Checking off that to-do list

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Dec. 30—Paul Brott has been a mainstay on a Montana State defensive line that had to retool some after last year's FCS title game appearance.

In fact that 2024 team saw heavy losses on both sides of the ball, either through graduation or the transfer portal. Yet here the Bobcats are, back in the Division I Football Championship.

They play Illinois State for the title next Monday in Nashville (5:30 p.m. Mountain on ESPN).

"I'm just thankful to be here and to be playing with my brothers," Brott, who like his older brother Mitch has been an All-America player for MSU, said. "Me and JT (Reed) have been talking about it; since we've been here we've been checking off all the boxes on our to-do list.

"We have one more to do, and we're thankful for the opportunity but nothing's guaranteed. Like we've been saying, they're a great team and we've got to prepare our butts off and we've got to get after them."

Reed, the Bobcats' senior center, joined Brott for MSU's player availability Monday. He's one of three new starters on the offensive line. He played behind holdover Burke Mastel at left guard in 2024.

This season's Bobcats began 0-2 with a loaded non-conference slate (Oregon, South Dakota State). Reed, like Brott, said the goal wasn't necessarily Nashville; it was just win the week. Now they've won 13 straight games and get back to the title game they lost 35-32 to North Dakota State a year ago.

"I probably dwelt on that longer than I should have," Reed said Monday. "But it helps when you have other leaders on the team like Paul and Caden (Dowler) and guys like that to get you to wipe that away and understand, 'We've got to go.' "

He Could Play

Montana State coach Brent Vigen sounded positive about Dowler, who suffered an arm injury early in the Cats' 48-23 semifinal win over Montana, playing against Illinois State.

"Caden is going to do everything he can to play," Vigen said of the reigning Big Sky Conference defensive MVP. "I think that's his mindset right now.

"We're probably not exactly to where he's running around full speed at practice by any means, but I think given the extra week, him getting on the field is a possibility."

Dowler is a junior who had a couple injury-shortened seasons before shining in 2025, particular over the last half-dozen games. The junior has six interceptions, with two pick-6s, and 90 tackles.

"Part of his deal is he's had season-ending injuries where there was no two ways about it," Vigen said. "He couldn't be out there. This isn't a season-ending injury. It is something he needs to overcome, but it's an opportunity to be on the field so he's going to do everything he can to do that."

Familiar Name

The Illinois State staff includes a name that might be familiar to Montana Grizzly fans: Defensive coordinator Travis Niekamp.

He spent two seasons as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach under Bob Stitt at UM in 2016-17.

Niekamp was also on Paul Wulff's staff as linebackers coach at Eastern Washington (2004-07) and Washington State (2007-11). He returned to Illinois State, where he played defensive line, in 2018.

His son Tye is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker with 155 tackles, including 14.5 TFLs, along with an interception, eight pass breakups and one fumble forced and recovered.

"He's an aggressive force," Vigen said of the junior, who wears No. 46. "And I think they've forced the action with him more than any of their other defenders, with his downhill play."

QUICK KICKS: The 11-4 Redbirds are 9-0 on the road after losing 35-3 at Oklahoma on Aug. 30, leading many to call them the "Roadbirds." … Illinois State has allowed 107, 59, 131 and 101 yards rushing in its four playoff wins. … MSU has allowed 153 (to Yale), 102 and 96 rushing yards in its three playoff victories. … The semifinal "Super Brawl" win over the Griz on Dec. 20 was Vigen's 60th at MSU.

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