BOZEMAN — The 2025 Montana State FCS national championship team was in Washington, D.C., for a visit to the White House Wednesday morning.
The team and head coach Brent Vigen met with President Donald Trump, celebrating an overtime win over Illinois State in January when the Cats nabbed their first national title in 41 years.
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The team was joined by Montana State University president Brock Tessman, Vigen, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, and Sens. Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines.
"It elevated Montana and Montana State to a national level today. Very few teams ever get a chance to go to the White House, go to the capital," Daines said.
The team began in the Rose Garden, where they met President Donald Trump.
"He gave each one of the players his personal challenge coin," Daines said.
The Bobcats returned the favor with gifts of their own.
"They gave him a signed football, and they gave him a Trump Montana State jersey. It said 'Trump' on the back of it and said 47 for, of course, the 47th president," Daines said.
After a tour of the Oval Office and time spent at the Capitol, the visit wrapped up.
"I think it really was a capstone moment for the championship season," Daines said.
"I cannot tell you the sense of gratitude those young men had for this experience; they really appreciated the moment," Daines said.
With the celebration behind them, the Bobcats are already focused on the 2026 season. The team flew back to Bozeman Wednesday night, with practice set to begin Thursday.
"They're flying back to Bozeman tonight and as coach Vigen says, tomorrow They start practice," Daines said.
"It just was a lot of Blue and Gold here in the capital, and people were buzzing around the White House and the capital – you had 92 Montana State football players," Daines said.
The Bobcats open the 2026 season Aug. 29 at Utah Tech.
Montana State finished the 2025 season 14-2, defeating Yale, Stephen F. Austin and the University of Montana in the playoffs before beating Illinois State for the title. It was the program's third championship-game appearance in five seasons.
