On December 12, 2025, the No. 2 Montana State Bobcats dominated the No. 7 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks with a 44-28 victory in an FCS quarterfinal matchup. This win snapped Stephen F. Austin's eight-game winning streak and earned Montana State a spot in the national semifinals. The Bobcats' strong performance was highlighted by Adam Jones' 114 rushing yards and two touchdowns, as well as Justin Lamson's two touchdown passes. Montana State scored on six of their first eight possessions and never trailed, improving their record to 12-2. Stephen F. Austin, which had not lost since September 6, finished the year 11-3. The Lumberjacks showed resilience, cutting the margin to 24-14 early in the third quarter, but Montana State's strong performance, including a field goal and a rushing touchdown by Lamson, helped them regain control. Any momentum for Stephen F. Austin was halted early in the fourth quarter when Jones broke free for a 16-yard touchdown run. This game marked the second time an FCS team scored 28 points against Montana State this season, but no other FCS opponent topped 17 points in regulation. The win sets up an exciting semifinal match between Montana State and the winner of the game between No. 3 Montana and No. 11 South Dakota.
