Saturday, November 7
Pocatello, ID
4:00 pm
Montana State University
at
Idaho State
Titan Fleischmann
Photo by: Brian Morse
11/6/2026 10:06:00 AM | Football
MSU visits Holt Arena on Saturday at 4 pm
BOZEMAN, Mont. (Nov. 3, 2026) – Montana State plays a nationally-ranked foe for the third time this season, the first on the road, when the third-ranked Bobcats visit No. 22 Idaho State at 4 pm on Saturday.
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The Bengals (6-3 overall, 3-3 Big Sky) answered a three-game October losing streak with wins in the last two games to solidify their status in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) polls and vault back into playoff consideration. The Bobcats (8-1, 5-1) remain locked in a battle at the top of the Big Sky, tied with Northern Arizona for first place.
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At Idaho State, the Cats face a team known for explosive offense. The stats, MSU coach Brent Vigen says, say something different. The Bengals allow 279.6 yards per game, the 9th-best mark in the FCS, and 21.4 points a contest, 24th.
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"As a program what you see is that their defense is probably even more of the story (of the team's success)," Vigen said. "They continue to get better and better on defense, they're giving up less than 22 points (per game) right now, they're really good against the run and the pass, and statistically at this point they're really good on third down. They're really good at taking (the ball) away."
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Idaho State's pressure-oriented defense has produced 10 interceptions by eight different players. Trehsyn Fesili claims six of the team's 19 sacks, and the freshman has also intercepted two passes. He returned both for touchdowns. Fesili has also forced three fumbles.
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"They've been good on offense for all of Coach Hawkins' years, but defensively they're clearly the best that they've been," Vigen said. "They're really good up front, multiple guys with multiple TFLs, a young kid with a lot of sacks."
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Quarterback Jordan Cooke triggers ISU's high-octane offense. He throws for 244.3 yards per game, with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He's also run for four touchdowns.
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"Offensively, they have a really talented quarterback, one of the more talented quarterbacks in the country, and when he's on, he's on," Vigen said. "They spread the ball around well, they know what they want to do, they find ways to move it, they find ways to score points each and every week."
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Four Bengals receivers average at least 50 yards per game, led by Julian Mason. He leads the team with 49 catches and 583 yards. Tytan Mason averages 7.0 yards per rush, leading the team with 68 carries and 477 yards on the ground.
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But Vigen said that Idaho State's offensive success traces back to Cooke. "Their scheme fits him well. Coach Hawkins has done a good job pairing up what they do with their players' strengths."
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Even as its identity continues to evolve, Vigen said, the Bobcat defense has played steady football throughout the season. The Cats lead the Big Sky in in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense, and are third in the FCS in turnover margin.
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Vigen cites that unit's versatility. "I think it's the mixture" of looks that MSU's stop unit is able to give. "Whatever our pre-snap presentation is, it's not telling the whole story. Whether that's the volume of more man-oriented concepts, perhaps, but it's really just trying to be less the type of defense that whatever we show pre-snap is what we're going to be" on any given play.
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The Bobcats intercepted three passes in last week's 61-7 win over Cal Poly, two by reigning conference player of the year Caden Dowler. MSU's 17 takeaways is ninth in the FCS.
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While MSU's defense stifled Cal Poly, special teams provided a spark. Freshman Carter Dahlke returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to electrify Bobcat Stadium, then after back-to-back false start penalties on the Cal Poly offense Dowler snared his first interception. That drive produced a touchdown for a 14-0 lead, and the outcome was never in doubt again.
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"It helps when we get the momentum in another way," Vigen said of the special teams thunderstrike. "It helps when the (opponents') offense is first-and-20 before it even starts, so we get that possession and everything is going in our direction, we get the takeaway and now it's 14-to-nothing."
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Dahlke is one of just a small handful of freshmen playing leading roles this season, but Vigen said he has towered over the opportunity presented him. "For him, no moment has proven to be too big. He's missed very few opportunities, when you think about it, plays to make, balls in the air, returns. He's done a very good job with each and every opportunity. To me that's not surprising, but the opportunities have continued to present themselves."
