NDSU Football fans like to say the national title always goes through Fargo. That may be true this season, in more than one way.
The nine-time FCS Champion Bison will get their chance at a 10 th National Title Monday night in Frisco, Texas when they face the top-seeded Montana State Bobcats.
The Bobcats are led by head coach Brent Vigen, a former NDSU player and assistant coach. Vigen, in his fourth year in Bozeman, often credits his time in Fargo for helping him understand what it takes to become a national champion. But it’s been a complicated relationship in recent years, as the tradition that’s buried deep in his heart has proven hard to beat. Vigen has won more games than any FCS coach since 2020, compiling an overall record of 47-9. Two of those nine losses, though, have come against NDSU. And they’ve been painful losses.
The 2021 Montana State team surprised the FCS world by making an unexpected run to the title game in Vigen’s first season. As an 8-seed, they pulled two upsets on their path to Frisco, but freshman quarterback Tommy Mellott was injured on the first drive of the game and had to leave the contest. NDSU rolled to a 38-10 win.
Last season, two years later, the teams would meet in Bozeman in the second round of the playoffs. This one would be a much tighter game, with NDSU prevailing in overtime on a blocked extra point. The final score was 35-34, as heartbreak again came calling at Montana State.
The Bobcats are hoping the third time will be the charm. And they have a right to believe that. Montana State is the only undefeated team in the FCS, adding 14 FCS wins to an 35-31 FBS win at New Mexico. Many FCS observers say this will finally be their year, and oddsmakers in Las Vegas have installed the Bobcats as a 3.5 point favorite. For Vigen and Polasek, the game will be a reunion of sorts, as both coached together at NDSU earlier in their careers as assistants, and the two share a mutual respect.
There is much on the line for both.
A win would make Polasek the third straight Bison coach to win an FCS title in his first year. In Fargo, there is no such thing as a successful season if it doesn’t end with green and gold-clad fans rushing the field at Toyota Stadium.
For Vigen, it would mean a first-ever national championship as head coach, a perfect 16-0 record, an additional line on an already impressive resume sure to tempt FBS athletic directors, and yes, revenge. Sweet revenge.
Who’s playing in the 2024-25 FCS National Championship Game?
North Dakota State will play Montana State in the National Championship Game. The Bison defeated South Dakota State 28-21 in the semifinals to advance. The Bobcats defeated South Dakota 31-17 in the semifinals to advance.
When is the 2024-25 FCS National Championship Game? The 2024-25 FCS Championship is on Monday, January 6, 2025.
How can I watch the FCS Championship? The title game will air on ESPN at 6 p.m. CT. You can stream the game on ESPN-Plus
Where is the 2024-25 FCS Championship? The championship game will be played at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. It will be the 15th time the FCS Championship Game will be played in Frisco.
Where is next year’s FCS Championship Game being played? The NCAA is moving the title games for the 2025 and 2026 seasons to the Vanderbilt University campus in Nashville.
Frisco was set to host the game for at least two more seasons, but NCAA officials decided to move the game because of a multiyear renovation project planned at the 20,500-seat professional soccer stadium, about 30 miles north of Dallas. The NCAA said the location of the game, beyond that, will be determined by a future bid process.
Bison schedule
Opponent Win/Loss Score Record Ranking (AFCA)
at Colorado L 31-26 0-1 No. 2
vs. Tennessee State W 52-3 1-1 No. 2
at ETSU W 38-5 2-1 No. 2
vs. Towson W 41-24 3-1 No. 2
at #15 Illinois State W 42-10 4-1 No. 2
vs. #6 North Dakota W 41-17 5-1 No. 2
at Southern Illinois W 24-3 6-1 No. 2
vs. #1 South Dakota State W 13-9 7-1 No. 2
at Murray State W 59-6 8-1 No. 1
vs. Northern Iowa W 42-19 9-1 No. 1
vs. #14 Missouri State W 59-21 10-1 No. 1
at #4 South Dakota L 29-28 10-2 No. 1
vs. (15) Abilene Christian W 51-31 11-2 No. 4
vs. (7) Mercer W 31-7 12-2 No. 4
vs. (3) South Dakota State W 28-21 13-2 No. 4
Bobcat schedule
Opponent Win/Loss Score Record Ranking (AFCA)
at New Mexico W 35-31 1-0 No. 4
at Utah Tech W 31-7 2-0 No. 3
vs. Maine W 41-24 3-0 No. 3
vs. Mercyhurst W 52-13 4-0 No. 3
at Idaho State W 37-17 5-0 No. 3
vs. Northern Colorado W 55-17 6-0 No. 3
vs. #8 Idaho W 38-7 7-0 No. 3
Portland State W 44-14 8-0 No. 3
at Eastern Washington W 42-28 9-0 No. 2
vs. Sacramento State W 49-7 10-0 No. 2
at #4 UC Davis W 30-28 11-0 No. 2
vs. #10 Montana W 34-11 12-0 No. 2
vs. UT Martin W 49-17 13-0 No. 1
vs. (8) Idaho W 52-19 14-0 No. 1
vs. (4) South Dakota W 31-17 15-0 No. 1
