NDSU Beats Montana State to Win 2025 FCS Championship Bracket; 10th Title in 14 Years
Jan 7, 2025
FRISCO, TX - JANUARY 06: North Dakota State Bison quarterback Cam Miller (7) runs with the ball during the FCS Championship game between North Dakota State and Montana State on January 6, 2025 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
North Dakota State ended its season as champions in the first year of the Tim Polasek era.
The Bison defeated Montana 35-32 in the FCS championship Monday night, ending the Bobcats' undefeated season and giving North Dakota State its 10th title in the last 14 years.
Quarterback Cam Miller, who is in his fifth season with the program, ended his collegiate career with a bang. He threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-22 while picking up 121 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
His favorite target was Bryce Lance, younger brother of former North Dakota State star Trey Lance. He had nine receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown in the win.
Those who remember the first Thursday night of the season, when North Dakota State QB Cam Miller nearly led his team past Colorado, shouldnβt be surprised by what he has done since. Absolute stud. Another huge night in FCS title game.
It was all Bison through the first half as North Dakota State took a 21-3 lead into the third quarter, but Montana State came storming back to make it 21-18, setting up a dramatic fourth quarter.
The two teams traded early touchdowns at the Bison led 28-25 for most of the quarter. North Dakota State gained a 10-point cushion with a touchdown with just over two minutes to play.
But the Bobcats weren't out of the game after the late score. They answered with one of their own to cut the lead to three with a minute left to play. Montana State's comeback fell short, however, as North Dakota State recovered the onside kick and ran the clock down to just 10 seconds. Time ran out when the Bison punted the ball away.
North Dakota State vs. Montana State.
National Championship.
If you need your football fix, this is it. Phenomenal matchup.
FYI - there is a rocking football game for the NCAA FCS Division I National Championship going on right now on ESPN between Montana State and North Dakota State. 28-25 NDS with about 11 minutes to play. Check it out! #FCSChampionship
The win marks 10 championships for the Bison over the 14 years, adding to what has been on of the most impressive dynasties in recent college football memory. There were questions of whether the standard of excellence could be carried on by Polasek after Matt Entz left for Fresno State, and he's quickly shown that he's capable of carrying the torch.
FCS Playoff Bracket 2024-25: Date, Schedule for NDSU vs. Montana State Championship
Dec 22, 2024
AMES, IA - AUGUST 31: Wide receiver Jaylin Noel #13 of the Iowa State Cyclones pulls in a pass as defensive back Tyler Erkman #9, and defensive back Devin Hembry #23 of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks defend in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on August 31, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
The stage is set for the 2024 FCS National Championship.
North Dakota State punched its ticket with a 28-21 victory over defending champion South Dakota State while Montana State took a 31-17 victory over South Dakota.
The Bison entered the fourth quarter tied at 14 with the Jackrabbits before the team traded three consecutive touchdowns in the final quarter to give the game its final score.
The star of the day was wide receiver Bryce Lance, the younger brother of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance, who had six catches for 125 yards and three touchdowns.
Montana State's run to the title game was a bit easier as the Bobcats jumped out to a 21-14 halftime lead and limited South Dakota to just three points in the second half.
Montana State is chasing its first FCS Championship since 1984 and the fourth overall National Title in program history. North Dakota State is playing for its 18th National Championship, 10th at the FCS level and first since 2021.
Montana State holds the all-time series lead between the programs at 21-17 but has not defeated the Bison since 2005. North Dakota has won the last five matchups, including the 2021 FCS National Championship.
The game is set for Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. ET in Frisco, Texas.
FRISCO, TX - FEBRUARY 01: East Team defensive lineman Khristian Boyd (99) of Northern Iowa gets set during the East-West Shrine Bowl game on February 1, 2024 at the Ford Center at the star in Frisco, TX. (Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'2"
WEIGHT: 329
HAND: 9β "
ARM: 31β "
WINGSPAN: 77β "
40-YARD DASH: N/A
3-CONE: N/A
SHUTTLE: N/A
VERTICAL: N/A
BROAD: N/A
POSITIVES
β Thick build and good weight. Hit 38 reps on the bench press.
β Good get-off with a quick reaction to the snap and accelerates off the ball well.
