FCS Showdown: North Dakota State and Montana State Clash in Championship Faceoff on January 6

THIS WEEK: No. 2 seed North Dakota State (13-2) takes on top-seeded Montana State (15-0) in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, at Toyota Stadium (17,677) in Frisco, Texas. This marks NDSU’s 11th championship match in 14 seasons.

TELEVISION: Live coverage on ESPN will commence at 6 p.m. featuring Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst) and Stormy Buonantony (reporter). The broadcast will also be accessible to ESPN+ subscribers through ESPN.com and via the ESPN app.

 

RADIO: Statewide network coverage on all 25 stations within the Pioneer Seeds Bison Sports Network will begin at 5 p.m., including Bison 1660 and 107.9 The Fox in Fargo with Sam Neidermann (play-by-play), Phil Hansen (analyst) and Noah Gindorff (sideline). Streaming will be offered on GoBison.com/allaccess and the NDSU Athletics mobile application. National radio coverage by Westwood One Sports will initiate at 5:30 p.m. featuring Ted Emrich (play-by-play), Ryan Leaf (analyst) and Morgan Uber (sideline) on WestwoodOneSports.com, the Varsity Network app, the TuneIn app, and affiliated radio stations.

 

TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased online at NCAA.com/FCS. All tickets are provided digitally using the AXS mobile application. North Dakota State will be the away team and will be located on the west sideline nearest to the press box and suites between sections 103 and 109.

 

PARKING & TAILGATING: Parking lots will open at 1 p.m. on the day of the game. Payments are cashless (credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay only). General admission parking costs $30 in the Red and Blue lots and $20 in the Green and White lots. RVs and campers will incur charges for each space occupied by the vehicle.

 

CLEAR BAG POLICY: Toyota Stadium enforces a clear bag and purse policy. Permitted bags include clear plastic bags not exceeding 14″ x 6″ x 14″, small clutches smaller than 5.5″ x 8.5″, or one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags. For special clearance regarding medically necessary items, please email [email protected]. Additional information can be found on the Toyota Stadium policies webpage.

 

TEAM ARRIVALS: Fans are welcome to gather along Lamar Hunt Way, north of Toyota Stadium, progressing west toward World Cup Way for team arrivals starting at 3:15 p.m. with North Dakota State, followed by Montana State at 3:35 p.m. Stadium gates will open at 4 p.m.

 

PREGAME FESTIVITIES: The Bison Tailgate Party, presented by Gate City Bank, is a complimentary event for all ages, scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6, on Dr. Pink Field adjacent to Toyota Stadium. Join in the celebration of the FCS championship game with bounce houses, yard games, music, face painting, and more. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

 

THE SERIES: This marks the 39th encounter between North Dakota State and Montana State. MSU holds the lead in the all-time series with 21-17 since 1914. NDSU has secured victory in the last five consecutive contests, all within the FCS playoffs, including the 2021 national championship.

        Bison/Bobcats FCS Playoff History

        2010 – NDSU 42, Montana State 17 (2nd round in Bozeman)

        2018 – NDSU 52, Montana State 10 (2nd round in Fargo)

        2019 – NDSU 42, Montana State 14 (semifinal in Fargo)

        2021 – NDSU 38, Montana State 10 (championship in Frisco)

        2023 – NDSU 35, Montana State 34, OT (2nd round in Bozeman)

 

AGAINST NUMBER ONE: The Bison hold a 4-3 record against FCS top-ranked teams, including a 13-9 regular-season triumph over then No. 1-ranked South Dakota State in October. Four of the seven prior contests against No. 1 rivals took place in Frisco, Texas during the FCS national championship.