Montana State vs. NDSU
The Statistics Story – Numbers and FCS Rank
MSU Stats NDSU
15-0 Record 13-2
16th Strength of Schedule 1st
4.67 (16th) Fewest Penalties/Game 5.53 (43rd)
183.1 (87th) Passing Offense 225.9 (40th)
190.2 (30th) Pass Defense 197.0 (38th)
115.8 (17th) Rushing Def. 119.3 (22nd)
301.4 (2nd) Rushing Off. 192.7 (20th)
2.40 (31st) Sacks PG 2.27 (42nd)
0.73 (5th) Sacks Allowed/Game 1.27 (25th)
17.1 (6th) Scoring Defense 17.7 (10th)
41.3 (1st) Scoring Offense 38.3 (3rd)
306.0 (12th) Total Defense 316.3 (18th)
484.5 (2nd) Total Offense 418.7 (20th)
17 (55th) Turnovers Forced 25 (11th)
9 (4th) Turnovers Lost 6 (1st)
– Courtesy Hero Sports
Bison Hall-Of-Fame Defensive Lineman Phil Hansen has had a unique perspective on the season. As a proud alumnus, and the analyst on the NDSU Football Radio Network, Hansen has had a front row seat to most of the last 30 years of Bison Football. Going into the season, he wasn’t sure if Frisco would be the final destination for this year’s team.
“I’ll lay it all on the line here, at the beginning of the year I didn’t think the Bison had what it took to get back to Frisco. I was wrong. The things I underestimated were the Tim Polasek effect; I think he has been a great addition as head coach. I love that he’s authentic, he’s candid, he’s real and I think the players buy into that. I know I do. And I think he’s been a super addition. At Colorado, when they lost that game, I thought the defense would be the stalwart and it would take the offense a while to come along. Once again, completely wrong on that. The offense started strong and has been the lynchpin that has held this team together, and the defense has taken a while to come together. That’s why I’m a broadcaster and not a coach (laughs). So, they’ve done some great things and it’s been fun to watch.”
Hansen says his playing days on the NDSU defense have probably made him a harsher critic as a broadcaster, but he’s been impressed with what he’s seen in the playoffs from “Code Green.”
“After the South Dakota game, they found a way to turn it around and finally I saw them hitting on all cylinders with this South Dakota State game. They were as good as I’ve seen them all year. The Bison played better, when it mattered, than South Dakota State did. And that made the difference.”
Hansen says NDSU’s quarterback is a testament to hard work and perseverance. “Cam (Miller) has played at a really high level all season long and you’re just wondering if he can do something a little better than he’s done it. He has been the glue that has held this team together. The thing I like about Cam is that he’s got so many of those intangible things. You can see his numbers and his stats, but he feels in the pocket when pressure is coming and avoids that sack. He sets up his blocks when he pulls it down and runs it. He gets absolutely everything that’s there, when he has to run. I love that about him. And he doesn’t take much risk, so he manages the game in a really good way that gives your team the best chance to win. I hope he gets a shot at the NFL someday.”
Hansen knows the Montana State team is the likely choice of most experts, and its quarterback Tommy Mellott is a big reason why. The Butte, Montana native was named Big Sky Conference Offensive MVP and a top three finalist for the Walter Payton Award. Mellott has thrown for 2,430 yards and 28 touchdowns against just two interceptions, while rushing for 790 yards with 14 rushing touchdowns. His 8.6 yards per carry is the best of any Division 1 ball carrier (Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love averages 7.4 yards per carry and Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty, of Boise State, averages 7.3.)
Mellott stands just 6-feet tall, so his opportunities to play quarterback in the NFL may be limited, but scouts drool at his potential to play another offensive position at the next level. Hansen says anytime Mellott has the ball in his hands, he is dangerous.
“They’re going to have to find some way to slow down Mellott. He’s a good passer but I think he’s way more dangerous as a runner. And as far as stopping him, I don’t know what that looks like; nobody’s done that all year, but the Bison will have to come up with a good game plan for that.”
Still, Hansen is not conceding anything.
“I’m not picking against the Bison. They are perfectly positioned. Montana State’s supposed to win, they are favored, they are undefeated. Vegas is picking them so that’s perfect too. The Bison have been there before, they know what it’s all about. There won’t be any surprises down there in Frisco, but there’s nothing like being an underdog going down there and going into the game. Now, that doesn’t mean that Montana State isn’t good. You don’t win 15 games if you’re not good, but that’s not going to scare the Bison.”
