For Montana State, it was a win that had to feel like a massive exhale, as the Bobcats had lost last year’s title game to North Dakota State by just a field goal, and dropped another title game a few years earlier in 2021. It’s the second time in school history the Bobcats have lifted the trophy, with the first title coming in 1984.

As excitement builds for Monday’s FCS National Championship game in Nashville, Montana State and Illinois State players took a break from studying playbooks for a different challenge.