        NDSU vs. No. 1-Ranked FCS Opponents

        12/11/2010 – at Eastern Washington – L, 31-38 (OT)

        1/7/2012 – vs Sam Houston State – W, 17-6

        1/9/2016 – vs Jacksonville State – W, 37-10

        1/6/2018 – vs James Madison – W, 17-13

        1/8/2023 – vs South Dakota State – L, 21-45

        11/4/2023 – at South Dakota State – L, 16-33

        10/19/2024 – South Dakota State – W, 13-9

 

POSTSEASON HISTORY: This constitutes North Dakota State’s 38th postseason appearance and the 15th consecutive dating back to 2010. The Bison have reached at least the quarterfinals in every year of their 15-year FCS playoff run. North Dakota State boasts an 85-18 postseason record, standing at 80-17 in the NCAA playoff system since 1973, and the Bison hold the record for most FCS playoff victories with an impressive 50-5 record, claiming 38-1 at the Fargodome.

        Most Consecutive FCS Playoff Appearances

        17 – Montana, 1993-2009

        15 – North Dakota State, 2010-2024

        14 – New Hampshire, 2004-2017

        13 – South Dakota State, 2012-2024

        Highest Winning Percentage in FCS Playoffs

        .909 – North Dakota State (50-5)

        .793 – Marshall (23-6)

        .776 – Georgia Southern (45-13)

        .763 – Youngstown State (29-9)

 

SEED HISTORY: North Dakota State has attained a top-two seed for the 10th occasion in 15 FCS playoff entries. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will enjoy home-field advantage throughout the semifinals, marking the 12th instance NDSU has hosted through the semifinals. The Bison were No. 3 in 2015 and hosted a semifinal leading to the national title that year after a quarterfinal loss by No. 2 Illinois State. Once more, the Bison were No. 3 in 2022, winning a home semifinal against No. 7 Incarnate Word following UIW’s victory over No. 2 Sacramento State 66-63 in the quarterfinals.

 

17 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: North Dakota State has secured 17 football national championships. NDSU earned three College Division national titles in 1965, 1968, and 1969 as per the national polls, along with five Division II playoff championships in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1990. Additionally, they were the first team in college football history to capture five consecutive national titles with FCS championships in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, before achieving further success in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. The Bison lostto the eventual national title holder in the 2010 and 2020 quarterfinals and 2016 semifinals.

 

TITLE TOWN: North Dakota State is competing in its 11th FCS championship match within 17 years of Division I postseason eligibility. NDSU has secured the national championship in 30 percent of its 56 years of postseason eligibility since the program’s inaugural bowl game in 1964, and has only experienced three losing seasons since 1964. (NDSU was ineligible for the playoffs during its reclassification to Division I from 2004-2007, a four-year period concluding with consecutive 10-1 seasons in FCS competition.)

 

NINE FCS TITLES: North Dakota State has clinched a record nine FCS national championships. The Bison hold a 14-3 overall playoff title game record, with their only defeats occurring in 2022 to South Dakota State (45-21) and at the Division II level in 1981 to Texas State (42-13) and in 1984 to Troy (18-17).

        Most FCS Championship Games

        11 – North Dakota State (9-1)

        8 – Georgia Southern (6-2)

        8 – Montana (2-6)

        7 – Youngstown State (4-3)

        6 – Marshall (2-4)

        Most FCS Championship Wins

        9 – North Dakota State

        6 – Georgia Southern

        4 – Youngstown State

        3 – Appalachian State

 

16-GAME WINNERS: Montana State is on a school-record 15-game winning streak, and with a triumph would become only the second team in modern college football history to conclude a season 16-0, joining North Dakota State’s 2019 national championship squad. NDSU has completed one other 16-game season, claiming the 2014 FCS national title with a 15-1 record.

 

NCAA ELITE 90: The NCAA Elite 90 Award is awarded to the student-athlete with the highest GPA at each of the NCAA’s 90 national championships across all divisions. North Dakota State has achieved 20 awards over five distinct sports, including nine at the FCS championship game: LB Esley Thorton (2013), QB Carson Wentz (2014-16), WR Daniel Polansky (2018), TE Ben Ellefson (2019), LB Jackson Hankey (2020) and LB Cole Wisniewski (2022-23).

