One day before their teams meet for the FCS national championship, Montana State coach Brent Vigen and Illinois State’s Brock Spack both reflected on their teams’ emotional ride.
Time management has been an important part of how they’ve won games throughout the 2025 season, but for Montana State and Illinois State, the kickoff of the NCAA FCS national championship Monday night can’t arrive soon enough.
There’s been a slow build to their biggest game of the season – 16 days of anticipation, confidence and surely nervous angst between semifinal-round wins on Dec. 20 and their programs’ first-ever meeting on the big stage in Nashville, Tennessee.
While Montana State was the 1984 FCS national champion, the second-seeded Bobcats (13-2) basically feel there’s a mission to complete after losing in the 2021 and ’24 title games.
Illinois State, the 2014 runner-up, is seeking its first FCS title. The unseeded Redbirds (12-4) have peaked at the right time while becoming the first team to win four road games in the FCS playoffs.
On Sunday, the finalists held their final practice of the season – more short run-throughs – at Vanderbilt University’s indoor practice facility, adjacent to FirstBank Stadium, site of the championship game. Large alumni groups gathered at the practices to support the teams.
Head coaches Brent Vigen of Montana State and Brock Spack of Illinois State discussed their teams being ready to match the moment.
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Seasonal Mission
“With this group, we really tried to keep it about the opportunity each week, more than the opponent, and even more than the stakes, for the matter. I think we just go play football and continue to raise our level. Saying that, the stakes are obviously what they are here, but (we are) trying to keep it as simple as possible. What got us here was a group that was after improvement on a week-by-week basis. Resilient in the moment, week to week. One that’s willing to do everything it can for each other. So lean into those principles that got us here and go and play a really good team tomorrow and, hopefully, find ourselves on top.”
Emotional Experience
“The win against Montana in the semifinals, so many of our fans that’s the highest of highs to go play them again in Bozeman. I think for our guys, it was a significant win, there’re no question about it. But it was more about catapulting us into this deal. I think the holidays provide a good break. We sent the guys home and then brought them back on (Dec. 26). I think that period puts your mind where it should be with your family and life and your friends and those types of things. And they came back really hungry on the 26th. Our build since the 26th, I felt good about it. There’s certainly anticipation for it, but our guys have really been diligent about putting the work in.”
Illinois State’s Brock Spack
Comparison to 2014 Championship Game
“I didn’t know really what to expect (at the 2014 title game in Frisco, Texas). Would it be like the Rose Bowl? I always felt playing in a national championship game is just different. There’s nothing like it. Those games are great, bowl games are great. Playing for a national championship is really special. I kind of knew that our fans would be here, that they’d be coming out in droves, especially to be this close. This, by the way, is a great venue.”
The Day Before
“We’re just locked into preparation, we’re doing the right thing, not really worried about (being) emotional. It got a little emotional in there (the practice facility) because of our guys and how the alums are so excited that we’re here. It means so much to them. It will probably be hitting me a little bit more tomorrow.”
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