Live blog: ISU fans relish historic season despite heartbreaking finale
The latest reporting from the WGLT team in Nashville as Illinois State University football faces Montana State in the FCS championship game.
- Watch parties in Bloomington-Normal
- Fan events in Nashville
- Past coverage of ISU's historic playoff run
Questions or news tips? Contact us at news@wglt.org.
ISU Athletics Director: 'I hope they get used to winning'
Illinois State’s athletics director says there is still more where that came from, when it comes to playoff runs.
“The score didn't end up being on our side, but I think you could call this a win for Illinois State, the university, the program, the department, the community,” said Jeri Beggs.
Beggs said she appreciated the support from ISU students, alumni and fans.
“I hope they get used to winning and they want to come out and support us, so we can keep winning,” said Beggs.
ISU fans in Nashville: 'My heart ... it was pounding out of my chest'
Despite the loss, Redbird football has made stronger believers of the ISU faithful.
“I wasn't really, didn't care for the football team as much at the beginning of the season, but once I saw what we were doing, I really tuned in,” said Max Montalvo, an ISU sophomore who was in Nashville for the game. “They busted it today, but came up a little bit short.”
Over the course of the fourth quarter comeback that wound up forcing overtime, the Illinois State crowd grew increasingly loud, resulting in a number of penalties down the stretch. The Bobcats corralled 14 penalties, for a combined total of 93 yards lost. Many late penalties were false starts.
“I've never been to a sporting event with the emotion going up and down like that,” said Landon Hensley, junior. “I mean, that was one of the best football games I've ever seen.”
“My heart,” said Montalvo. “It was pounding out of my chest.”
Doug Jennings of Normal also enjoyed the late comeback.
“It was a heck of a lot of energy. Just got to the point where everybody was up and going and making, making a lot of noise,” said Jennings, also in Nashville.
Hensley said the large venue made the experience even more special.
“It's just fun to be able to come and support a football team and feel like I'm at a bigger school than what we are, it's been awesome,” said Hensley.
Nashville remained a hit for fans as the clock hit all zeroes Monday.
“Beautiful city,” said Dan DePaolo, who traveled with his family to cheer on the Redbirds. “We've never been here. We got here [at] 10 o'clock this morning, and it's a beautiful city.”
“It was probably the best six-hour car ride we ever took to watch a football game, so it was well worth it,” added DePaolo.
ISU fans proud of the chance to compete
The crowd at the Pub II Monday night remained upbeat through the ups and downs of Monday’s heart-wrenching loss to Montana State. And in the end, most saw the fact that the unseeded Redbirds got to play in January as a big win.
Throughout the night, fans cheered wildly at touchdowns and catches, maintaining a party atmosphere even in the first half when the Redbirds were down 14-0.
“This team is full of heart, I mean, a lot of ups and downs and coming in unseeded and beating [defending champions North Dakota State] NDSU,” said Tanner Cupples, one of the non-students watching the game.
Kyle Avaloy, who played with the Redbird team that went to the championship at the end of the 2014-15 season, added: “ No matter what the score says, we’re always going to be proud of our guys … Just know that, hey, your town, your community, the brotherhood, people that came here before you, we’re all behind you every step of the way.”
More history for ISU: First overtime game in FCS Championship history
Illinois State's historic playoff run just added another first: Tonight's game is the first-ever FCS Championship game to reach overtime.
ISU got two passing TDs in fourth quarter to pull even and had a chance at a game-winning kick blocked in the final minute, sending the game to overtime.
Packed crowd at Pub II watch party as game enters the final stretch
A packed house at Pub II in Normal was upbeat despite the Redbirds being down, and most said the spirit and effort that got the team here from an unseeded position showed that down definitely didn't mean "out."
The audience skewed young, with a party atmosphere that erupted in cheers with the first Illinois State score.
But fans ran the gamut from students to parents and alums.
Kyle Avaloy played left guard during the 2014-15 season when the Redbirds last made it to the the finals, and credited the program with helping shape him into the man he is today.