β Keeps his feet moving through contact and has good pad level to collapse the pocket as a bull-rusher. Also has a nice arm-over as a counter off the bull rush.
β Flashed a solid push-pull move.
β Physical at the point of attack when taking on blocks and will occasionally reset the line of scrimmage.
NEGATIVES
β Short arms and likes to take on blocks with his shoulder instead of hands, preventing him from consistently getting extension as a run defender.
β Subpar block recognition, leading to him getting reached or scooped against zone runs.
β Lacks rotational strength to avoid getting shoulders turned versus combo blocks.
β Narrow base when taking on blocks. Will get washed inside versus down blocks.
β Hips are a little stiff to clear his lower half when working finesse moves.
2023 STATISTICS
β 11 G, 43 TOT, 6.5 TFL, 3.5 SK, 1 PD
NOTES
β Born Feb. 23, 2000
β 3-star recruit in the 2018 class, per 247Sports
β Had FBS scholarship offers to Arkansas State, Kansas and UCF, per 247Sports profile
OVERALL
Khristian Boyd is an intriguing FCS/small-school prospect. He has a stocky build with good weight and plenty of upper-body strength, as evidenced by his 38 bench press reps at Northern Iowa's pro day. He can also be disruptive against the run and as a pass-rusher.
However, Boyd's best position in the NFL remains unclear. He has the physical profile of a nose tackle, but he struggles against double-teams and plays more like a 3-technique.
Still, he's worth taking a flier on during Day 3 of the draft and seeing what he can do in training camp.
Myles Harden NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for South Dakota CB
Feb 27, 2024
COLUMBIA, MO - AUGUST 31: After intercepting the ball, South Dakota Coyotes defensive back Myles Harden (1) runs with it for more yardage during a non conference game between the South Dakota Coyotes and the Missouri Tigers held on Thursday Aug 31, 2023 at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia MO. (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
HEIGHT: 5'11"
WEIGHT: 195
HAND: 9β "
ARM: 29β "
WINGSPAN: 74"
40-YARD DASH: 4.50
3-CONE: 6.88
SHUTTLE: 3.98
VERTICAL: 35.5"
BROAD: 9'10"
POSITIVES
β Able to play in multiple schemes. Has the awareness and vision to play in zone coverage, combined with the lateral movement skills and short-area quickness to get into the hip pocket from press.
β Aggressive player who does a very good job of triggering to the run and screen games. Plays with good physicality and strength when taking on blocks and tackling.
NEGATIVES
β Lacks on-ball production due to below-average hands to capitalize on his opportunities.
β Can be slow to sink hips and transition at the top of routes, allowing too much separation.
2023 STATISTICS
β 13 G, 58 TOT, 4 TFL, 1 FR, 1 INT, 7 PD
NOTES
β 28 career starts
β 0-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports
β 2023 first-team FCS All-America (AFCA, Stats Perform, Phil Steele)
β 2023 third-team FCS All-America (AP)
β 2023 first-team All-MVFC
β 2020 freshman FCS All-American team (HERO Sports)
β Shrine Bowl Invite
OVERALL
Myles Harden is an experienced cornerback who started 28 games over four seasons at South Dakota. He was a productive player, especially in the run game.
Harden boasts very good size and length, which shows up multiple ways. When defending the pass, he has the versatility to play from man and zone coverage. He excels in zone, where he is able to use his awareness and vision to anticipate and play the ball.
When in man coverage, Harden has the footwork and quickness needed to play from press. He does a very good job of using his hands and riding the receiver downfield. As he works downfield, he does a good job of quickly getting in phase and getting his head around to find the ball. When transitioning, he tends to be slow and struggles to sink his hips, allowing too much separation to play the ball.
When in off coverage, Harden shows a smooth pedal but often lacks the burst needed and rounds his breaks. He can run with most receivers downfield, but he might not have the top-end speed to run with the twitchier athletes in the NFL.
As a run defender, Harden does a great job of reacting to what he sees. He is quick to trigger to the run and screen game, using his quickness to beat blockers when in space. In tighter areas, he does a good job of using his strength and physicality to take on blocks, but he often looks to keep his leverage and not disengage to beat the block.
When tackling, Harden does a great job of throwing his body around and delivering a blow to ball-carriers. However, he can take poor angles in space and become inconsistent when coming from a distance.
