Photo by: Brian Morse
Nine Bobcats Land on Phil Steele Preseason All-America Team while MSU Tops Stats Perform FCS Preseason Poll
8/3/2026 8:45:00 PM | Football
Taco Dowler lands at three positions
BOZEMAN, Montana (August 3, 2026) – Nine Bobcats landed on the Phil Steele Preseason FCS All-America Team on Monday, the same day Stats Perform NCAA Division I Football's top team entering the 2026 season.
Senior Taco Dowler earned mention as a receiver (1st team), all-purpose player (2nd team) and punt returner (3rd team). Offensive lineman Titan Fleischmann and defensive back Caden Dowler each earned first team honors. Quarterback Justin Lamson and kicker Myles Sansted were named to the second team. Running back Adam Jones, defensive lineman Zac Crews and defensive back Tayden Gray all landed on the third team.
The Bobcats also landed atop the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Poll, one of three Big Sky teams among the top six. The poll is below, and is at: https://theanalyst.com/articles/fcs-top-25-preseason-poll-montana-state-football-2026
FIRST TEAM PHIL STEELE FCS ALL-AMERICA
WR Taco Dowler, sr., Billings, Montana
OL Titan Fleischmann, sr., Pocatello, Idaho
DB Caden Dowler, sr., Billings, Montana
SECOND TEAM PHIL STEELE FCS ALL-AMERICA
QB Justin Lamson, sr., El Dorado Hills, California
K Myles Sansted, sr., Alexandria, Minnesota
AP Taco Dowler, sr., Billings, Montana
THIRD TEAM PHIL STEELE FCS ALL-AMERICA
RB Adam Jones, jr., Missoula, Montana
DE Zac Crews, sr., Missoula, Montana
DB Tayden Gray, jr., Arlington, Texas
PR Taco Dowler, sr., Billings, Montana
FOURTH TEAM PHIL STEELE FCS ALL-AMERICA
OL Braden Zimmer, so., Billings, Montana
2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll (2025 Record in Parentheses)
1. Montana State (14-2, 8-0 Big Sky)
Points: 1,425 (57 of 57 first-place votes); Final 2025 Ranking: 1; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Utah Tech
2. Montana (13-2, 7-1 Big Sky)
Points: 1,328; Final 2025 Ranking: 3; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Southern Utah
3. South Dakota State (9-5, 4-4 MVFC)
Points: 1,266; Final 2025 Ranking: 13; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Stetson
4. Illinois State (12-5, 5-3 MVFC)
Points: 1,231; Final 2025 Ranking: 2; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. St. Francis (IL)
5. Tarleton State (12-2, 7-1 UAC)
Points: 1,100; Final 2025 Ranking: 6; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Prairie View A&M
6. UC Davis (9-4, 6-2 Big Sky)
Points: 1,063; Final 2025 Ranking: 8; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Portland State
7. Rhode Island (11-3, 8-0 CAA)
Points: 1,048; Final 2025 Ranking: 11; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 28 at Merrimack
8. Villanova (12-3, 7-1 CAA; Patriot League member in 2026)
Points: 1,008; Final 2025 Ranking: 4 (tie); 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 28 vs. William & Mary
9. Youngstown State (8-5, 5-3 MVFC)
Points: 946; Final 2025 Ranking: 18; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. Mercyhurst
10. North Dakota (8-6, 5-3 MVFC)
Points: 945; Final 2025 Ranking: 14; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. LIU
11. Lehigh (12-1, 7-0 Patriot)
Points: 826; Final 2025 Ranking: 10; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Holy Cross
12. South Dakota (10-5, 6-2 MVFC)
Points: 783; Final 2025 Ranking: 9; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Central Connecticut State
13. Stephen F. Austin (11-3, 8-0 Southland)
Points: 773; Final 2025 Ranking: 7; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at McNeese
14. Tennessee Tech (11-2, 8-0 Ohio Valley; SoCon member in 2026)
Points: 594; Final 2025 Ranking: 16; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Monmouth
15. Abilene Christian (9-5, 7-1 UAC)
Points: 579; Final 2025 Ranking: 12; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Lamar
16. Southern Illinois (7-5, 4-4 MVFC)
Points: 509; Final 2025 Ranking: 25; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 at West Florida
17. Austin Peay (7-5, 4-4 UAC)
Points: 440; Final 2025 Ranking: NR; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. Gardner-Webb
18. Yale (9-3, 6-1 Ivy)
Points: 418; Final 2025 Ranking: 15; 2026 Season Opener: Sept. 19 at Holy Cross
19. Southeastern Louisiana (9-4, 7-1 Southland)
Points: 392; Final 2025 Ranking: 19; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. HCU
20. Lamar (8-5, 5-3 Southland)
Points: 380; Final 2025 Ranking: 24; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Abilene Christian
21. Mercer (11-3, 7-1 SoCon)
Points: 306; Final 2025 Ranking: 17; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. East Texas A&M
22. Monmouth (9-3, 6-2 CAA)
Points: 200; Final 2025 Ranking: 22; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Tennessee Tech
23. UT Martin (6-6, 6-2 OCV-Big South; rebranded to Ohio Valley Conference in 2026)
Points: 144; Final 2025 Ranking: NR; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. Central Arkansas
24. South Carolina State (10-3, 5-0 MEAC)
Points: 107; Final 2025 Ranking: 21; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Savannah State
25. Northern Arizona (7-5, 4-4 Big Sky)
Points: 103; Final 2025 Ranking: NR; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Eastern Washington
Senior Taco Dowler earned mention as a receiver (1st team), all-purpose player (2nd team) and punt returner (3rd team). Offensive lineman Titan Fleischmann and defensive back Caden Dowler each earned first team honors. Quarterback Justin Lamson and kicker Myles Sansted were named to the second team. Running back Adam Jones, defensive lineman Zac Crews and defensive back Tayden Gray all landed on the third team.
