In November, I profiled Montana State then-senior offensive lineman JT Reed, who lost his father at a young age and suffered injuries that nearly ended his college football career.

Montana State Bobcats’ JT Reed not broken by family tragedy, career-threatening injuries

The Montana State football team won its first national title in 41 years when it beat Illinois State in one of the craziest games I’ve ever seen for the FCS championship on Jan. 5 in Nashville.

Below are all the stories I wrote in advance of the game and after. I didn’t include some articles that are tangentially related to the title, such as the bonuses MSU’s coaches received (I linked to that story in a previous post).

Pre-championship stories

NCAA, Montana State Bobcats hope new FCS title site delivers Dixieland delight

How Bozeman native Kenneth Eiden IV turned promise into polish with Montana State Bobcats

Notebook: Montana State ‘hopeful’ Caden Dowler can go in title game against Illinois State

Montana State’s ‘brotherly bond’ has sweetened Bobcats’ return to FCS title game

‘House divided’: Montana State grad, Illinois State grad add FCS title to engagement bliss

Regrets drove Montana State Bobcats DT Alec Eckert to reach ‘another level’ in 2025

Five things to watch: No. 2 Montana State Bobcats face Illinois State in FCS title game

Post-championship stories

Recap: Montana State Bobcats beat Illinois State Redbirds in OT for first FCS title in 41 years

‘Life comes full circle’: Montana State Bobcats heal special teams wounds in FCS title win

Golden era: Montana State Bobcats ‘building for more’ after championship breakthrough

‘Party like it’s 2025’: Fans shower Montana State Bobcats with love at FCS title parade

Montana-native analysts, play-by-play broadcasters recount Bobcats’ chaotic FCS title win

Still processing: Montana State’s 2025 seniors look back on wild journey to FCS title

In April, I looked back at all of the Montana State football team’s recruiting classes under head coach Brent Vigen. The resulting story broke down each class and included a list (linked after the first section) of every signee in those classes, with symbols noting if they became starters, all-conference players and/or All-Americans.

Breaking down each of Brent Vigen’s recruiting classes as Montana State football coach

In the immediate aftermath of Montana State’s FCS championship, I broke down the MSU coaching staff’s bonuses. A few months later, I wrote about the new contracts MSU’s assistant coaches agreed to.

Montana State Bobcats’ Brent Vigen, assistants get bonuses for FCS championship

Montana State Bobcats assistant football coaches agree to new contracts

I recently was awarded Best Sports Feature and Best Sports Story from the Montana Newspaper Association. Links to both (paywalled) stories are below.

Best Sports Feature: ‘Unsettled’ settlement: Big Sky coaches see pros, cons and uncertainty in post-House era

Best Sports Story: Three takeaways: Caden Dowler, Justin Lamson, Missoula natives lead Montana State to Brawl win

This story, about how the Montana State football program has dealt with the losses of key players to the transfer portal, recently netted me a third-place award for “Best Sports Story” from the Montana Newspaper Association.

‘You’ve got to stay nimble’: How Montana State Bobcats are navigating NIL-fueled transfer era

I’m always grateful and surprised when people open up in interviews about tragic events in their lives.

Basketball became ‘sanctuary’ for Montana State’s Robert Ford III after deaths of father, brother

This is primarily a deep dive into how Montana State’s Marcus Wehr became one of the FCS’s best offensive linemen and an NFL prospect. It also provides a window into the transfer portal/NIL era of college football. Wehr had chances to leave MSU for a big paycheck, but a handful of factors led him to stay.

‘A different cat’: Montana State’s Marcus Wehr overcame doubts to become All-American

I always enjoy writing about people on the periphery of the Montana State football team, and this is one of my favorite such stories I’ve worked on.

Leo Davis has come ‘full circle’ as Montana State’s barrier-breaking color commentator

Someone told me this story “let the reader decide” how to feel about the football player who posted a racial slur, lost his scholarship and ended up at Montana State. That was 100% my goal when I wrote the story, so I hope anyone else who reads it feels the same way.

Missoula’s Zac Crews seizing second chance with Montana State Bobcats after ‘huge mistake’