"We have to get our feet settled here in the second half, but we’ve been here before and one of the best things about us as being Redbirds is that we know how to respond. We’re definitely a tough bunch and I’m looking forward to seeing these guys come out in the second half and make this a game."
Early in the fourth quarter, the Redbirds tied the game at 28-28.
ISU cuts deficit in half with long drive, MSU responds
Illinois State right tackle Logan Brasfield's recovery of a loose ball in the end zone was confirmed as a touchdown after replay, cutting the Redbirds' deficit to 21-14 with 5:32 left in the third quarter.
ISU drove 85 yards on 17 plays over 7-1/2 minutes after forcing Montana State to punt on the first series after halftime.
ISU running back Victor Dawson tried to punch it in from the 1-yard line, but the ball came loose near the goal line and Brasfield fell on it.
But Montana State answered quickly again, using more big plays to push the lead back to 28-14 on a 22-yard run by Taco Dowler with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
Redbird fans nervous heading into the 2nd half
Redbird fans are uneasy as the football team heads into the second half down 21-7.
“I’m a little worried,” said Ella Jaeger, a recent ISU graduate. “Montana State looks really good.”
The Bobcats lead in total yards, despite Illinois State’s lead in time of possession. Montana State is 2-for-3 in third down conversions, Illinois State is 0-for-5. The Redbirds kept a drive going on a fourth down conversion, leading to a touchdown, but a quick two play drive put the Bobcats back up by 14.
“I think we’ve got to get the pace on offense going, and then on defense just keep rallying to the football,” said Kannon Kleine, senior.
Fans also lamented the disadvantage in crowd size.
“We're outnumbered here in Nashville,” said Noah Pinter, recent graduate. “It’s a little intimidating, but roll Birds.”
Official attendance for Monday night's FCS Championship Game at Nashville's FirstBank Stadium is 24,105, outnumbering a planned expansion of the FCS's previous venue in Frisco.
NCAA officials say it's the largest crowd for this division's title game since 1996.
It's also the event's seventh-largest attendance all time.
ISU trails Montana State by 14 at halftime
The Illinois State football team has 30 minutes left to reverse its fortunes and complete an unlikely run to the national championship.
No. 2-seeded Montana State got a pair of touchdown runs from quarterback Justin Lamson and claimed a 21-7 halftime lead over the unseeded Redbirds in the FCS National Championship.
ISU seemed to get a little momentum late in the second quarter, cutting the Bobcats' two-score lead in half when quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse found Scotty Presson, Jr. wide open in the right flat on a 6-yard touchdown pass with 54 seconds left on the clock.
But Montana State responded quickly with three chunk plays capped by a 33-yard TD pass from Lamson to Dane Steel.
Illinois State started strong on the opening drive of the game, marching to the Montana State 38 before a penalty and an incompletion forced the Redbirds to punt.
Starting at its own 10, Montana State responded with a crisp 10-play drive highlighted by a 38-yard pass from Lamson to Taco Dowler that put the Bobcats at the ISU 5. Two plays later, Lamson ran it in for the opening score.
ISU appeared to be in position to score late in the first quarter when Tommy Rittenhouse connected with Daniel Sobkowicz on a 30-yard toss to inside the Bobcats 5, but the play was negated as Sobkowicz was called for pass interference.
Redbirds defensive back La'Shavion Brown was ejected after getting called for targeting at the end of a long Montana State pass play, setting the Bobcats up at the ISU 37 yard line. Six plays later, Missouri State notched its second TD on another Lamson keeper for a 14-0 lead with 10:49 left in the half.
Not everything is going smoothly as the NCAA transitions the FCS Championship game to Nashville from Frisco, Texas.
An apparent technical issue temporarily impacted game operations communication, as the officials' microphones and the public address system at FirstBank Stadium went silent for several minutes in the second quarter.
ISU clinches inaugural sideline hot wings appearance
Illinois State fans erupt as an ISU fan wins a hot wing eating contest held in the endzone between quarters.
It’s ISU’s first such win in series history.
