From Stanford & Syracuse to FCS Champs: Lamson’s New Home
How a Quarterback Found His Perfect Home at Montana State (And Other FCS Stars to Watch)
The Big Story: Sometimes the Best Fit Isn’t the Biggest Stage
Imagine you’re really good at a game, but you keep getting picked for teams where you mostly sit on the bench. You could keep trying to join the "big leagues" teams where everyone watches on TV. Or… you could join a team in a slightly smaller league where the coach trusts you completely, lets you play your game, and you help win a national championship.
That’s exactly what happened to Justin Lamson.
Lamson is a quarterback who used to play for big schools like Syracuse and Stanford (part of the FBS, the top level of college football). But he didn’t play much there. So he made a bold move: he dropped down a level to the FCS (the next tier down, but still incredibly competitive) to play for Montana State.
The result? He led the Bobcats to their first national title since 1984 — and he’s staying for more.
IMPORTANT POINT
FBS vs. FCS: What’s the Difference?
Think of college football like youth soccer leagues.
- FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision): The "Major Leagues." Huge stadiums, massive TV contracts, the famous playoff system (College Football Playoff).
- FCS (Football Championship Subdivision): The "Minor Leagues" — but don’t let the name fool you. These players are elite athletes. They play a real playoff tournament (24 teams!) to crown a true national champion. Many FCS stars go on to the NFL.
Lamson’s Winding Path to Montana State
Justin Lamson’s journey looks like a maze, but every turn taught him something.
- Syracuse (2 years): He practiced hard but never played a single snap in a real game.
- Stanford (1 year): He finally got on the field! He played in 12 games (started 1) and rushed for 8 touchdowns — a school record for a QB in a single season. But he still wasn’t "the guy."
- The Transfer Portal Shuffle: He committed to Bowling Green (an FBS school), but the coach left for the NFL. Lamson had to decide again.
- The Montana State Connection: He remembered Coach Brent Vigen. Years earlier, Vigen tried to recruit Lamson to Wyoming out of high school. That trust was the missing piece.
LAMSON IN HIS OWN WORDS
"Obviously there are opportunities out there [to go back to FBS], but I knew that if Coach Sterbick and Coach Vigen stayed, I probably wasn’t going to leave, just because I felt comfortable and I always really wanted someone just to trust me. That’s really what I was looking for. That’s why I came to Montana State."
A Championship Season to Remember
Lamson didn’t just show up; he took over. In his first and only season at Montana State (2024), he put up video-game numbers:
| Stat | Number | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Completion % | 71.6% | Insanely accurate. He completed nearly 3 out of 4 passes. |
| Passing Yards | 3,172 | Threw for over 3,000 yards. |
| Passing TDs | 26 | Threw 26 touchdowns vs. only 3 interceptions (amazing decision-making). |
| Rushing Yards | 734 | He’s a dual threat — runs like a running back. |
| Rushing TDs | 16 | Scored 16 times on the ground. |
The Championship Game: A Hollywood Ending
In the title game vs. Illinois State (a 35-34 thriller), Lamson did it all:
- 2 Rushing Touchdowns
- 2 Passing Touchdowns
- Total control in the biggest moment.
What’s Next for Lamson and the Bobcats?
He’s not done. Lamson is coming back for one more year (thanks to an extra year of eligibility from COVID) to chase a repeat title — while working on a Master’s degree in Finance. Smart and tough.
He’s got serious weapons around him, too:
- RB Adam Jones: Ran for 1,000+ yards in each of the last two seasons. A workhorse.
- WR Taco Dowler: Caught 77 passes for 1,025 yards and 7 TDs in 2024. A big-play machine.
Lamson’s Goal for 2025?
"I want to continue to be more of a polished quarterback… when we really break down the tape, there’s a lot of things I can get better at."
Other FCS Stars You Should Know (2025 Watch List)
The FCS is loaded with talent. Here are the biggest names heading into the new season:
Beau Brungard, QB, Youngstown State (5th Year Senior)
The Reigning MVP. He won the Walter Payton Award (Best FCS Offensive Player).