 

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: The NCAA championship game Most Outstanding Player will be announced on-stage following the game. Here are NDSU’s previous nine honorees: LB Travis Beck (2012), QB Brock Jensen (2013-14), QB Carson Wentz (2015-16), QB Easton Stick (2018), WR Darrius Shepherd (2019), QB Trey Lance (2020) and FB Hunter Luepke (2022).

 

CONFERENCE CHAMPS: North Dakota State shared the Missouri Valley Football Conference title with South Dakota and South Dakota State, each finishing with 7-1 league records. This marks NDSU’s 11th title in 17 years as a member of the MVFC. NDSU has secured six outright titles (2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) and shared five (2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2024). Overall, this signifies NDSU’s 38th football conference championship when factoring in 26 at the Division II level in the North Central Conference and its first FCS title in 2006 as a member of the Great West Football Conference.

 

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Bison QB Cam Miller was awarded the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year, while RB CharMar Brown received honors as both Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Miller becomes the fourth NDSU player to achieve the Offensive Player of the Year title, joining quarterbacks Brock Jensen (2013), Easton Stick (2018) and Trey Lance (2019). Brown is the sixth player in MVFC history, and the third from NDSU, to sweep the league’s Newcomer and Freshman of the Year awards, following linebacker Jabril Cox (2017) and quarterback Trey Lance (2019).

 

ALL-CONFERENCE: NDSU had nine all-conference selections and five honorable mentions. QB Cam Miller was among six All-MVFC first team choices, alongside LT Grey Zabel, RT Mason Miller, WR Bryce Lance, DT Eli Mostaert and LB Logan Kopp. RB CharMar Brown made the second team with K Griffin Crosa and RS Jackson Williams. Honorable mentions were FB Truman Werremeyer, TE Joe Stoffel, DT Kody Huisman, S Sam Jung and LS Caleb Bowers. Mostaert placed second in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year behind South Dakota lineman Mi’Quise Grace, while first-year head coach Tim Polasek finished second for MVFC Coach of the Year behind Bob Nielson from South Dakota.

 

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM: NDSU had five athletes named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team, including RB CharMar Brown, C Trent Fraley, RS Jackson Williams, S Jaylin Crumby and CB Anthony Chideme-Alfaro.

 

MVFC SCHOLAR-ATHLETES: NDSU had five players selected for the MVFC Scholar-Athlete Team, all holding GPAs of 3.5 or above. Bison S Sam Jung, LB Logan Kopp and WR Bryce Lance earned first team honors, while LB Luke Weerts and DT Eli Mostaert made the second team. Honorable mentions included DT Jaxon Duttenhefer, DT Will Mostaert, FB Truman Werremeyer and C Trent Fraley.

 

REGIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR: First-year head coach of NDSU, Tim Polasek, was named FCS Region 4 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association. Polasek is currently in his third tenure at NDSU after serving as an assistant coach under Craig Bohl from 2016 to 2012, and as the offensive coordinator under Chris Klieman from 2014 to 2016.

 

JERRY RICE AWARD: North Dakota State running back CharMar Brown won the 14th annual Jerry Rice Award, which is given to the FCS national freshman of the year. Brown is the second recipient in NDSU’s history, joining 2019 quarterback Trey Lance.

 

WALTER PAYTON AWARD FINALIST: Quarterback Cam Miller is among the three frontrunners for the Walter Payton Award, an honor presented annually to the FCS offensive player of the year. The recipient will be announced at the Jan. 4 FCS National Awards banquet in Frisco, Texas. Bison defensive tackle Eli Mostaert was ranked 14th in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award (defensive player of the year).

 

ALL-AMERICANS: North Dakota State has four first-team FCS All-Americans: LT Grey Zabel, RT Mason Miller, QB Cam Miller, and DT Eli Mostaert. Furthermore, the Bison boast four FCS Freshman All-Americans: RB CharMar Brown, OGGriffin Empey, KR/PR Jackson Williams and S Jaylin Crumby.

 

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Nine athletes from North Dakota State have secured 14 Missouri Valley Football Conference player of the week accolades this season.