Redbird fans outnumbered in the stands
With kickoff approaching, Montana State seems to have a sizeable advantage over Illinois State—in the stands.
The Bobcats, who reached the title game a year ago, filled a majority of the seats on their side of Nashville's FirstBank Stadium, as well as a few sections on the opposite side.
The red-clad ISU fans appear to be contained to four or five sections on the stadium's west side. The unseeded Redbirds won an unprecedented four straight road playoff games in an unexpected run to the title game.
Montana State won the coin toss and elected to defer, so Illinois State receives the opening kickoff.
ISU takes the field for warmups
The Illinois State football team takes the field for warmups in Nashville. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. against Montana State.
Yes, those guys in yellow are Redbird fans
Amid a sea of red and white is one group of ISU fans wearing yellow.
Redbirds from the ISU rugby club are wearing yellow in Nashville, as the rugby team is the only university team that does not wear red during competition. The team plays Division II rugby as a member of the National Collegiate Rugby Association.
“Everybody's looking at us a little weird, because we're wearing the gold, the green and gold, which are North Dakota State colors,” said Patrick Hulmes, who graduated from ISU in 1987.
The color change has remained since the 1980s, the result of a lack of funding from the university.
“There was kind of like a coup. And the captain of the team was a Green Bay Packer fan. He goes, 'Let's wear green and gold, okay?'” said Chip Hulne, also an ‘87 graduate.
The four-game schedule for the men’s rugby team, nicknamed "gold," runs from mid-September to mid-October.
FCS move from Frisco to Nashville is a win for fans
Montana State fans are enjoying Nashville as a new location for the FCS championship.
“This is a much better venue,” said Steve Henry, who also was at the 2025 title game in Frisco, Texas. “There's just so much more entertainment and so much more accessibility to it. With a shuttle, you can be downtown in 10 minutes, or you can be [at FirstBank Stadium] in 10 minutes from 20 hotels.”
The rights to 2026 and 2027 games were granted to Nashville, moving the games out of Toyota Stadium in Frisco for the first time since 2009. Renovations continue at the site. Bidding for 2028 and beyond is still ongoing for future FCS title games.
“I hope they win the bid to keep it here. It's just a much better facility,” said Henry.
Capacity issues also differentiate FirstBank Stadium from Toyota Stadium. Renovations will more than double the capacity of the Frisco stadium primarily used for soccer — from 11,000 to 22,500. Additional luxury suites also will be added. FirstBank Stadium’s capacity is 35,000.
“It's really limited,” said Arleene Weppler of her experience watching Montana State play last year. “So, that kept a lot of people from getting to come, if you don't buy tickets early.”
Henry added he will likely buy tickets early to next year’s contest, while tickets are cheaper, even without the guarantee that Montana State earns its third straight trip to the National Championship.
Bird Walk: Players and coaches arrive at FirstBank Stadium
Illinois State football fans greeted coaches and players this afternoon as they entered FirstBank Stadium in Nashville for tonight’s FCS national championship game.
And here are photos from today's Bird Walk:
ISU fans tailgating ahead of FCS championship game
Illinois State football fans are huddling up this afternoon at the official Redbird Athletics and ISU Alumni Association tailgate at Natchez Field at Vanderbilt.
Here are some photos from The Vidette's Maddie Grindley:
Redbird pep squad gets ready
Illinois State's pep squad has arrived at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville to support the Redbirds' bid for a national championship.
The Big Red Marching Machine plays at the start of halftime during tonight's televised game against Montana State.
The band practiced yesterday in Nashville and will perform with a full complement of pom and flag teams.
Plenty of seats still available
Many tickets are still available for tonight’s FCS title game in Nashville.
Official tickets are available for as low as $133 on the NCAA's website.
According to third-party vendor SeatGeek, many offerings in the $50-$70 range are still up for grabs as the game draws nearer.
Illinois State's fan sections are located on the west side of FirstBank Stadium in sections C, D and E.
The Redbirds play Montana State at 6:30 p.m. for the championship.
