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FCS championship live score: Illinois State vs. Montana State updates, results, highlights from 2026 football title game

Jake Mozarsky

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FCS championship live score: Illinois State vs. Montana State updates, results, highlights from 2026 football title game image

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The 2025 FCS season will wrap on Monday, January 5 with the FCS National Championship Game. 

Twenty-four teams qualified for the FCP playoffs, with the top 16 receiving rankings 1-16. After four rounds of thrilling action, unranked Illinois State will face No. 2 Montana State in the FCS title game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday night. 

Illinois State enters the game 12-4 overall, after finishing the regular season 8-4. So far in the FCS playoffs, the Redbirds have beaten No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana (21-3), No. 1 North Dakota State (29-28), No. 8 UC Davis (42-31) and No. 12 Villanova (30-14) to have a berth in the title game. 

Montana State is 13-2 and riding an 11-game win streak. The Bobcats lost their first two games of the season to Oregon and in double overtime to South Dakota State. With the No. 2 seed, Montana State had a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Bobcats have beaten Yale (21-13), No. 7 Stephen F. Austin (44-28) and No. 3 Montana (48-23) on their way to the championship game. 

AllSportsPeople is tracking live updates, results and scores as Illinois State plays Montana State in the 2026 FCS Championship. Follow along for the results. 

WATCH: Stream the FCS Championship between Illinois State and Montana State with Fubo (free trial)

Illinois State vs. Montana State live score

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Illinois State vs. Montana State live updates, results, highlights from 2026 FCS Championship

6:00 p.m.:  Expect mostly Montana State fans in the crowd tonight.

5:55 p.m.:  The Montana State Bocats have arrived.

The bobcats made last year's national championship game but lost to North Dakota State. This year, return searching for their first national championship since 1984.

5:48 p.m.:  We are less than two hours away from kickoff.

5:38 p.m.:  The Redbirds are all business heading into Vanderbilt Stadium.

5:24 p.m.:  On the other side are the Illinois State Redbirds, who are looking for their first national championship in school history.

Illinois State is 12-4 entering the championship in Nashville.

4:44 p.m.:  The Montana State Bobcats enter Vanderbilt Stadium looking to win their fourth national championship in school history.

The Bobcats enter tonight's contest with a record of 13-2 in the 2025 season.

4:41 p.m.:  The FCS champion will be crowned today in Nashville, Tennessee.

MORE: Bowl season winners and losers

Where to watch Illinois State vs. Montana State 

Illinois State vs. Montana State start time

  • Date: Monday, January 5
  • Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET

The FCS Championship game between Illinois State and Montana State will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be played at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. This is where the Vanderbilt Commodores play their home football games. 

What channel is Illinois State vs. Montana State on today?

The FCS Championship game between Illinois State and Montana State will air on ESPN. Dave Flemming will be the play-by-play analyst while Brock Osweiler serves as the color commentator. Stormy Buonantony will be the sideline reporter. 

Those looking to stream the game can do so via the ESPN App or Fubo. The latter carries ESPN in its channel lineup and is currently offering a free trial. 

News Correspondent