        — Cam Miller, Offense (9/2, 10/7)…Accumulated 358 yards of total offense alongside three touchdowns at Colorado, which included a personal best of 277 yards on 18 of 22 passing…Additionally, he carried 16 times for 81 yards, featuring a 20-yard TD that brought NDSU within five points with 2:19 remaining…Achieved 207 total yards and three touchdowns against North Dakota, guiding the Bison to score on six of their initial seven possessions.

        — CharMar Brown, Newcomer (9/23, 9/30, 10/28, 11/4)…Rushed 24 times for 126 yards and three touchdowns in the victory over Towson, which included 41 yards on five successive carries in the final quarter as NDSU converted to make it a two-possession game…Ran for 100 yards on 17 carries at Illinois State the following week…Obtained 97 yards on 13 carries with three TDs at Murray State…Rushed for 124 yards and one TD on 18 carries against Northern Iowa.

        —Jackson Williams, Special Teams (9/23)…Achieved a game-high of 169 all-purpose yards in the triumph over Towson, including a 67-yard touchdown on his first collegiate punt return…Also averaged 21.3 yards on four kickoff returns.

        —Eli Mostaert, Defense (9/30)…Secured two of NDSU’s five sacks in the win at Illinois State, aiding in restricting the Redbirds to eight net rushing yards and 4 of 12 on third down conversions.

        —Grey Zabel, Offensive Line (10/7, 11/4)…Received a grade of 94% with zero sacks, hurries or TFLs permitted as the Bison rushed for 208 yards, converted 11 of 16 third downs, and maintained possession for over 34 minutes in the victory against North Dakota…Also received a grade of 94% with no sacks, hurries, TFLs, or missed assignments in the 42-19 win over Northern Iowa.

        —Logan Kopp, Defense (10/21)…Registered six tackles and clinched the 13-9 victory over South Dakota State with an interception at the NDSU 38 with one minute remaining.

        —Kaedin Steindorf, Special Teams (10/21)…Averaged 43.8 yards on five punts, which included two 47-yarders, and one out-of-bounds at the SDSU 4, assisting in limiting the Jacks to no punt return yards.

        —Griffin Crosa, Special Teams (11/18)…Accumulated 11 points on eight PATs and a 32-yard field goal against Missouri State, surpassing the NDSU all-time scoring record.

        —Mason Miller, Offensive Line (11/18)…Graded 93% with no sacks or TFLs permitted as NDSU averaged 9.6 yards per carry and amassed a season-high 364 rushing yards against Missouri State.

 

TURNOVERS: NDSU has recorded the lowest turnover count in FCS this year (six), comprising one fumble and five interceptions. The prior season’s FCS leader in turnover margin at plus-17, NDSU currently dominates FCS at plus-19, equaling the program’s top turnovers margin in the 2017 and 2018 national championship campaigns. This season, NDSU has two defensive touchdowns, a 34-yard interception return by LB Enock Sibomana at Murray State and a 31-yard pick-six by LB Logan Kopp against Abilene Christian. DE Toby Anene ranks tied for third in the FCS with four forced fumbles, one shy of the NDSU single-season record of five established by DT Mike Stratton in 1982 and matched by LB Ben Ahneman in 1997.

 

SCORING BIG: NDSU’s four 50-point performances and an average scoring tally of 39.1 points per game are the highest since the record-setting FCS team in Bison history, which averaged 41.5 points and recorded four 50-point games in 2018. No NDSU squad has scored at least 50 points in five separate games.

 

NATIONAL LEADER: North Dakota State wide receiver Bryce Lance tops the FCS with a school-record 16 touchdown receptions, just short of the Missouri Valley Football Conference record of 17 touchdown catches set by South Dakota State’s Cade Johnson in 2018.

