To get from Montana State’s press box to its press conference room, you have to work your way through MSU fans on the concourse. Usually, it’s pretty jovial after games, considering the Bobcats rarely lose at home.
On Sept. 6, it was not that.
The Bobcats lost 30-24 in double overtime to South Dakota State in a Top 3 FCS showdown. They sat at 0-2, although the first loss was at Oregon.
As a hushed MSU fan base made its way through the concourse and toward the exits, one fan yelled out, “I miss you, Tommy!” to a combination of sad laughs and groans from others.
Tommy, of course, was a reference to Tommy Mellott, the electric starting quarterback for the Cats from the 2021 playoffs through the 2024 season. Mellott is a beloved Montana native from Butte and perhaps the most recognizable face in a state that loves its football. During his senior year, he won the Walter Payton Award, finishing with 2,759 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and two interceptions, plus 1,050 rushing yards and 15 more scores. Mellott led MSU to a near storybook ending in 2024, but MSU’s comeback fell short in the national championship game, losing 35-32 to North Dakota State.
Entering 2025, MSU looked to overcome losing a legendary senior class, led by Mellott and several more Montana natives.
Leading the offense was going to be Stanford transfer Justin Lamson, a junior who hails from El Dorado Hills, CA.
Bobcat fans were mostly excited about Lamson. MSU head coach Brent Vigen had a connection with him. When Vigen was at Wyoming, he recruited Lamson.
Lamson started this season ranging from okay to solid. MSU was working through a new offensive system, and it was shuffling around the o-line due to injuries. But the 0-2 start, coupled with being compared to Mellott, made for some doubts by MSU fans.
“Is this our guy?” some wondered.
Fast forward months later, and it seems silly that question was ever being asked.
Because on Monday night in Nashville, Lamson capped off a tremendous second half of the season by leading MSU to its first FCS national championship in 41 years, defeating Illinois State 35-34 in an epic game.
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He was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player after throwing for 280 yards and two touchdowns, plus two rushing touchdowns. Lamson entered the game completing 72% of his passes for 2,892 yards, 24 touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing for 704 yards and 14 scores.
“I think you always dream of winning a national championship, and I really think that’s become the standard at Montana State,” Lamson said after the game. “We lost a lot of guys, and that’s kind of all I heard going into the season. But when I got here, I already knew that we had dudes, like guys that not a lot of people were talking about. I got here late, and these guys accepted me. Coach Vigen took a chance on me when not a lot of other people did, kept pursuing me.”
Lamson came into this season with the right mentality. He knew who he was replacing, and he knew what type of demanding fan base he was playing for. But did he fully know? Maybe not fully until that spotlight is shining bright. It would have been easy to crumble under the weight on his shoulders in September. But he continued to improve and play his best football down the stretch, which was also the time when MSU played its toughest Big Sky opponents. His gamer traits and fiery attitude on the field made him a leader on the team.
Lamson was dialed in during the first half on Monday: 12/13 passing for 228 yards, one touchdown, and two rushing scores as the Cats held a 21-7 lead. But the second half saw some struggles. Illinois State’s crowd noise rattled MSU, resulting in multiple false starts while the ISU defense got the Cats out of sorts on third downs. ISU seized that momentum to storm back and tie it 28-28 with 5:10 to go.
The game went into overtime after MSU blocked a potential game-winning field goal with a minute to play.
ISU then took its first lead of the game to start OT when Tommy Rittenhouse hit Dylan Lord for Lord’s second touchdown of the game. Special teams struck again, as the Cats blocked the PAT.
That’s when Lamson did his thing. He and the MSU offense faced a fourth-and-10 at the 14-yard line.
Either MSU was going to end its season in heartbreaking fashion once again. Or Lamson was going to cement himself in that legendary QB category.
With pressure in his grill, he delivered.
A dot to Taco Dowler.
A gamer.
A legend.
“When [OC Pete Sterbick] called the same play again that he just ran two plays ago — but that was the piece we were looking for, Justin Lamson to Taco Dowler,” Vigen said. “I was all for it. In those moments as a coach, trusting your players and allowing them to go make plays is really what this is all about. Couldn’t be more happy for those two. Yeah, it’s pretty dang fitting it was those two making that connection.”
