Idaho upsets undefeated Montana State in FCS upset

Idaho defeated the undefeated Montana State Bobcats in a 14-point fourth-quarter comeback, ending the Bobcats' 19-game winning streak and their reign as the number one team in the Football Championship Subdivision. The victory snapped the Bobcats' perfect season and eliminated them from contention for the FCS national championship they held the previous year.

The game took a dramatic turn in the final seconds of regulation. Trailing 34-27 with eight seconds remaining and no timeouts, Idaho quarterback Joshua Wood completed a pass for a first down to keep the clock running. Montana State coach Brent Vigen then called a timeout, a decision that gave the Vandals an extra play. Wood used that final opportunity to throw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Ryan Jezioro in the center of the endzone.

Rather than attempting an extra point to force overtime, Idaho elected to run a quarterback draw to secure an outright win in regulation. The decision capped a fourth quarter in which Idaho outscored Montana State by 14 points.

The result marked a significant shift in the FCS standings. Montana State entered the game at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho, as the reigning national champion and the top-ranked team in the division. Their loss ended a 19-game winning streak that had carried them through the previous season's title run. Idaho, by contrast, had been winless prior to this matchup.

The Bobcats had also previously knocked Idaho out of the FCS playoffs in 2024, adding historical context to the rivalry. The game occurred on a Friday night, a slot traditionally reserved for high school football, but featured a matchup that drew attention for its competitive intensity.

The outcome leaves Montana State with its first loss of the season, while Idaho improves its record from winless to one win. The Bobcats' fall from the number one seed and their ending of a long winning streak represent a notable upset in the early part of the college football season.