Montana State running back Julius Davis got into an intense verbal fight with head coach Brent Vigen following the college football playoff game in Bozeman on Saturday. The bizarre altercation took place after the Bobcats almost blew a two-touchdown lead during the fourth quarter.
Although it is currently unclear as to exactly why Davis was so upset, the story seems to tell itself.
Emotions are often heightened during college football games that do not go as expected. Players and coaches disagree. Things happen. This will blow over.
Montana State barely escaped Yale during the FCS Playoffs.
The Bobcats of Montana State won the Brawl of the Wild before Thanksgiving to earn the No. 2 seed in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. They paired with the Bulldogs of Yale in the second round on Saturday.
It was a sleepy outing for one of the most dominant programs in FCS history.
Montana State completed only 10 passes for less than 100 yards, converted only four of 11 attempts on third down and committed six penalties. The Bobcats also lost the possession battle by nearly eight minutes.
Yale committed four turnovers, which ultimately proved to be the difference, but the Bulldogs made a late charge during the fourth quarter. They even had a chance to force overtime on the last possession of the fourth quarter but could not pull the upset.
The home team held on to win by eight points, 21-13, to keep its national championship hopes alive.
Julius Davis tried to fight Brent Vigen.
Davis played at Wisconsin in 2022 before he transferred to Montana State. Marshall Howe also played at Wisconsin in 2022 before he transferred to Yale.
Thus, they are friends.
Davis went over to show love to Howe after the game ended. Brent Vigen pulled him away and guided him toward the 50-yard-line to join his teammates.
That did not go over well with his senior running back. Davis yelled at the fifth-year head coach, swiped his hand away, and walked in the other direction. Vigen and teammate Takhari Carr followed him, which only caused the situation to escalate further. Davis aired his grievances before he eventually fell in line.
— – (@Spicoli_____) December 6, 2025
The incident appeared to stem from how Vigen pulled Davis away from his friend, Howe. It might also stem from something that was said by No. 4 on Yale, defensive back Abu Kamara.
Davis appeared to say something like, “I did not start it! They started it!”
It might also go much deeper. We likely will not get a direct answer from either involved party and the conversation did not come up during Vigen’s postgame press conference.
There could be some pent-up frustration about the distribution of touches at running back. Maybe.
Julius Davis received only 12 carries in the game. Sophomore Adam Jones got 18 carries, mostly toward the end of the game.
Perhaps Davis was already irritated with his lack of involvement down the stretch of a close playoff game as the star senior. For his head coach to step in and drag him away from his former Wisconsin teammate might’ve been set him off.
It seemed like Davis was defending his character to Vigen during the tense exchange. Cooler heads will prevail. They will talk this out tomorrow. Montana State gets Stephen F. Austin at home next weekend.