak (analyst) and Grace Lawrence (sideline)
Statistics MTST NAU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Montana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern Arizona Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Idaho State

See also: 2025 Idaho State Bengals football team
Idaho State Bengals (2-4) vs. No. 5 Montana State Bobcats (4-2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bengals 7 7 0014
No. 5 Bobcats 14 20 7748

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

  • Date: October 11
Statistics IDST MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Idaho State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Montana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Cal Poly

See also: 2025 Cal Poly Mustangs football team
No. 5 Montana State Bobcats (5-2) vs. Cal Poly Mustangs (3-4) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 5 Bobcats - - --0
Mustangs - - --0

at Alex G. Spanos Stadium • San Luis Obispo, CA

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 5:00 PM PDT
Statistics MTST CP
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Montana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Cal Poly Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Northern Colorado

See also: 2025 Northern Colorado Bears football team
No. 4т Montana State Bobcats (6-2) vs. Northern Colorado Bears (3-5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 4т Bobcats - - --0
Bears - - --0

at Nottingham Field • Greeley, CO

  • Date: November 1
Statistics MTST UNCO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Montana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern Colorado Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Weber State

See also: 2025 Weber State Wildcats football team
Weber State Wildcats (3-6) vs. No. 3 Montana State Bobcats (7-2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Wildcats - - --0
No. 3 Bobcats - - --0

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

  • Date: November 8
Statistics WEB MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Weber State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Montana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

No. 9 UC Davis

See also: 2025 UC Davis Aggies football team
No. 9 UC Davis Aggies (7-2) vs. No. 3 Montana State Bobcats (8-2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 9 Aggies - - --0
No. 3 Bobcats - - --0

at Bobcat Stadium • Bozeman, MT

  • Date: November 15
Statistics UCD MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
UC Davis Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Montana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 2 Montana (Brawl of the Wild)

See also: 2025 Montana Grizzlies football team and Brawl of the Wild
No. 3 Montana State Bobcats (9-2) vs. No. 2 Montana Grizzlies (11-0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 3 Bobcats - - --0
No. 2 Grizziles - - --0

at Washington–Grizzly Stadium • Missoula, MT

  • Date: November 22
Statistics MTST MONT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Montana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Montana Passing
Rushing
Receiving

No. 24 Yale (NCAA Division I Playoffs – Second round)

See also: 2025 Yale Bulldogs football team and 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season § NCAA Division I playoff bracket
No. 24 Yale Bulldogs (9–2) vs. No. 2 (2) Montana State Bobcats (10–2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 24 Bulldogs 0 0 000
No. 2 (2) Bobcats 0 0 000

at Bobcat Stadium, Bozeman, MT

  • Date: December 6
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Jason Ross Jr. (play by play) and Tyoka Jackson (analyst)
Statistics YALE MTST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Yale Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Montana State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below ( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213Final
STATS FCS2 (1)3 (1)44455554т33 (1)32
Coaches23т66т6555543332 (1)

