In this week's Akem's Analysis, I recap all of the ups and downs of the 2026 FCS National Championship game, which may go down in history as one of the best ever. Like and comment your thoughts down below! SUBSCRIBE BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!!
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Montana State won its first national championship in 41 years by outlasting Illinois State 35-34 in overtime in Nashville, Tennessee on January 5. Justin Lamson hit Taco Dowler on a 4th down for a touchdown and Myles Sansted banged home the game-winning kick to lift the Bobcats to their 14th straight win.
MSU head coach Brent Vigen, Lamson and Dowler addressed the media after the historic victory.
Following a 35-34 overtime loss to No. 2 Montana State in the FCS national title game, Illinois State head coach Brock Spack, senior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse and junior linebacker Tye Niekamp addressed the media.
Ryan Tootell joins Colter Nuanez to talk about why college football remains so popular despite the dysfunction and how Montana State has been so steadily excellent despite the unrest.
Illinois State defensive coordinator Travis Niekamp and strength and conditioning coach Matt Nicholson, each formerly coaches at the University of Montana, analyze playing Montana State in the FCS title game.
Colter Nuanez catches up with standouts from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s on their perspective on the rise of Montana State over the last 50 years. MSU will try to end a 41-year national title drought on Monday.
3:25 - Paul Dennehy, quarterback of 1976 national title team
12:23 - Kelly Davis, WR on 1984 national title team
30:16 - Chad Mayer, Bobcat TE from 1992-1996
55:26 - Brent Swagger, All-American offensive tackle 2000-2003
Brandon Vancleeve, a former Montana State player and now the president of of the Bobcat Collective, talks about NIL, MSU's rise to the ranks of the nationally elite and how the collective has played a role.
Kris Atteberry, a Bozeman native and former Voice of Montana State, joins Colter Nuanez to share memories and analyze what gives MSU a chance to win its first national title since 1984, when Atteberry was a 12-year-old growing up in Bozeman.
Leo Davis, a former Bobcat football player and now the color commentator on the Bobcat Radio Network, joins Colter Nuanez to talk about MSU's two straight rivalry wins and three playoff wins to punch another ticket in the national title game.
Analyst Ty Gregorak joins Colter Nuanez to talk about NIL, the transfer portal, the lack of regulation + thoughts on Montana State's pursuit of a national championship for the first time since 1984.
Former Montana State coach and player Michael Rider joins Colter Nuanez to break down the dynamics that have gone into Montana State reaching its third national championship game in five seasons.
Samuel Akem and Colter Nuanez join forces to talk about current transfer portal action, comings and goings for the Griz, what Illinois State brings to the table for the FCS title game and what makes this the greatest era of Bobcat football ever for Montana State.
In this week's Akem's Analysis, I preview the upcoming FCS National Championship game. Montana State and Illinois State will face off for the FCS crown on Monday, January 5th, in Nashville, Tennessee. Stay tuned for the whole episode. Like and comment your thoughts down below! SUBSCRIBE BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!!
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0:00 - Intro
2:21 - Montana State/Illinois State Preview
29:42 - 5 Biggest Matchups in The FCS Championship
41:42 - Final Thoughts
43:03 - End
Montana State sophomore captain running back joined Colter Nuanez on Nuanez Now to preview the FCS national title game between MSU and Illinois State.
Skyline Sports senior photographer Blake Hempstead gives his impressions of Montana State as the crew makes their way to the national championship game for the fifth time since 2019.
Tom Stuber, a veteran sportswriter who covers Montana State for Skyline Sports, helps break down MSU's semifinal win over rival Montana in the FCS Playoffs and previews the Bobcats' national title game tilt against Illinois State.
Former Montana State All-American JP Flynn joins Colter Nuanez for a breakdown of MSU's 48-23 win over Montana to advance to the FCS title game for the third time in five years. The Bobcats will play No. 17 Illinois State on Monday January 5 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Montana State senior defensive tackle Paul Brott (left) and senior center JT Reed addressed the media a week ahead of MSU's FCS national title game against Illinois State. The Bobcats have advanced to three of the last five title games, losing to North Dakota State in its previous two trips. Illinois State beat NDSU in the second round of this year's playoffs.
Montana State fifth-year head coach Brent Vigen has led MSU to the FCS national title game in consecutive seasons and in three of the last five years overall. The Bobcats take on No. 17 Illinois State, the first team in FCS playoff history to win four straight road games. The contest takes place in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday January 5.
Illinois State head coach Brock Spack broke down his team's four consecutive road wins in the FCS Playoffs to reach the national title game for the first time since 2014 and the second time under Spack's leadership.