        NDSU Single-Season Receiving Yards

        1,191 – Zach Vraa, 2013

        1,181 – TR McDonald, 1993

        1,065 – Darrius Shepherd, 2018

        1,003 – Warren Holloway, 2011

        964 – Bryce Lance, 2024

        NDSU Single-Season Receptions

        77 – Warren Holloway, 2011

        69 – TR McDonald, 1993

        67 – Zach Vraa, 2013

        66 – Bryce Lance, 2024

 

TIGHT END TARGET: Senior Joe Stoffel has accumulated 76 career receptions for 864 yards, the highest catch tally by a tight end in NDSU history. Stoffel has recorded 12 career touchdown receptions, tying him with Noah Gindorff for fourth among Bison tight ends, behind Ben Ellefson (16), Jerimiah Wurzbacher (14) and Kevin Vaadeland (13). Stoffel ranks second on the team this year with four touchdown catches.

 

TOP FRESHMEN: Montana State’s Adam Jones (1,134) and NDSU’s CharMar Brown (1,104) lead all FCS freshmen in rushing yards and touchdowns, each totaling 14. Brown is NDSU’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2019, when quarterback Trey Lance concluded with 1,100 rushing yards. The last Bison running back to surpass a thousand was Bruce Anderson, who recorded 1,216 yards in 2017. Brown’s 227 carries are the highest recorded by a Bison since Anderson’s 234 in 2017.

 

RETURN TOUCHDOWNS: NDSU freshman Jackson Williams achieved a 67-yard punt return touchdown against Towson and a 100-yard kick return touchdown against Abilene Christian. Williams becomes the fifth player in Bison history to score on both a punt return and kickoff return in the same season, joining Ryan Smith (2013), Richard Lewis (2001), Tim Strehlow (1999) and Tony Satter (1990). Two additional Bison players have scored via punt return and kickoff return across different seasons: Paul Hatchett (1968, 1969) and Shamen Washington (2004, 2005, 2007). NDSU is averaging 26.0 yards per kickoff return, the third-best in the program’s history and sixth in the FCS this year.

 

GAMES PLAYED: Wide receiver Braylon Henderson will participate in his 73rd career game this week, breaking the previous NDSU record of 71 games played by cornerback Jayden Price over five seasons from 2019 to 2023.

 

SCORING RECORDS: NDSU’s Griffin Crosa, in his fourth season as NDSU’s premier placekicker and his sixth year overall with the Bison, surpassed the NDSU all-time scoring mark against Missouri State and broke the MVFC and NCAA FCS records for PAT kicks made during the second-round victory over Abilene Christian. Crosa’s string of 127 consecutive PAT conversions halted in 2023 was the third-longest in MVFC history. He has achieved 101 PATs in a row as he approaches the championship game.

        NDSU Career Points Scored

        434 – Griffin Crosa, K, 2019-24

        399 – Cam Pedersen, K, 2015-18

        386 – Jeff Bentrim, QB, 1983-86

        NDSU Career PAT Kicks Made

        272 – Griffin Crosa, 2019-24(MVFC and FCS record)

        261 – Cam Pedersen, 2015-18

        191 – Adam Keller, 2011-14

        NDSU Career FG Made

        56 – Adam Keller, 2011-14

        54 – Griffin Crosa, 2019-24

        51 – Shawn Bibeau, 2006-09

FOURTH-YEAR STARTER: Quarterback Cam Miller has initiated 53 consecutive games for NDSU since the midpoint of the 2021 campaign. Miller has guided NDSU to a 44-11 record as the starting QB, including two NCAA postseason matches as a true freshman in the spring 2021 term.

        Most Wins as FCS Quarterback

        49 – Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State, 2020-24

        49 – Easton Stick, North Dakota State, 2015-18

        48 – Brock Jensen, North Dakota State, 2010-13

        44 – Cam Miller, North Dakota State, 2020-24

        43 – Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State, 2006-09

 

ON THE MARK: NDSU’s Cam Miller ranked second in FCS last year with a school-record .720 completion percentage in 2023, and he is on track to break that record this season, currently second in FCS with a .726 completion percentage. Over the last two seasons, Miller has completed 447 of 618 passes (.723) with 50 touchdowns compared to eight interceptions.