Ultimately, Harden's skill set would fit best in a zone scheme. With his size and physicality, he'd benefit from help over the top, which would allow him to use his vision and route anticipation. Harden projects as a backup player who will have to show his value on special teams to earn an NFL roster spot.
GRADE: 5.4 (Backup/UDFA with Roster Potential β UDFA)
Cody Mauch NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for North Dakota State IOL
Feb 16, 2023
TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 17: North Dakota State Bison offensive tackle Cody Mauch #70 during a college football game between the North Dakota State Bison and the University of Arizona Wildcats on September 17, 2022 at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 65"
WEIGHT: 302
HAND: 9 3/4"
ARM: 32 3/8"
WINGSPAN: TBD
40-YARD DASH: 5.08
3-CONE: 7.33
SHUTTLE: 4.55
VERTICAL: 29"
BROAD: 9'0"
POSITIVES
β Well-versed and skilled gap scheme run-blocker
β Good upper-body strength and leg drive to gain control, steer and seal defenders on down blocks, double-teams and kick-outs
β Unrelenting finisher with excellent grip strength once latched inside of defenders to sustain through contact, torque and drive them off balance for knockdowns
β Has good balance to absorb force, maintain an upright posture and find his anchor against power with the ability to turn pass-protection reps into run-blocks
β Good burst and quickness on the move to close space on smaller targets as a puller, lead blocker and on second-level climbs
NEGATIVES
β Adequate arm length with a high-cut frame and a lean, narrow lower half
β Needs to incorporate more tempo and tact on his second-level climbs; takes erratic angles that cause him to misalign his target, forcing him to get grabby against quick-trigger backers
β Limited exposure as a pass-protector on an island both in terms of quantity of reps and quality of opponent
β Unrefined footwork and use of hands in pass-protection
2022 STATISTICS
β 15 starts at left tackle
NOTES
β First team AP FCS All-American
β Former walk-on tight end from Hankinson High School in North Dakota.
β Standout athlete at Hankinson High School with letters in football (quarterback, tight end and defensive end), basketball, baseball and track. Averaged 20 points per game, 15 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game as a senior on the basketball team.
β 39 consecutive career starts; 37 at LT and two at RT.
β Three-time FCS National champion (2018, 2019, 2021).
β Graduated with a degree in agricultural engineering
β Accepted an invite to the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
OVERALL
Cody Mauch is a three-year starter with 39 consecutive career starts (37 at left tackle, two at right tackle) including 15 during the 2022 season. Mauch is a former walk-on tight end with adequate arm length on a high-cut frame with a lean, narrow build in his lower half.
Mauch played in a 70-30 run-pass split offense focused on gap schemes primarily out of a three-point stance. Mauch has good upper-body strength with heavy hands and an aggressive, attacking mentality that he uses to consistently jolt and displace defenders on down, double-team and kick-out blocks. He has a strong inside hand and rotational strength to torque and uproot defenders off of their spots with the grip strength to maintain his latch and control through contact and shed attempts.
He has good athletic ability, burst and quickness to effectively track down smaller targets as a puller, lead blocker and on second-level climbs with the power to create knockdowns in space.
In pass protection, he primarily set flat or at a 45-degree angle with solid foot quickness to get to his spots and landmarks against tightly aligned rushers. He flashed some independent hand usage to establish quick leverage on rushers, anchor and he rarely ever lost control once clenched inside of their frame, ending reps quickly.
Mauch needs to incorporate more tempo and patience on his second-level climbs rather than going for the kill shot too often so he can more consistently line up his target and prevent overrunning shifty, quick-trigger backers. His adequate arm length shrinks his margin for error with hand placement and he needs to learn how to more quickly refit and re-leverage his hands and hips on stalemates rather than trying to out-muscle defenders (which he could mostly get away with against FCS competition).
Against wide-9 rushers, his inability to expand his landmarks, adjust his strike location and protect the corner combined with below-average length and poor competition suggests a move inside would allow the smoothest transition and best suit his game as a pro.
