Montana State is coming off a historic season, winning the 2025 FCS national championship. The Bobcats went 14-2 en route to their first natty in 41 years.
As the page turns to the 2026 season, here’s a look at the MSU squad. Brent Vigen enters his sixth season as head coach.
Returning 2025 FCS All-Conference Players (8)
1st Team
OL Titan Fleischmann
DB Caden Dowler
PR Taco Dowler
2nd Team
WR Taco Dowler
QB Justin Lamson
LB Cole Taylor
DB Tayden Gray
Honorable Mention
RB Adam Jones
OL Burke Mastel
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (0)
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (1)
Gianni Edwards (CB), Arizona
Transfers Lost To The FCS (3)
Chance Wilson (QB) to SEMO
Major Thornhill (DE) to SFA
Ife Ohalete (DB) to UTRGV
Transfers Lost To The FBS (5)
Carson Williams (CB) to Indiana
Seth Johnson (CB) to Iowa State
Jhase McMillan (CB) to UCLA
Hunter Provience (TE) to NC State
Cedric Jefferson (OL) to Utah
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Offensive Outlook
Montana State’s offense stays mostly intact after scoring 37.9 points per game, which ranked No. 8 in the FCS. MSU returns its starting quarterback, back-to-back 1,000-yard running back, top three wide receivers, top tight end, and three full-time starting offensive linemen.
An All-American trio at QB-RB-WR leads the way.
Justin Lamson turned in a legendary 2025 season after transferring from Stanford. He completed 255/356 passes (71.6%) for 3,172 yards, 26 touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing for 734 yards and 16 TDs. He graded out as PFF’s No. 10 FCS quarterback and finished No. 5 in FCS passing efficiency. Lamson was named the Big Sky‘s Newcomer of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Conference Second Team. He finished No. 7 in Walter Payton Award voting and was the national championship game’s Most Outstanding Player.
Lamson has his favorite targets coming back in 2026, led by Taco Dowler. Last season, Dowler tallied 77 catches for 1,025 yards and seven touchdowns. The Second Team All-Big Sky wide receiver was also a First Team punt returner, taking 24 punts for 323 yards and a touchdown. MSU returns its No. 2 and 3 wide receivers as well — Dane Steel (39 catches, 501 yards, 3 TDs) and Jabez Woods (24 catches, 378 yards, 2 TDs). Rocky Lencioni leads the tight end room after a breakout season, catching 19 passes for 206 yards and six touchdowns.
Steel, Woods, and Lencioni were just redshirt freshmen last fall.
Two-time All-Big Sky running back Adam Jones highlights the backfield. In 2024, he rushed for 1,172 yards and 14 touchdowns, getting named the Big Sky Freshman of the Year. Last season, Jones averaged 6.3 yards per carry, rushing for 1,093 yards and 15 TDs while recording 35 receptions for 301 yards and two scores. MSU has to replace the production of Julius Davis, who went over 1,110 rushing yards in 2025. Colson Coon and Jared White are two candidates to take on more carries this fall. Coon has rushed for 373 and 248 yards in the last two seasons. And White had a 524-yard season as a freshman in 2023 before falling behind two 1,000-yard running backs in 2024 and 2025.
Three starters return on the o-line, an annual position of strength for the Cats.
Titan Fleischmann (6’4″ 300 lbs) is a two-time All-American at right tackle and right guard. Burke Mastel (6’4″ 315 lbs) is coming off an All-Big Sky Honorable Mention season at guard. And Braden Zimmer (6’6″ 285 lbs) was a Freshman All-American last year at left tackle. Everett Carr (6’4″ 305 lbs) adds valuable experience to the interior of the line as well, logging nearly 300 snaps in 2025.
Defensive Outlook
MSU returns eight of its top 11 tacklers and 15/22 defensive players who played at least 250 snaps last year.
The Cats will be tasked with replacing their entire starting defensive line (lost to graduation) and their top three cornerbacks, who transferred to the Power 4 after being first-time starters last year as redshirt freshmen. The defense looks to mostly fill those voids from within the program, adding just one Division I transfer in Arizona cornerback Gianni Edwards.
Up front, 2025 rotational players will step into starting roles. Defensive ends Zac Crews (6’4″ 240 lbs) and Dominic Solano (6’4″ 250 lbs) both played between 485 and 500 snaps last season. Crews had a productive year, totaling 38 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, six sacks, and five quarterback hurries. Solano added 23 tackles, five TFLs, three sacks, and six QB hurries. Talon Marsh (6’1″ 280 lbs) and Zack Black (6’4″ 275 lbs) logged between 255 and 290 snaps in 2025. Marsh had 22 tackles and 1.5 TFLs, and Black recorded 16 tackles and one TFL.
At cornerback, Takhari Carr brings back plenty of experience to elevate into a starting job. Last year, he tallied more than 400 snaps while recording 30 tackles, one interception, and four pass breakups. Second Team All-Big Sky nickelback Tayden Gray can play in the slot. He’s coming off a season where he totaled 55 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, two interceptions, and three pass breakups.
MSU returns a wealth of experience at safety and linebacker, allowing the defense to do things schematically to help the inexperienced cornerbacks if necessary.
Safeties Caden Dowler and Bryant Meredith are back after playing more than 700 snaps apiece last fall. Dowler had an elite season, earning All-American and Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year honors. He finished No. 2 on the team with 91 tackles, plus 6.5 TFLs, six interceptions, and four pass breakups. Meredith tallied 55 tackles, two TFLs, and one interception. Colter Petre (47 tackles), JJ Dolan (21), and Taki Uluilakepa (21) all added between 260-320 snaps last year and return in 2026.
The Cats bring back their top four linebackers in their 4-2-5 base defense.
Second Team All-Big Sky selection Cole Taylor returns after leading the team with more than 830 snaps and 107 tackles, adding 7.5 TFLs and two interceptions. Bryce Grebe played 600+ snaps and was No. 2 on the team with 72 stops. Neil Daily is a two-year impact player who was limited last season due to injury, totaling 26 tackles in 265 snaps. Xavier Ahrens is a promising young player, logging 250+ snaps last fall as a freshman and recording 37 stops.
The Cats allowed 19.0 points per game, which ranked No. 15 in the FCS. They have the returning experience and production to maintain their strong defense. The two biggest questions surrounding the team, though, are cornerbacks and defensive line depth.
2026 Preseason Preview Central
Montana State Football Schedule
8/29 at Utah Tech
9/5 vs Butler
9/12 at FBS Nevada
9/19 vs CCSU
9/26 vs Northern Arizona
10/3 at Idaho
10/17 at Eastern Washington
10/24 vs Weber State
10/31 vs Cal Poly
11/7 at Idaho State
11/14 at Northern Colorado
11/21 vs Montana
Bold indicates Big Sky games
