In this week's Akem's Analysis, I recap all of the ups and downs of the 2026 FCS National Championship game, which may go down in history as one of the best ever. Like and comment your thoughts down below! SUBSCRIBE BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!! 

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Montana State won its first national championship in 41 years by outlasting Illinois State 35-34 in overtime in Nashville, Tennessee on January 5. Justin Lamson hit Taco Dowler on a 4th down for a touchdown and Myles Sansted banged home the game-winning kick to lift the Bobcats to their 14th straight win. 

MSU head coach Brent Vigen, Lamson and Dowler addressed the media after the historic victory. 

Following a 35-34 overtime loss to No. 2 Montana State in the FCS national title game, Illinois State head coach Brock Spack, senior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse and junior linebacker Tye Niekamp addressed the media. 

Ryan Tootell joins Colter Nuanez to talk about why college football remains so popular despite the dysfunction and how Montana State has been so steadily excellent despite the unrest.

Illinois State defensive coordinator Travis Niekamp and strength and conditioning coach Matt Nicholson, each formerly coaches at the University of Montana, analyze playing Montana State in the FCS title game.

Colter Nuanez catches up with standouts from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s on their perspective on the rise of Montana State over the last 50 years. MSU will try to end a 41-year national title drought on Monday.

3:25 - Paul Dennehy, quarterback of 1976 national title team
12:23 - Kelly Davis, WR on 1984 national title team
30:16 - Chad Mayer, Bobcat TE from 1992-1996
55:26 - Brent Swagger, All-American offensive tackle 2000-2003

Brandon Vancleeve, a former Montana State player and now the president of of the Bobcat Collective, talks about NIL, MSU's rise to the ranks of the nationally elite and how the collective has played a role.

Kris Atteberry, a Bozeman native and former Voice of Montana State, joins Colter Nuanez to share memories and analyze what gives MSU a chance to win its first national title since 1984, when Atteberry was a 12-year-old growing up in Bozeman.

Leo Davis, a former Bobcat football player and now the color commentator on the Bobcat Radio Network, joins Colter Nuanez to talk about MSU's two straight rivalry wins and three playoff wins to punch another ticket in the national title game.

Analyst Ty Gregorak joins Colter Nuanez to talk about NIL, the transfer portal, the lack of regulation + thoughts on Montana State's pursuit of a national championship for the first time since 1984.