The 2025 FCS season ended with a new-look champion.
Montana State won its first national title in 41 years, beating Illinois State 35-34 in an overtime thriller. The Bobcats are an easy choice for 2026 preseason No. 1, not only because they are the defending champs, but also because of the number of key players returning.
Now, as the hunted instead of the hunter, MSU’s next challenge is staying atop the FCS mountain by winning consecutive titles. In the FCS/Division I-AA era that dates back to 1978, North Dakota State has won five straight, NDSU and App State have three-peated, and five other teams have two-peated.
FCS Teams To 5-Peat
North Dakota State (2011-2015)
FCS Teams To 3-Peat
Appalachian State (2005-2007)
North Dakota State (2017-2019)
FCS Teams To 2-Peat
Georgia Southern (1985-1986)
Georgia Southern (1989-1990)
Youngstown State (1993-1994)
Georgia Southern (1999-2000)
South Dakota State (2022-2023)
Montana State Football 2026 Outlook
The Cats lost four impact players to the FBS — their top three cornerbacks and a starting offensive lineman. But overall, Montana State feels good about the standouts it has retained. And with a 2025 roster of only nine seniors, a lot of depth returns alongside the headline names.
Offensively, MSU returns starting quarterback Justin Lamson, back-to-back 1,000-yard running back Adam Jones, top three wide receivers (Taco Dowler, Dane Steel, Jabez Woods), top tight end Rocky Lencioni, and three starting offensive linemen (Braden Zimmer, Titan Fleischmann, Burke Mastel).
Defensively, the Cats return the top four linebackers in their rotation — Cole Taylor, Bryce Grebe, Neil Daily, and Xavier Ahrens. The top six safeties are all back, each logging between 260 and 790 snaps: Tayden Gray, Caden Dowler, Bryant Meredith, Colter Petre, JJ Dolan, Taki Uluilakepa.
The defense does lose its top three cornerbacks in snaps and its entire starting defensive line.
RELATED: Strong Group Of FCS Quarterbacks Returning In 2026
D-line depth has been a strength for MSU, though, and the Cats return four players who played 250 or more snaps — defensive ends Zac Crews and Dominic Solano; defensive tackles Talon Marsh and Zack Black.
Takhari Carr is a returning experienced cornerback to help fill voids at that position, logging more than 400 snaps in 2025. Gray, listed above as a returning safety, is more of a slot corner than a traditional safety.
Overall, the 2026 Bobcats look to have an elite offense with an All-American trio at QB, RB, and WR, plus an experienced offensive line. MSU will also be excellent at linebacker and safety. Defensive line depth and outside cornerback will be the question marks.
The schedule sets up nicely as well for MSU. The Cats have a favorable FBS game at Nevada, taking on former head coach Jeff Choate. Don’t be surprised if MSU is favored in that game, similar to the 2024 game at New Mexico. MSU plays an otherwise easier non-conference slate against two FCS opponents — vs. Butler and vs. CCSU. In Big Sky play, the Cats avoid 2025 quarterfinalist UC Davis. They get two of the other 2026 playoff contenders at home — vs. Northern Arizona and Montana. They’ll play at Idaho (looking for a return to the postseason after a down year) and at Idaho State (a dangerous squad that is up-and-coming). On paper, the 2026 schedule is much more manageable than 2025, which featured the first two games at P4 power Oregon and vs. No. 2 South Dakota State, plus a game at No. 2 Montana.
The players and coaching staff retention, plus the schedule sets up for another run. It’ll be a long journey back to Nashville, navigating a 12-game regular season and a 24-team bracket. But the roster is very much intact after the lone transfer portal window has closed, and the potential is there for MSU to join the list of teams above in winning consecutive FCS titles.
