BOZEMAN — If you’re a Montana State football fan, Jan. 5, 2026, is a date to remember.
The Bobcats defeated Illinois State 35-34 in overtime to win the FCS national championship in Nashville, Tenn. It was the program's first national title since 1984.
Several months later, the celebration is still continuing.
The 2025 Bobcat team is headed to Washington, D.C., for a visit to the White House. Sources said the Cats are expected to meet with President Donald Trump early Wednesday morning, and Montana State confirmed the visit in a news release late Tuesday.
“This is a tremendous honor for our entire university and for the state of Montana,” MSU President Brock Tessman said in the release. “Forty-one years is a long time to wait, and our players, coaches and staff earned every bit of this moment through their hard work and determination all season long. We're grateful for the opportunity to be recognized on a national stage once again.”
“Teams at every level of competition, in nearly every sport, have for years been invited to the White House to be recognized for their achievements, and we are all extremely proud that the Montana State Bobcats will join in that tradition,” said Leon Costello, MSU’s director of athletics.
“We also, especially, want to thank the Bobcat donors who supported the trip. Our student-athletes have this opportunity because of their generosity.”
The visit comes just a week after President Trump welcomed the Los Angeles Dodgers to celebrate their back-to-back World Series titles.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no livestream of the event was planned.
"Our players will remember this trip for the rest of their lives, and they've earned it," said MSU head coach Brent Vigen, who has guided the Bobcats to three championship-game appearance in five seasons. "This group answered a hard championship loss two years ago by fighting their way back to the championship game, competing against a tough opponent and finishing the job in overtime. That says everything about who they are."