Overall, Mauch is a tone-setting blocker with good athletic ability and play strength paired with a nasty demeanor to be an asset and wear down defenders in the run game, anchor in pass protection and earn a role as a high-quality interior backup. He has a chance to start at center within his first contract as he gains the necessary processing skills to handle the line calls and manage the pre-snap phase of the game.
South Dakota State Praised by Fans for 'Iconic' FCS Title Win over North Dakota State
Jan 8, 2023
South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) looks to pass during the first half of the FCS Championship NCAA college football game against the North Dakota, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
North Dakota State has a dynasty in FCS football, winning nine of the past 11 titles coming into Sunday.
Clearly, South Dakota State had seen enough.
The Jackrabbits smashed the Bison in the FCS Championship 45-21 and won their first FCS title.
Isaiah Davis finds space and takes it 16-yards for the TD!
The Bison had no answer for South Dakota State's rushing attack, with Amar Johnson (nine carries for 126 yards and a touchdown), Isaiah Davis (22 caries for 103 yards and a score) and quarterback Mark Gronowski (five carries for 57 yards and a touchdown) carving them up all afternoon.
Gronowski was nearly as effective through the air, finishing 14-of-21 for 223 yards and three scores.
Michael Morgan with nothing but green grass and the Bison end zone in front of him ... 44 yards and the third Jackrabbit touchdown of the second quarter πΊABC/ESPN
By the time South Dakota State took a 28-7 lead in the second quarter, it seemed like a Jackrabbits title was inevitable.
Suffice to say, it was a therapeutic day for a South Dakota State program that had watched its neighbor dominate FCS football for such a long time:
What a moment for South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits beat rival NDSU 45-21 for their first FCS title.
I was there a few years ago when Sam Houston beat SDSU for the title in the final seconds. Now SDSU takes down their goliath rival for the second time this season. Iconic.
South Dakota State is letting out some DEMONS today against North Dakota State. John Stiegelmeier is 33 minutes away from his first national championship after 35 years with the program, including 26 as head coach.
What the streets donβt know is that I was about 48 hours from enrolling at South Dakota State back in the day. The Jackrabbits will always have a special place in my heart.
Heck of a job by John Stiegelmeier and that squad to get the monkey off their back for good. #GoJacks π
It was a huge moment for a school that had come so close in 2020, only to lose to Sam Houston State 23-21 in the title game.
Losing championship games isn't something North Dakota State is familiar with in the slightest, meanwhileβthe school was 9-0 in such games before Sunday.
South Dakota State will be hoping it has entered its own era of dominance after dethroning the Bison.
FCS Playoffs 2022-23: Date, Schedule for NDSU vs. SDSU Championship
Dec 18, 2022
BROOKINGS, SD - OCTOBER 29: South Dakota State Jackrabbits Running back Isaiah Davis (22) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown during the college football game between the Indiana State Sycamores and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on October 29th, 2022, at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, in Brookings, South Dakota. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The No. 1 South Dakota State Jackrabbits will face the No. 3 North Dakota State Bison in a huge rivalry matchup in the 2023 FCS championship game Jan. 8 in Frisco, Texas, following a 39-18 win over No. 4 Montana State on Saturday.
South Dakota State is back in the championship game for the first time since 2020 and is looking for its first title in program history.
The Bison, meanwhile, have been the most dominant team in the FCS over the last decade-plus. They clinched a berth in the FCS title game for the 10th time in the past 12 seasons with a 35-32 win over Incarnate Word on Friday.
North Dakota State is aiming to win its 10th FCS title, all of which have come since 2011.
Here's a look at the schedule for the championship game and a deeper dive into each program's playoff run.
Championship Schedule
No. 1 South Dakota State vs. No. 3 North Dakota State: Saturday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. ET
Tale of the Tape
The rivalry between South Dakota State and North Dakota State dates all the way back to 1903. The Jackrabbits dominated play through 1963, but since then, the Bison have been in command despite three straight losses dating back to the 2021 season.
North Dakota State leads the series against South Dakota State 63-45-5.
The Jackrabbits and Bison met Oct. 15, and South Dakota won 23-21 after trailing 21-7 entering halftime. SDSU scored on all four of its second-half possessions and kept NDSU off the board after halftime to claim the win.
The Jackrabbits and Bisons have met in the FCS playoffs four timesβ2012 second round, 2014 second round, 2016 quarterfinals and 2018 semifinalsβand North Dakota State won each matchup.
