Thousands of Montana State fans lift Bobcats to historic national title
By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR
NASHVILLE—Ask any Uber driver, bartender or hotel bellhop, and they’ll tell you the entire state of Montana flew into Nashville, Tennessee for the national championship game.
Many of those Montana State football fans made a similar trip to Frisco, Texas, last year, only to suffer a heartbreaking loss to North Dakota State. Despite the Bobcats losing stars like Walter-Payton-award-winning quarterback Tommy Mellott, the focus shifted to 2026. When Nashville was named as the site, the Bobcat faithful responded, “Let’s party.”
And party they did. Broadway bars overflowed with blue and gold the whole weekend, especially the nights before and immediately after the game.
Flint Rasmussen summed up the Treasure State camaraderie during his remarks at the Bobcat Bash in Nash, a pregame rally at Music City Center that gathered 7,000 alumni, families, students and fans on Sunday, Jan. 4.
“Montana is one big small town with a really long main street. And we all live on Main Street,” said Rasmussen, a famed rodeo entertainer and self-proclaimed Montana ambassador. He described the small-world feeling of Montana life, exemplified in home-away-from-home settings like Nashville this weekend.
I tagged along with Rasmussen to collaborate on a video in the hours before kickoff, and he proved it. With every group of Bobcat fans passing by, Rasmussen said hello, shook hands, greeted them by name—or, for unfamiliar faces, discovered mutual friends and common backgrounds in the state—and displayed humility in spite of his Western fame.
He couldn’t chat with every Bobcat fan, though.
The game’s attendance totaled 24,105, the most fans for an FCS title game since 1996. Explore Big Sky’s official estimate for Montana State fans is 17,000, enough to fill more than two-thirds of Vanderbilt’s FirstBank Stadium—and the bars, the hotels and Music City streets.
That’s why head coach Brent Vigen called it a “Nashville takeover” in his remarks at the Bash event.
But let’s give credit to Illinois State: As an unranked team facing North Dakota State in the first round, it’s hard to imagine Redbird Nation had Jan. 5 circled on their calendars like the Bobcat fans did after their three-point defeat in Frisco.
I spoke with many Redbirds fans in Lower Broadway the night before the game, while filming a score-prediction video. Many admitted their doubts against a powerhouse Montana State program. Some offered an optimistic score prediction, but off-the-record, added a skeptical wink and nudge.
And yet many held the faith, ferocity and confidence displayed so dramatically by quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, star receiver Daniel Sobkowicz, championship-breakout receiver Dylan Lord, and the rest of the inspired Redbirds.
The power of a moment
As Illinois State closed a 14-point deficit and suffocated the Bobcat offense in the fourth quarter, I noticed two things.
First, every Bobcat-focused media worker beside me on the sideline—mostly photographers—seemed overwhelmed by shock and dread. While folks like me are supposed to be objective in our reporting, there’s no doubt a Bobcat win rubs off on us, with success typically lending to an enjoyable writing experience. So as the Bobcats appeared to fumble their victory, a quiet panic spread. Personally, my heart raced and my skin crawled as I felt the Redbirds’ gravity weigh upon a stadium full of Montanans.
Second, anyone wearing red could not contain their excitement. Redbird sports photographers seemed to come out of the woodworks, filling in the gaps behind the end zone, capturing everything and perhaps planning their route to rush onto the turf when their team finished the impossible job. Illinois State’s percussion section seemed to double their force as they pounded a thunderous rhythm in support of the Redbird defense. Fans hugged, and I overheard red-clad personnel near the ISU sideline saying things like “We’re really gonna do it,” and “I can’t believe this is happening” as the Redbird offense marched downfield toward tie-breaking points with under two minutes to play.
But one blocked field goal, another blocked extra point and an overtime, do-or-die fourth down conversion changed everything.
Heartbreak struck the Land of Lincoln. And in the Treasure State, despair evaporated into joyous disbelief.
Putting aside the outcome of the game—columnist Colter Nuanez has you covered for that—I’ll share one final observation.
Everyone was captivated: red and white; blue and gold; black-and-white striped; or neutral gray. In a world controlled by screens, it’s a powerful and awe-inspiring privilege to experience a thrilling moment with 24,000 others, all of whom are fully present.
That’s what makes a trip to Nashville worthwhile.
How many variations of “What a game” will be uttered in the 24 hours after the likes of Vigen, Lamson, Lencioni, Fleischmann, Sansted and the Dowlers hoisted the NCAA trophy? How many celebratory phone calls? How many airplane seats filled with proud Bobcat fans?
This collective spirit is not found often, but it can be found in Montana, in Bobcat Stadium and surely wherever else the Bobcats play.
