The national championship-winning quarterback returns, along with half of that dynamic 1-2 running back tandem, three big-play receivers and a handful of seasoned linemen.

The Montana State Bobcats aren’t going away, even if coach Brent Vigen isn’t ready to charter another plane to Nashville.  

“We still have to show up and play, no matter who we are facing,” he said. 

The Bobcats play at Utah Tech on Saturday, which is a less daunting foe than Oregon, which beat MSU 59-13 to open the 2025 season. The Trailblazers went 2-10 last fall; now they’re a Week Zero Big Sky Conference opponent. 

Montana State won 31-7 the last time these teams played, in 2024; since then there have been two trips to the FCS title game, a handful of O-linemen transfers — Cedric Jefferson, a mainstay last season, is now at Utah — and the emergence of Justin Lamson. 

The well-traveled quarterback got better as the season went on, and with Adam Jones in the backfield (1,093 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing in 2025) things seem set for 2026. The O-line returns three studs in Braden Zimmer, Titan Fleischmann and Burke Mastel; five of the top seven receivers return, including Jones and tight end Rocky Lencioni. 

Taco Dowler is the main man on the edge, with 1,025 receiving yards last season; Dane Steel had a huge TD in the Jan. 6 title game, which MSU won 35-34 in overtime over Illinois State; Jabez Woods averaged 15.8 yards on 24 catches last season. 

Jordan Reed, who caught two passes last fall (one for a TD), is listed as a starter along with Dowler and Steel. 

Colson Coon and Jared White are listed as Jones’ backups. Obviously Lamson has plenty of weapons to go with last year’s experience.  

“I think as we were hitting the home stretch he was clearly a prominent leader on the offense, if not the team,” Vigen said of his QB. “I think he took that to another level during this offseason.” 

Defense is a little different animal, though there are leaders at each level: Caden Dowler, the Big Sky’s defensive player of the year, at strong safety; Bryce Grebe at weakside linebacker; Talon Marsh and Zac Crews on the front. 

The key, Vigen said, is finding some depth. These first games will be important to defining who can contribute behind the starters, and Vigen hinted that he might be playing 12 athletes at the four defensive line spots early on. 

Hunter Sharbono and Zack Black at tackle, Dom Solano at end and Josiah Asuega at nose tackle will get to show their stuff. 

Grebe, middle backer Cole Taylor and nickel Tayden Gray are all seniors; Dowler, free  safety Bryan Meredith and corner Takhari Carr are all fifth-years. Cornerback is where the Cats get young, with sophomores Tim Thomas and Gianni Edwards and freshman Brian Harris on the two-deep. 

“Brian Harris, a true freshman, has put himself in position to be a rotational player,” Vigen said. “I think Tim Thomas has continued to be steady. Gianni Edwards is the other one I think is emerging. That’s a spot where Saturdays are going to prove a lot.” 

New faces included, the Cats appear to be loaded for bear — and Trailblazers and other mascots. 

“I think we’re a fairly deep team, but that will have to play out over the next couple weeks in particular as the season gets going,” Vigen said. “I’m really excited to see where we’re at.”