The FCS National Championship was the game of the year in college football

For Montana State, it's the fulfillment of destiny. For Illinois State, it's the heartbreak of a lifetime. For the rest of us, it was the game of the year in college football.

In the first overtime game in the history of the FCS national title game, No. 2 seed Montana State outlasted unseeded but upstart Illinois State, 35-34, on Monday night in Nashville.

Facing a 4th-and-the-rest-of-your-life from the 14-yard line, Montana State's money combination of Justin Lamson-to-Taco Dowler came through against an all-out blitz from Illinois State and then, crucially, Myles Sansted knocked through the game-winning extra point to win the Bobcats' first national title in more than 40 years.

Brent Vigen's team came into the game as 10-point favorites after falling in the championship game a year ago to North Dakota State, and after defeating rival Montana in the biggest sporting event in their state's history. The Bobcats controlled the game through three quarters, leading 21-7 at the half and 28-14 through three. But Illinois State dominated the fourth quarter, out-gaining MSU 132-10 to not only tie the game, but to place the ball inside the Montana State 25-yard line inside the final minute.

It was a similar script to how Illinois State got to Nashville. In the second round, Brock Spack's team overcame a 28-14 deficit inside the final six minutes to stun No. 1 seed and defending champ North Dakota State in the Fargodome. The Redbirds, a modest 8-4 in the regular season, were 4-0 on the road in the playoffs, winning at No. 16-seed Southeastern Louisiana before the NDSU upset, and then at No. 8 UC Davis and No. 12 Villanova. A win on Monday would give them their first national championship -- while knocking off the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the process.

Facing a 4th-and-1 from the MSU 25, Illinois State ran the clock down, from 1:50 to 57 seconds to play in regulation, called timeout, and elected to kick a field goal. It was blocked. Not only was the kick blocked, MSU's Seth Johnson returned the ball 15 yards to the ISU 45. Needing just 15 or so yards to steal a win that had just been stolen from them, Montana State gained eight yards on first down, but lost six on second down and then lost 20 on third after a botched snap. The Bobcats' offensive line struggled all night; in addition to the possible title-losing bad snap, the club committed nine false start penalties.

Illinois State scored in two plays to open overtime, but the extra point was again blocked. The game-winning field goal was blocked off the edge and the extra point was blocked up the middle, but both times the timing was off due to a dropped hold.

Montana State faced a 2nd-and-12, a 3rd-and-10 and then a 4th-and-10 after picking up 11 yards on the first play of overtime, but Montana State Pete Sterbick drew up a play to get Dowler free in the end zone. 

The win gives Montana State, FCS finalists in 2021 and 2024, their fourth national championship and second at the FCS level.