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Saturday's kickoff is 4 pm, and the game airs statewide on The Spot-MTN. Station availability is here.
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#GoCatsGo
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The Bengals (6-3 overall, 3-3 Big Sky) answered a three-game October losing streak with wins in the last two games to solidify their status in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) polls and vault back into playoff consideration. The Bobcats (8-1, 5-1) remain locked in a battle at the top of the Big Sky, tied with Northern Arizona for first place.
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At Idaho State, the Cats face a team known for explosive offense. The stats, MSU coach Brent Vigen says, say something different. The Bengals allow 279.6 yards per game, the 9th-best mark in the FCS, and 21.4 points a contest, 24th.
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"As a program what you see is that their defense is probably even more of the story (of the team's success)," Vigen said. "They continue to get better and better on defense, they're giving up less than 22 points (per game) right now, they're really good against the run and the pass, and statistically at this point they're really good on third down. They're really good at taking (the ball) away."
Â
Idaho State's pressure-oriented defense has produced 10 interceptions by eight different players. Trehsyn Fesili claims six of the team's 19 sacks, and the freshman has also intercepted two passes. He returned both for touchdowns. Fesili has also forced three fumbles.
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"They've been good on offense for all of Coach Hawkins' years, but defensively they're clearly the best that they've been," Vigen said. "They're really good up front, multiple guys with multiple TFLs, a young kid with a lot of sacks."
Â
Quarterback Jordan Cooke triggers ISU's high-octane offense. He throws for 244.3 yards per game, with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He's also run for four touchdowns.
Â
"Offensively, they have a really talented quarterback, one of the more talented quarterbacks in the country, and when he's on, he's on," Vigen said. "They spread the ball around well, they know what they want to do, they find ways to move it, they find ways to score points each and every week."
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Four Bengals receivers average at least 50 yards per game, led by Julian Mason. He leads the team with 49 catches and 583 yards. Tytan Mason averages 7.0 yards per rush, leading the team with 68 carries and 477 yards on the ground.
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But Vigen said that Idaho State's offensive success traces back to Cooke. "Their scheme fits him well. Coach Hawkins has done a good job pairing up what they do with their players' strengths."
Â
Even as its identity continues to evolve, Vigen said, the Bobcat defense has played steady football throughout the season. The Cats lead the Big Sky in in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense, and are third in the FCS in turnover margin.
Â
Vigen cites that unit's versatility. "I think it's the mixture" of looks that MSU's stop unit is able to give. "Whatever our pre-snap presentation is, it's not telling the whole story. Whether that's the volume of more man-oriented concepts, perhaps, but it's really just trying to be less the type of defense that whatever we show pre-snap is what we're going to be" on any given play.
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The Bobcats intercepted three passes in last week's 61-7 win over Cal Poly, two by reigning conference player of the year Caden Dowler. MSU's 17 takeaways is ninth in the FCS.
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While MSU's defense stifled Cal Poly, special teams provided a spark. Freshman Carter Dahlke returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to electrify Bobcat Stadium, then after back-to-back false start penalties on the Cal Poly offense Dowler snared his first interception. That drive produced a touchdown for a 14-0 lead, and the outcome was never in doubt again.
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"It helps when we get the momentum in another way," Vigen said of the special teams thunderstrike. "It helps when the (opponents') offense is first-and-20 before it even starts, so we get that possession and everything is going in our direction, we get the takeaway and now it's 14-to-nothing."
Â
Dahlke is one of just a small handful of freshmen playing leading roles this season, but Vigen said he has towered over the opportunity presented him. "For him, no moment has proven to be too big. He's missed very few opportunities, when you think about it, plays to make, balls in the air, returns. He's done a very good job with each and every opportunity. To me that's not surprising, but the opportunities have continued to present themselves."
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Saturday's kickoff is 4 pm, and the game airs statewide on The Spot-MTN. Station availability is here.
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#GoCatsGo
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