 

PASSING LEADER: North Dakota State’s Cam Miller established the NDSU career record for passing yards against South Dakota, completions against Abilene Christian, and total offense yards against Mercer. Additionally, Miller holds the top spot in career passing completion percentage (.690), ranks third in pass efficiency (164.4), fourth in yards per passing attempt (8.9), and fifth in Bison history with 46 career rushing touchdowns, surpassing the Missouri Valley Football Conference record of 41 rushing touchdowns by a quarterback set by NDSU’s Easton Stick from 2015 to 2018. He also possesses school records for 18 career 200-yard passing games and 324 consecutive passing attempts without an interception.

        NDSU Career Pass Attempts

        1,124 – Brock Jensen, 2010-13

        1,072 – Cam Miller, 2020-24

        980 – Easton Stick, 2015-18

        NDSU Career Pass Completions

        740 – Cam Miller, 2020-24

        703 – Brock Jensen, 2010-13

        598 – Easton Stick, 2015-18

        NDSU Career Passing Yards

        9,522 – Cam Miller, 2020-24

        8,693 – Easton Stick, 2015-18

        8,598 – Brock Jensen, 2010-13

        NDSU Career Passing TDs

        88 – Easton Stick, 2015-18

        79 – Cam Miller, 2020-24

        72 – Brock Jensen, 2010-13

        NDSU Career TDs Responsible For

        129 – Easton Stick, 2015-18

        125 – Cam Miller, 2020-24

        107 – Brock Jensen, 2010-13

        NDSU Career Total Offense Yards

        11,678 – Cam Miller, 2020-24

        11,216 – Easton Stick, 2015-18

        9,838 – Brock Jensen, 2010-13

SEASON PASSING RECORDS: NDSU has established new single-season team records for passing attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns this year, and the Bison are positioned to surpass the record for completion percentage. NDSU’s average of 225.9 passing yards per game ranks second in school history behind the 2007 squad’s average of 228.9.

        NDSU Single-Season Pass Completions

        239 – Cam Miller, 2024

        228 – Carson Wentz, 2014

        220 – Tony Stauss, 2003

        NDSU Single-Season Passing Yards

        3,111 – Carson Wentz, 2014

        3,052 – Cam Miller, 2024

        2,793 – Brock Jensen, 2013

        NDSU Single-Season Passing TDs

        34 – Brock Jensen, 2013

        31 – Cam Miller, 2024

        28 – Trey Lance, 2019

        28 – Easton Stick, 2017 and 2018

        NDSU Single-Season Total Offense Yards

        3,886 – Trey Lance, 2019

        3,753 – Carson Wentz, 2014

        3,562 – Cam Miller, 2024

        NDSU Single-Season TDs Responsible For

        45 – Easton Stick, 2018

        44 – Brock Jensen, 2013

        42 – Trey Lance, 2019

        41 – Cam Miller, 2024

 

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS: North Dakota State holds an 86-6 record against non-conference rivals since the inception of its first FCS national championship season in 2011. Two defeats were against FBS adversaries (31-28 at Arizona in 2021 and 31-26 at Colorado in 2024), while two were in the playoffs to the eventual national champion (27-17 to James Madison in 2016 and 24-20 at Sam Houston State in 2020-21). Montana’s 31-29 double-overtime triumph in the 2023 FCS semifinals and the 38-35 win in the 2015 FCS Kickoff stand as NDSU’s sole other non-conference losses over the last 13 years.

 

BISON AT HOME: The Bison boast a 198-29 record in the Fargodome, 37-6 at home against FCS Top 10 ranked teams, and have triumphed in 86 of the last 88 home games against non-conference challengers. North Dakota State maintains a 38-1 record in the Fargodome throughout the NCAA playoffs and has achieved 20 consecutive home playoff victories since the 2016 semifinal defeat to the eventual national champion James Madison. NDSU’s home winning streak of 32 games from September 2017 to April 2021 ranks as the fourth longest in FCS history.