The Bobcats also landed atop the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Poll, one of three Big Sky teams among the top six. The poll is below, and is at: https://theanalyst.com/articles/fcs-top-25-preseason-poll-montana-state-football-2026
FIRST TEAM PHIL STEELE FCS ALL-AMERICA
WR Taco Dowler, sr., Billings, Montana
OL Titan Fleischmann, sr., Pocatello, Idaho
DB Caden Dowler, sr., Billings, Montana
SECOND TEAM PHIL STEELE FCS ALL-AMERICA
QB Justin Lamson, sr., El Dorado Hills, California
K Myles Sansted, sr., Alexandria, Minnesota
AP Taco Dowler, sr., Billings, Montana
THIRD TEAM PHIL STEELE FCS ALL-AMERICA
RB Adam Jones, jr., Missoula, Montana
DE Zac Crews, sr., Missoula, Montana
DB Tayden Gray, jr., Arlington, Texas
PR Taco Dowler, sr., Billings, Montana
FOURTH TEAM PHIL STEELE FCS ALL-AMERICA
OL Braden Zimmer, so., Billings, Montana
2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll (2025 Record in Parentheses)
1. Montana State (14-2, 8-0 Big Sky)
Points: 1,425 (57 of 57 first-place votes); Final 2025 Ranking: 1; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Utah Tech
2. Montana (13-2, 7-1 Big Sky)
Points: 1,328; Final 2025 Ranking: 3; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Southern Utah
3. South Dakota State (9-5, 4-4 MVFC)
Points: 1,266; Final 2025 Ranking: 13; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Stetson
4. Illinois State (12-5, 5-3 MVFC)
Points: 1,231; Final 2025 Ranking: 2; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. St. Francis (IL)
5. Tarleton State (12-2, 7-1 UAC)
Points: 1,100; Final 2025 Ranking: 6; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Prairie View A&M
6. UC Davis (9-4, 6-2 Big Sky)
Points: 1,063; Final 2025 Ranking: 8; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Portland State
7. Rhode Island (11-3, 8-0 CAA)
Points: 1,048; Final 2025 Ranking: 11; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 28 at Merrimack
8. Villanova (12-3, 7-1 CAA; Patriot League member in 2026)
Points: 1,008; Final 2025 Ranking: 4 (tie); 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 28 vs. William & Mary
9. Youngstown State (8-5, 5-3 MVFC)
Points: 946; Final 2025 Ranking: 18; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. Mercyhurst
10. North Dakota (8-6, 5-3 MVFC)
Points: 945; Final 2025 Ranking: 14; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. LIU
11. Lehigh (12-1, 7-0 Patriot)
Points: 826; Final 2025 Ranking: 10; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Holy Cross
12. South Dakota (10-5, 6-2 MVFC)
Points: 783; Final 2025 Ranking: 9; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Central Connecticut State
13. Stephen F. Austin (11-3, 8-0 Southland)
Points: 773; Final 2025 Ranking: 7; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at McNeese
14. Tennessee Tech (11-2, 8-0 Ohio Valley; SoCon member in 2026)
Points: 594; Final 2025 Ranking: 16; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Monmouth
15. Abilene Christian (9-5, 7-1 UAC)
Points: 579; Final 2025 Ranking: 12; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Lamar
16. Southern Illinois (7-5, 4-4 MVFC)
Points: 509; Final 2025 Ranking: 25; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 at West Florida
17. Austin Peay (7-5, 4-4 UAC)
Points: 440; Final 2025 Ranking: NR; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. Gardner-Webb
18. Yale (9-3, 6-1 Ivy)
Points: 418; Final 2025 Ranking: 15; 2026 Season Opener: Sept. 19 at Holy Cross
19. Southeastern Louisiana (9-4, 7-1 Southland)
Points: 392; Final 2025 Ranking: 19; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. HCU
20. Lamar (8-5, 5-3 Southland)
Points: 380; Final 2025 Ranking: 24; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Abilene Christian
21. Mercer (11-3, 7-1 SoCon)
Points: 306; Final 2025 Ranking: 17; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. East Texas A&M
22. Monmouth (9-3, 6-2 CAA)
Points: 200; Final 2025 Ranking: 22; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 at Tennessee Tech
23. UT Martin (6-6, 6-2 OCV-Big South; rebranded to Ohio Valley Conference in 2026)
Points: 144; Final 2025 Ranking: NR; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 27 vs. Central Arkansas
24. South Carolina State (10-3, 5-0 MEAC)
Points: 107; Final 2025 Ranking: 21; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Savannah State
25. Northern Arizona (7-5, 4-4 Big Sky)
Points: 103; Final 2025 Ranking: NR; 2026 Season Opener: Aug. 29 vs. Eastern Washington
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