North Dakota State took down undefeated Montana State, 35-32, in the FCS national championship. This is the Bison’s 10th title since 2011 and their first since 2021.
NDSU led 21-3 at the half, holding the high-powered Bobcat offense to a little over 100 yards in the first 30 minutes. However, Walter Payton Award-winning quarterback, Tommy Mellot, pulled Montana State back within three by the end of the third quarter with a handful of explosive plays.
A 66-yard, five-minute drive sealed the game for the Bison late in the fourth, giving the ball back to the Bobcats with under three minutes to play down 10. Mellot found Taco Dowler on 4th and 2 to cut the lead to three with a little over a minute to play, but MSU did not recover the ensuing onside kick, sealing the game.
Standout wide receiver Bryce Lance powered the NDSU offense, hauling in nine catches for a career-high 108 yards, including a remarkable 39-yard catch that set up a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Bison quarterback Cam Miller played a remarkably clean game, connecting on 19 of 22 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Miller has now won his second FCS championship after leading NDSU to a title in 2021, also over Montana State.
The North Dakota State defense held the Bobcats over 100 yards under their 301-yard rushing total per game, as MSU finished with 199 on the ground.
The Bison are once again on top of the FCS, spoiling Montana State’s perfect season and bringing yet another title back to Fargo, North Dakota.
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