South Dakota State's Run to the Final
As the No. 1 seed, South Dakota State earned a first-round bye after going 10-1 in the regular season.
They began their run to the title game with a 42-6 win over Delaware in the second round behind a 104-yard, two-touchdown performance from running back Isaiah Davis.
The Jackrabbits then defeated No. 8 Holy Cross 42-21 in the quarterfinals behind a respectable performance from quarterback Mark Gronowski, who completed 12 of 22 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 47 yards and one score.
In Saturday's semifinal matchup against No. 4 Montana State, SDSU won 39-18 on another three-touchdown performance by Gronowski, who passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another score.
Gronowski and Davis have been SDSU's biggest performers this postseason, and the Jackrabbits will need both to be at their best if they want to claim the title over North Dakota State.
North Dakota State's Run to the Final
North Dakota State secured a first-round bye and the No. 3 seed after going 9-2 in the regular season.
The Bison earned a 49-26 win over Montana in the second round behind brilliant rushing performances from running backs Kobe Johnson (206 yards, two touchdowns) and TaMerik Williams (101 yards, one touchdown).
From there, NDSU defeated No. 9 Samford 27-9 in the quarterfinals behind a two-touchdown performance by Cam Miller. The quarterback completed 15 of 18 passes for 194 yards and one touchdown, in addition to rushing for 21 yards and a score.
In Friday's semifinal matchup against No. 7 Incarnate Word, North Dakota State won 35-32 thanks to a three-touchdown performance from Johnson.
The Bison offense has been somewhat one-dimensional this postseason as Miller has thrown for just 257 yards in three games. The running game has been outstanding, but the passing game needs to get going if NDSU hopes to claim another title.
Video: Moose Spotted Running Across South Dakota St. Football Field
Nov 5, 2021
FRISCO, TX - MAY 16: The helmets of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits lay on the field before the Division I FCS Football Championship game against the Sam Houston State Bearkats held at Toyota Stadium on May 16, 2021 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
What happens when a moose tries to play with a jackrabbit?
We could have gotten an answer to this question Friday if there had been a football game in progress when a moose was spotted running around South Dakota State's field:
MOOSE ON THE LOOSE: A moose was spotted running around the South Dakota State University football field Friday.
Dykhouse Stadium has been the home of the Jackrabbits football team since 2016.
Perhaps this is part of some elaborate mind game heading into this week's marquee matchup, like when Bayside and Valley would go at it on Saved by the Bell. South Dakota State is hosting the North Dakota State Bison in the Dakota Marker game on Saturday.
Bison and moose aren't from the same family, but there is enough of a similarity between the two animals if you are far enough away and squinting that someone who is paranoid might suspect North Dakota State of shenanigans.
Of course, the more likely explanation is the moose was just running in the neighborhood and saw an opening it wanted to check out.
The moose didn't appear to be trying to cause any trouble. It wandered into the open stadium, took a quick look around and decided it wasn't the right place to be.
YSU Staffer Tim Johnson Banned from Sideline After Contact with UNI Player
Mar 1, 2021
A group of footballs waits for warmups prior to an NCAA college football game between North Carolina State and the Ball State in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Youngstown State director of player personnel Tim Johnson will no longer be permitted to stand on the sidelines during the spring football season following an incident with a Northern Iowa player on Saturday.
The school and the Missouri Valley Football Conference announced the discipline on Monday.Β
"I apologize to UNI, Youngstown State, the Missouri Valley Football Conference and our community for what occurred on Saturday," Johnson said in a statement. "As a member of the YSU Football staff, my actions are held in high regard and that should have never occurred. Again, I deeply apologize to all who have been impacted by my actions."
As Sam Cooper of Yahoo Sports noted, Northern Iowa's Quan Hampton caught a pass and headed toward the sidelines, where Johnson appeared to lean in with his shoulder and knock the pass-catcher to the ground.
Hampton remained in the game and helped lead his team to a 21-0 victory.
Johnson was a linebacker at Youngstown State and played for the Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career. He also played professionally in the Canadian Football League.
This is his first season as a member of Youngstown State's football staff.
The Penguins are 0-2 in the spring season and will face Southern Illinois this coming Saturday.
