SI:AM | College Football’s Wildest Game of the Season

The FCS national championship between Montana State and Illinois State was full of heart-stopping plays.

Dan Gartland Good morning, I'm Dan Gartland. How can you not love college football when the hero of the FCS national championship game is a guy named Taco? In today's SI: AM: 🏆 Chaos in Nashville ⚾ Beltrán's complex HOF case 🎙️ Q&A with NCAA boss Mark Zaleski/Imagn Images Let's see the CFP top this Illinois State fans just suffered the same fate last night that Steelers fans feared they would on Sunday.  The Redbirds' miracle run through the FCS playoffs came to an end in Nashville with an overtime loss to Montana State in the national championship game that hinged on a blocked extra point. The dramatic conclusion evoked memories of the Steelers-Ravens win-or-go-home game one night earlier in Pittsburgh, when Steelers kicker Chris Boswell's partially blocked extra-point attempt in the final moments of the game loomed large until Baltimore rookie Tyler Loop's missed field goal attempt gave the Steelers the victory.  The FCS title game was even more dramatic than that NFL thriller, though. I'll do my best to sum it up.  For one thing, the fact that Illinois State was even in the game was miraculous. The Redbirds were one of the last four teams chosen by the selection committee to be in the 24-team field, and they became the first team in FCS history to win four straight road games to reach the national championship. Their path included a gutsy 29–28 win over No. 1 seed North Dakota State in the second round on Dec. 6, when longtime Illinois State coach Brock Spack opted to go for a two-point conversion after his team scored a touchdown with one minute on the clock. Montana State, on the other hand, was the No. 2 seed.  READ MORE FROM DAN The best of Sports Illustrated Carlos Beltrán was the mastermind of the Astros' infamous sign-stealing scandal. He's likely to be elected to the Hall of Fame this year, but should he be? Tom Verducci examines his complex case and presents some comparisons. With his 60-home run explosion in 2025, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh joined one of the most exclusive clubs in sports. But SI's 2025 Breakout Star of the Year was hardly an overnight sensation, Verducci writes. NCAA president Charlie Baker, in a Q&A with Pat Forde, defends tournament expansion, explains why he thinks it preserves college basketball and explains why sports gambling poses the biggest integrity threat. Matt Verderame and Gilberto Manzano hand out their final grades for the AFC teams and NFC teams that failed to make the playoffs. With the 2026 PGA Tour season firing up next week, the SI Golf staff debates Scottie Scheffler's odds of winning a fifth straight Player of the Year award. Terence Crawford goes out on top as SI's 2025 Fighter of the Year in Chris Mannix's annual boxing awards. Get the print edition of Sports Illustrated delivered to your door. Click to subscribe! Thomas Shea/Imagn Images The top five ... … things I saw last night:  5. A vintage Alex Ovechkin wrister from his usual spot by the left faceoff dot.  4. Montana State receiver Taco Dowler's vision on a beautifully designed run.  3. Illinois State receiver Dylan Lord's incredible run after the catch for the game-tying touchdown.  2. The dramatic overtime finish to the Nuggets-Sixers game.  1. Kevin Durant's last-second game-winner against the Suns. (KD had some harsh words for his former team after the game.) Sign up for SI Newsletters Stay ahead of the game—sign up for all of SI's newsletters, from golf and soccer to MMQB, and never miss a moment. Get it in your inbox We may receive compensation for some links to products and services included in this email. Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. 625 Broadway, 10th floor New York, NY. 10012 You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the SI:AM newsletter. You can unsubscribe here . Privacy Policy – Terms & Conditions © 2026 Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. All rights reserved. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. All betting and gambling content included in the SI:AM newsletter is intended for individuals 21+ (18+ in DC, KY, NH, RI, and WY). Betting and gambling content, including picks and predictions, are based on individual commentators' opinions and we do not guarantee any success or profits. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER or texting 800GAM. Click this link to view the newsletter in your browser.