Postseason football will continue in Bozeman as the Montana State Bobcats prepare to host Stephen F. Austin in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) quarterfinals on Friday night. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Bobcat Stadium.
Montana State, holding the No. 2 national seed, has secured home field advantage through the semifinals of the FCS playoffs. The winner of Friday’s matchup will advance to face either the No. 3 ranked Montana Grizzlies or the No. 11 South Dakota Coyotes, who play their quarterfinal game on Saturday, December 13 at 1:30 p.m. The full playoff bracket is available on the NCAA website.
The Bobcats reached this stage after defeating Yale 21-13 in the second round on December 6. In that contest, MSU held off Yale, which had previously managed a significant comeback against Youngstown State.
Stephen F. Austin, ranked No. 7 in the FCS, advanced by winning a close game against No. 10 Abilene Christian with a final score of 41-34. That game featured seven lead changes before Stephen F. Austin pulled ahead in the fourth quarter.
Earlier this season, Montana State claimed the Big Sky Conference title with a win over rival Montana on November 22 and received the conference’s only automatic bid to the playoffs. This marks the third time in four seasons that MSU has finished as conference champion.
Tickets for Friday’s game are available online at montanastate.evenue.net or by calling the Bobcat Ticket Office at 406-994-2287. Public ticket sales are ongoing, and tickets for MSU students will be released at noon on Monday, December 8.
The quarterfinal game will be streamed live on ESPN and ESPN+, both requiring a subscription for access. Fans can also listen to live coverage via Bobcat Radio Network online or through radio stations across Montana; further details are provided on the Bobcat Radio and Television webpage. Updates will also be posted on social media platforms including Instagram (@montanastatebobcats) and Facebook (@Montana State Football).
