8:53 pm, December 18, 2025

Here’s how to watch the 2025 FCS semifinal game between No. 2 Montana State and No. 3 Montana.

8:53 pm, December 18, 2025

Here are some of the top storylines and players to watch entering this year’s FCS semifinals.

Storylines

Return to the title

Montana State is looking to make back-to-back FCS title game appearances after a runner-up finish last year
Montana is looking to return to the FCS title game in two years, losing in 2023.

Rivalry

The FCS semifinal is the is the 125th edition of the game.

Rematch

Montana State defeated Montana 31-28 in the regular-season ending contest.
Montana is 3-1 in revenge games where the Griz lost the regular season but won in the FCS playoffs.

Players to Watch

Here are some players to watch from Montana

Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year: Eli Gillman, RB, Montana

All Americans

First Team

RB Eli Gilman (SI)
AP Michael Wortham (SI, STATS, AP, AFCA)

Second Team

QB Keali’l Ah Yat (STATS, SI)
RB Eli Gilman (STATS, AP, AFCA)
LB Peyton Wing (SI)

Third Team

OL Cannon Panfiloff (SI)
PR Drew Deck (SI)

All Big Sky

First Team

QB Keali’l Ah Yat
RB Eli Gilman
TE Evan Shafer
OL Cannon Panfiloff
AP Michael Wortham
DL Hunter Peck
LB Peyton Wing
ST Tanner Huff
WR Michael Wortham
OL Liam Brown
LB Solomon Tuliaupupu
DB TJ Rausch
PR Drew Deck
LS Grayson Pibal

Here are some players to watch from Montana State

Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year: Caden Dowler, DB, Montana State
Big Sky Newcomer of the Year: Justin Lamson, QB, Montana State
Big Sky Coach of the Year: Brent Vigen, Montana State

All Americans

First Team

OL Titan Fleischmann (SI, STATS, AP)
DB Caden Dowler (SI, STATS, AP, AFCA)

Second Team

QB Justin Lamson (STATS)
DL Paul Brot (STATS, AP)
DL Kenneth Eiden IV (SI)

Third Team

DL Kenneth Eiden IV (STATS)
RB Julius Davis (SI)
DL Paul Brot (SI)

Freshman

OL Braden Zimmer (STATS)

All Big Sky

First Team

OL Titan Fleischmann
DL Paul Brott
DL Kenneth Eiden IV
DB Caden Dowler
PR Taco Dowler

Second Team

QB Justin Lamson
RB Julius Davis
WR Taco Dowler
LB Cole Taylor
DB Tayden Gray

8:53 pm, December 18, 2025

Here’s how Montana and Montana State stack up based on this season’s results.

Montana vs. Montana State

No. 3 Montana
2025 STATs
No. 2 Montana State

13-1 (7-1)
Record (Conf)
12-2 (8-0)

No. 3
Playoff Seed
No. 2

No. 4
FCS Coaches rank
No. 2

No. 3
FCS Stats Perform rank
No. 2

42.3
Points per game
37.4

23.8
Points allowed
17.6

464.9
Yards per game
436.3

287.9
Pass yards per game
202.1

176.9
Rush yards per game
234.1

396.4
Yards allowed per game
218.0

261.3
Pass yards allowed per game
199.9

135.1
Rush yards allowed per game
118.1

QB Keali’i Ah Yat
3,819 yds, 32 TDs, 8 INT
Passing leader
QB Justin Lamson
2,683 yds, 22 TD, 3 INT

RB Eli Gillman
1,434 yds, 20 TDs
Rushing leader
RB Julius Davis
1,044 yds, 8 TD

WR Michael Wortham
1,139 yds, 10 TDs
Receiving leader
WR Taco Dowler
789 yds, 5 TD

S Diezel Wilkinson
70 tkl, 4.5 tfl, 3 sk
Defense
S Caden Dowler
90 tkl, 6.5 tfl, 6 INT

8:53 pm, December 18, 2025

Montana and Montana State have a football rivalry that’s over 120 years old, known as “The Brawl of the Wild.” It’s the fourth-oldest rivalry in the FCS, with the winner receiving The Great Divide Trophy.

The FCS semifinals will mark the first time that the two schools have met in the postseason.

When Montana and Montana State met in 2025 during the regular season, it marked The Brawl of the Wild’s 124th all-time meeting. Montana State escaped Montana 31-28. The Grizzlies hold a 75-44-5 head-to-head edge in the all-time series.

Here’s a look at all of the matchups from the 2020s decade.

Date
Winner
Score
Location

2021
Montana
29–10
Missoula, MT

2022
Montana State
55-21
Bozeman, MT

2023
Montana
37-7
Missoula, MT

2024
Montana State
34-11
Bozeman, MT

2025
Montana State
31-28
Missoula, MT

Click or tap here for more on the Brawl of the Wild

8:53 pm, December 18, 2025

Here’s a look at the past semifinals appearances from Montana and Montana State. Montana last reached the semifinal round in 2023, advancing to the national title game. Montana State last reached the semifinal round in 2024, making it to the national championship game.

Montana FCS semifinal appearances

1989 — loss to Georgia Southern
1994 — loss to Youngstown State
1995 — National Championship winner
1996 — National Championship runner-up
2000 — National Championship runner-up
2001 — National Championship winner
2004 — National Championship runner-up
2006 — loss to UMass
2008 — National Championship runner-up
2009 — National Championship runner-up
2011 — semifinal appearance vacated
2023 — National Championship runner-up

Montana State FCS semifinal appearances

1984 — National Championship winner
2019 — loss to North Dakota State
2021 — National Championship runner-up
2022 — loss to South Dakota State
2024 — National Championship runner-up

8:53 pm, December 18, 2025