Coach Spack could win the title on his 64th birthday
The Redbird football team could get their coach a pretty special birthday present.
Today is ISU head coach Brock Spack's 64th birthday.
ISU plays in the FCS national championship game tonight at 6:30 against Montana State.
'Mony Mony': Why you'll hear a 1980s hit on repeat in Nashville
Montana State fans in Nashville for the FCS Championship have been getting a lot of mileage out of their adopted theme song: "Mony Mony."
The pop hit, originally released by Tommy James and the Shondells in 1968 and later popularized by Billy Idol in the 80s, often features a well-known — albeit "NSFW" — crowd sing-along callback when performed live.
Bobcats followers use the song regularly and alter the callback lines into a taunt of their traditional in-state rivals, Montana: "Eat sh** Grizzlies. Go Cats, Go!"
Several of the live bands playing Sunday night at the numerous bars along Broadway incorporated "Mony Mony" into their sets.
Interestingly, the Montana State fans continued to sing the "Grizzlies" nickname, rather than the "Redbirds" of their title game opponents from Illinois State.
Big crowd at ISU fan party in Nashville
Illinois State football fans are making the most of their trip to Nashville, spending Sunday night at the pre-championship party at Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row on Broadway.
"We're so excited to cheer on the Redbirds tomorrow," said Sara Hafner, an ISU alum.
"We're just hoping to be with a bunch of Illinois State fans," said Joseph Heckert, an ISU alum. "Hoping to party it up and have a good time."
Redbird alums from 2014-15 season are headed to Nashville
This year’s resilient ISU team has earned the school’s second trip to the title game, leaving an impression on those on that first trip 11 years ago.
The current unseeded Redbirds have made history as the first to win four road playoff games en route to Monday’s championship game against No. 2 Montana State in Nashville.
“It’s brought back a lot of memories,” said Teddy Corwin, a standout defensive lineman on the 2014-15 team. “I’ve been looking at my old jersey. I still have that with me from when we played in the championship game. It’s really fun. It’s exciting.”
Corwin estimated 15 former Redbirds from his class will be in Nashville, with other 2014 Redbirds who were older and younger also planning to attend.
A first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference pick in 2014, Corwin has reveled in this year’s run, particularly when the Redbirds rallied late to beat North Dakota State in the second round at Fargo. NDSU beat ISU in the 2015 title game.
“When they played NDSU I was like, ‘This team is probably going to go on a run here.’ They were looking good and getting over that hump of NDSU was what we could not do,” Corwin said. “For them to be able to do it, I think they have a good chance.
“I know Montana State is a good team, but I think the old Redbirds can take care of business and bring the first championship back to Normal.”
If the Redbirds win, it wouldn’t be ISU’s first national championship
This year’s ISU football team is chasing history ‒ but they wouldn’t be the first Redbird squad to bring home a national championship.
The last time it happened was in 1969, when ISU’s baseball team won the College Division World Series. That remains the only team national championship in ISU history.
That 1969 team was led by head coach Duffy Bass, for whom ISU’s current baseball field is named. They were 33-5 in that championship season and swept through the College World Series with three straight wins. They competed in what is now called NCAA Division II.
The team included infielder Jim Brownlee, a former Marine who later was the ISU head coach from 2003-09, and student manager Mike McCuskey, a future chair of ISU’s Board of Trustees. After their big win, ISU’s players rode a fire truck for a victory parade through Bloomington-Normal.
Learn more about the 1969 team in this piece from ISU’s alumni magazine.
ISU watch parties set across the country, including 10+ in Bloomington-Normal
If you can’t make the trip to Nashville but still want to watch Monday’s game with your fellow Redbird fans, there are official watch parties scheduled across the country.
That includes at least 10 watch parties around Bloomington-Normal, plus gatherings in Chicago, Peoria, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Tampa, San Francisco, and elsewhere.
Keep an eye on ISU’s official watch party list, which is constantly being updated.
Monday’s FCS national championship game will be televised on ESPN at 6:30 p.m.