Roster

2025 Montana State Bobcats football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 1 Elijah Elliott Sr
RB 3 Jared White Jr
WR 4 Jacob Trimble Jr
WR 5 Javonte King  So
QB 6 River Warren Fr
QB 8 Justin Lamson Sr
WR 9 Ryan King Sr
WR 10 Jabez Woods  Fr
WR 11 Maxwell Hendrick Fr
WR 12 Jordan Reed Jr
QB 13 Chance Wilson  So
WR 14 Taco Dowler Jr
QB 15 Patrick Duchien  So
QB 17 Grant Vigen Fr
WR 18 Parker Mady Fr
WR 19 Tom Carter So
WR 20 Kee Christiansen  Fr
RB 22 Shanko Kornachuk Fr
RB 23 Adam Jones  So
RB 25 Cale Breslin Fr
RB 26 Malachi Claunch Fr
RB 28 Colson Coon  So
RB 32 Julius Davis Sr
TE 35 Tommy Springman Fr
RB 47 George Helms  Fr
OL 51 Dalton Noble  Fr
OL 53 Nicholas Maloff Fr
C, G 54 Zac Nyland  So
G 55 J. T. Reed Sr
OL 56 Samora Ezekiel Jr
OL 57 Everett Carr  So
OL 60 Tommy Nilson So
OL 61 Aiden Kaplan  Fr
OL 63 Dylan Rollins So
OL 64 Burke Mastel So
OL 65 Vaughn Wirkus Fr
OT 66 Titan Fleischmann  Jr
OL 68 Nate Thornton Fr
OL 72 Braden Zimmer  Fr
OL 73 Cedric Jefferson  So
OL 75 Ben Winters Fr
OL 79 Jonathan Luhmann  So
TE 80 Luvens Valcin  Fr
TE 81 Carter Cocke Fr
TE 82 Luke Smith  So
WR 83 Kash Embry Fr
WR 84 Dane Steel  Fr
TE 85 Carter Curnow Fr
TE 86 Hunter Provience  So
TE 87 Thomas Buchanan  Fr
TE 88 Rylan Schlepp So
TE 89 Rocky Lencioni  Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB 0 Takhari Carr Jr
DB 1 Jhase McMillan  Fr
DB 2 Taki Uluilakepa  So
DB 3 Kory Boyd  Fr
S, NB 5 Caden Dowler Jr
DB 6 Bryant Meredith So
DB 7 Tayden Gray  So
DB 8 Carson Williams  Fr
DB 9 Seth Johnson  Fr
LB 10 Bryce Grebe  So
DE 11 Kenneth Eiden IV Sr
LB 12 Ryan Bowles  Fr
CB 13 Jackson Harmon Sr
DB 15 Ife Ohalete Jr
DB 16 Brendon Ross  Fr
DB 17 Hayden Gunlock Fr
DB 18 Tim Thomas II Fr
LB 19 Neil Daily Jr
CB 22 Marcus Coleman II Fr
DB 24 Colter Petre  So
DB 25 Luke Oxarart Fr
LB 27 Brock Steel Jr
DB 29 JJ Dolan  So
LB 31 Vinnie Souza Fr
LB 33 Mason Dethman  Fr
LB 34 Cole Taylor  So
DE 36 Zac Crews Jr
LB 37 Josh Woodberry  Fr
DT 41 Paul Brott Sr
LB 42 Ryan Krahe Jr
LB 43 Xavier Ahrens Fr
DE 44 Jake Vigen Jr
DE 45 Hunter Parsons Sr
DE 46 Logan Fredericksen So
DE 48 Blaine Downing Fr
LB 49 Zac Waible So
DT 50 Zack Black Jr
DT 55 AJ Tanupo  Fr
DE 58 Dominic Solano So
DT 69 Jaren Perkins Jr
DT 90 Hunter Sharbono  So
DE 91 Seth Brock  Fr
DT 92 Graysen Schneider Fr
DT 94 Josaiah Asuega Fr
DE 96 Major Thornhill Fr
DT 97 Alec Eckert Sr
DL 98 Hudson Wiens  Fr
DL 99 Talon Marsh  So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 30 Colby Frokjer Fr
K 38 Michael Rubich Fr
K 39 Myles Sansted So
LS 40 Brody Johnson Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Shawn Howe (Defensive coordinator)
  • Pete Sterbick (Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks)
  • Marcus Monaco (special teams coordinator / director of football video)
  • Jody Owens (linebackers / assistant head coach)
  • Nicolas Jean-Baptiste (defensive line)
  • Sam Mix (wide receivers)
  • Bryan Shepherd (safeties / pass game coordinator)
  • Matt Smith (offensive line)
  • Jordan Walsh (tight ends)
  • Josh Firm (running backs)
  • Trenton Greene (cornerbacks)
  • Jake Dusenbury (assistant defensive line)
  • Jesse Moser (assistant offensive line)
  • Sean Chambers (assistant wide receivers)
  • Kiante Goudeau (assistant defensive backs)
  • Derek Griebel (assistant special teams)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 24, 2025

References

  1. ^ "2025 Montana State Bobcats Football Transfers". ON3.
  2. ^ "Montana State Bobcats 2025 College Football Transfer Portal Latest Activity". 247Sports.
  3. ^ "2025 FCS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
  4. ^ "2025 FBS-to-FCS Transfers". herosports.
  5. ^ "2025 FCS-to-FBS Transfers". herosports.
  6. ^ Lamberty, Bill (February 5, 2025). "Bobcat Football Program Adds Six". msubobcats. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  7. ^ "2025 Montana State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.