- Total Offense: 4,702 yards (#1 in FCS)
- Passing: 3,230 yds, 26 TDs, 3 INTs (68.7% comp)
- Rushing: 1,468 yds, 27 TDs, 6.1 yds/carry
- He does everything, and he does it at an All-American level.
Marquis Buchanan, WR, Rhode Island (5th Year Senior)
The Catch Machine.
- 2024: 78 catches, 1,337 yards (FCS Leader), 13 games with 5+ catches.
- 2023: 82 catches, 1,124 yards.
- Size (6’4") + Consistency = Nightmare for defenses.
Eli Gillman, RB, Montana (5th Year Senior)
The Home-Run Hitter.
- Career: 3,677 rushing yards (needs 394 for school record).
- 2024: 1,540 yds, 21 TDs (Big Sky Offensive POY).
- 2023: 1,104 yds.
- 2022 (Freshman): 968 yds, Jerry Rice Award (Best FCS Freshman).
- Three straight 900+ yard seasons. Incredible durability.
Tye Niekamp, LB, Illinois State (Senior)
The Tackle Machine.
- Last 3 Years: 346 total tackles, 36 for loss.
- 2024: 160 tackles (FCS Leader).
- 2023: 112 tackles.
- Championship Game: 1.5 sacks.
- Finished Top 10 for Buck Buchanan Award (Best FCS Defender).
Joshua Stoneking, DE, Furman (Senior)
The Sack Artist.
- 2024: 14.5 Sacks (FCS Leader!), 79 tackles, 23 TFL.
- Team Context: His team had 26 sacks total. He had over half of them.
- Multi-sack games in 5 of 12 contests. Pure pass-rush specialist.
DJ Williams, QB, Southern Illinois (Senior)
The Bounce-Back King.
- 2023: Injury limited him to 3 games.
- 2024: Fully healthy dual-threat explosion.
- Passing: 2,846 yds, 22 TDs, 5 INTs (63%).
- Rushing: 847 yds, 18 TDs.
- Finished Top 10 for Walter Payton Award. Healthy DJ is elite.
Summary
- Justin Lamson bet on himself and trust. Leaving the FBS "big leagues" for FCS Montana State gave him the starting job and coaching belief he craved.
- Result: A national championship, record-setting stats (71.6% comp, 42 total TDs, only 3 INTs), and a decision to stay for a Master’s and a title defense.
- The FCS is stacked: From MVP QB Beau Brungard and WR Marquis Buchanan to defensive monsters Tye Niekamp and Joshua Stoneking, the "lower" division features elite, NFL-caliber talent.
- Lesson: Sometimes the best path isn’t the most famous one. It’s the one where you’re trusted, developed, and allowed to shine.
FAQ
What is the "Transfer Portal"?
Think of it like a dating app for college athletes. Players enter their name, saying "I’m looking for a new school." Coaches from other schools can then contact them. It lets players move schools more freely than in the past (usually without sitting out a year).
Is FCS football "worse" than FBS?
No — just different. FBS has more money, bigger stadiums, and the 12-team playoff. FCS has a 24-team playoff (so a true champion on the field), passionate fanbases, and incredible players. Many current NFL stars (Cooper Kupp, Carson Wentz, Darius Leonard, Josh Allen) played FCS football.
Why did Lamson have so many "extra" years of eligibility?
Two main reasons:
- Redshirt Year: At Syracuse, he practiced but didn’t play, preserving a year.
- COVID Waiver: The NCAA gave everyone who played in the 2020 season an extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic disruption. Lamson used his redshirt + COVID year + standard 4 years = 6 years to play 4 (he’s in year 5 now, staying for year 6).
What are the "Walter Payton" and "Buck Buchanan" Awards?
They are the Heisman Trophies of the FCS.
- Walter Payton Award: Best Offensive Player (won by Brungard in 2024).
- Buck Buchanan Award: Best Defensive Player (Stoneking was runner-up, Niekamp Top 10).
Can I watch these games?
Absolutely! Almost every FCS game is streamed on ESPN+. The playoffs air on ESPN networks. It’s high-quality, exciting football that’s very accessible to watch.