Caden Dowler is expected to start tonight
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #16: Cats Looking For Fourth National Title in Nashville on Monday
1/5/2026 5:17:00 PM | Football
Montana State safety Caden Dowler is expected to start against Illinois State
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 5, 2026) – It's been four short of 15,000 days since Montana State last won a national championship in football. For the thousands in Blue and Gold that have flooded the streets of Nashville, and many tens of thousands more across the world, that is long enough.
The Bobcats play for the FCS Championship for the third time in the last five seasons – encompassing head coach Brent Vigen's tenure at MSU – when the Cats battle Illinois State in Nashville at 5:30 pm MT. The Redbirds have never won a title and haven't played for one since 2014.
The game airs on ESPN, and is broadcast across Montana on the Bobcat Radio Network.
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The Bobcats have no depth chart changes heading into tonight's game. Caden Dowler is expected to start at safety.
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Montana State leads the FCS in completion percentage at .719 and are sixth in passing efficiency. The Redbirds stand 53rd in nationally in passing efficiency defense.
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Taco Dowler has found a way to impact games throughout the season, but none more than in the semifinal win over Montana in raucous Bobcat Stadium. Dowler caught five passes for 125 yards, the big one a third-and-20 catch-and-run that covered 87 yards and gave the Cats a two-score lead in the fourth quarter.
Dowler has 924 receiving yards this season, 45 from joining the program's single-season top 10 list. His 1,762 career receiving yards is eighth in Bobcat history.
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Dowler is chasing another milestone tonight. His 1,390 career punt return yards is 51 from the Big Sky Conference record of 1,441.
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Kenny Eiden has been one of the most impactful edge rushers in Bobcats history, but the effectiveness of his performance in late-season games has been remarkable. The Bozeman High product whose father Ken starred for the Cats from 1988-91 has 11.5 tackles-for-loss in 10 career playoff games. That includes two last time out against the Grizzlies. He has 11 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks in this season's most recent seven games. Six of those came against playoff foes.
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There is one subtle tie between the MSU and Illinois State programs. Montana State head coach Brent Vigen coached for five seasons with current ISU running backs coach Mike Grant at the University of Wyoming.
Vigen also coached against ISU head coach Brock Spack during his time as a North Dakota State assistant coach. Spack arrived at Illinois State in 2009 and Vigen departed NDSU in 2013.
* * * * *
Brent Vigen is 11-4 in NCAA Playoff games as Montana State's head coach. Every other MSU coach combined is 12-9.
#GoCatsGo
The Bobcats play for the FCS Championship for the third time in the last five seasons – encompassing head coach Brent Vigen's tenure at MSU – when the Cats battle Illinois State in Nashville at 5:30 pm MT. The Redbirds have never won a title and haven't played for one since 2014.
The game airs on ESPN, and is broadcast across Montana on the Bobcat Radio Network.
* * * * *
The Bobcats have no depth chart changes heading into tonight's game. Caden Dowler is expected to start at safety.
* * * * *
Montana State leads the FCS in completion percentage at .719 and are sixth in passing efficiency. The Redbirds stand 53rd in nationally in passing efficiency defense.
* * * * *
Taco Dowler has found a way to impact games throughout the season, but none more than in the semifinal win over Montana in raucous Bobcat Stadium. Dowler caught five passes for 125 yards, the big one a third-and-20 catch-and-run that covered 87 yards and gave the Cats a two-score lead in the fourth quarter.
Dowler has 924 receiving yards this season, 45 from joining the program's single-season top 10 list. His 1,762 career receiving yards is eighth in Bobcat history.
* * * * *
Dowler is chasing another milestone tonight. His 1,390 career punt return yards is 51 from the Big Sky Conference record of 1,441.
* * * * *
Kenny Eiden has been one of the most impactful edge rushers in Bobcats history, but the effectiveness of his performance in late-season games has been remarkable. The Bozeman High product whose father Ken starred for the Cats from 1988-91 has 11.5 tackles-for-loss in 10 career playoff games. That includes two last time out against the Grizzlies. He has 11 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks in this season's most recent seven games. Six of those came against playoff foes.
* * * * *
There is one subtle tie between the MSU and Illinois State programs. Montana State head coach Brent Vigen coached for five seasons with current ISU running backs coach Mike Grant at the University of Wyoming.
Vigen also coached against ISU head coach Brock Spack during his time as a North Dakota State assistant coach. Spack arrived at Illinois State in 2009 and Vigen departed NDSU in 2013.
* * * * *
Brent Vigen is 11-4 in NCAA Playoff games as Montana State's head coach. Every other MSU coach combined is 12-9.
#GoCatsGo
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