Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has had a successful offseason so far, landing 20-plus players through the transfer portal, including former Purdue Edge Nic Scourton, who led the Big 10 in sacks during his first collegiate season.
Following the Maroon & White spring game, it was evident that the wide receiver depth chart needed bolstering. Junior WR Noah Thomas was the sole receiver who made a significant impact. However, under Elko’s astute leadership, the team swiftly recognized the issue and tapped into the spring transfer portal, offering two seasoned wideouts, KeAndre Lambert Smith and Sam Brown.
Lambert-Smith committed to Auburn, while Brown is now headed to Miami. The good news? Elko and his staff will host former Auburn receiver Ja’Varrius Johnson on May 3, but another prolific receiving option has just entered the portal as of Monday afternoon.
Following his impressive 2023 season, former North Dakota State wide receiver Eli Green is now available. He recorded 46 receptions, 886 yards, and three touchdowns during his sophomore campaign.
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Standing at 5-11 and 185 pounds, Green’s route running and notable second-gear speed in the open field is intriguing for an Aggie offense that needs explosiveness in the passing game. Green has two more years of collegiate eligibility remaining.
North Dakota State wide receiver Eli Green has entered the transfer portal, @On3sports has learned.
He tallied 46 catches for 887 yards and three touchdowns. https://t.co/VNvB2Ek6qR pic.twitter.com/WeCLVevNdG
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.
GOLF’s Course Raters and Ran Morrissett, Architecture Editor
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The Links of North Dakota is the top-ranked course in the state.
Courtesy
As part of GOLF’s rigorous ratings process for our newly released Top 100 Courses in the U.S. and Top 100 Courses You Can Play rankings, our fleet of 100-plus expert panelists identified the best golf courses in every state.
You can check out the links below to browse all of our course rankings, or scroll down to see the best courses in North Dakota. And if you’re looking to create your own trip in the future, you’d be wise to let GOLF’s new Course Finder tool assist you. Here, you can toggle all of our lists — Top 100 public, best munis, best short courses, best par-3s and more — or filter by price to create the perfect itinerary for your next trip.
GOLF’s other course rankings: Top 100 Courses in the World | Top 100 Courses in the U.S. | Top 100 Courses You Can Play | Top 100 Value Courses in the U.S. | America’s Best Municipal Courses | The 100 Best Short Courses in the World
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Golf courses near you? Search here!
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The best golf courses in North Dakota (2024/2025)
SYMBOL GUIDE # = Top 100 Course in the U.S. Y = Top 100 You Can Play in the U.S. V = Top 100 Value Course in the U.S. P = Public/Resort
Ed. note: Some courses were omitted from our rankings because they did not receive enough votes.
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1. Links of North Dakota (Ray) [V, P]
2. Hawktree (Bismarck) [V, P]
Award-winning architect Jim Engh is best-known as a maximalist, but Hawktree’s main lines of defense are all natural. This Midwestern marvel rambles through glacier-carved land near the Missouri River, forcing players to contend with high plains winds and water that’s in play on 11 holes. When you arrive at Hawktree, the first thing you notice are the sweeping prairie vistas — 14 holes are visible from the clubhouse. The next thing you notice are the trademark bunkers, filled with black coal slag instead of white sand. By the end of the round, you’ll be thinking, “I need to play more golf in North Dakota.”
A gorgeous vista at Hawktree.
Patrick Koenig
3. Bully Pulpit (Medora) [V, P]
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4. Oxbow (Oxbow)
5. Fargo (Fargo)
How we rank our courses
For our newly released Top 100 U.S. and Top 100 You Can Play lists — a process that helped us create 50 best-in-state rankings — each panelist was provided a ballot that consisted of 609 courses. Beside the list of courses were 11 “buckets,” or groupings. If our panelists considered a course to be among the top three in the U.S., they ticked that first column. If they believed the course to be among Nos. 4-10, they checked that column, followed by 11-25, 26-50, and so on out to 250+ and even a column for “remove.” Panelists were also free to write in courses that they felt should have been included on the ballot.
Points were assigned to each bucket; to arrive at an average score for each course, we divide its aggregate score by the number of votes. From those point tallies, the courses are then ranked accordingly. It is an intentionally simple and straightforward process. Why? Because it historically has produced results that are widely lauded. Like the game itself, there’s no need to unnecessarily complicate things or try to fix something that already works so well.
The key to the process is the experience and expertise of our panel. Hailing from 15 nations and all the worldwide golf meccas, each of our 127 handpicked panelists has a keen eye for architecture, both regionally and globally. Many of our panelists have played more than 1,000 courses in 20-plus countries, some over 2,000. Their handicaps range from +5 to 15.
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Because the nature of course rating is so intensely subjective, no one opinion carries the day. The only way, then, to build meaningful consensus is to incorporate this diversity of panelists and experiences into one ranking.
Need help unriddling the greens at your home course? Pick up a custom Green Book from 8AM Golf affiliate GolfLogix.
Montana State defeated South Dakota, 31-17, to advance to the national title game.
The Bobcat defense stepped up big in the second half, holding South Dakota to only three points. In the fourth quarter, Montana State came up with two fourth down stops and a key fumble recovery on the final defensive possession.
Quarterback Tommy Mellot led the way offensively with 134 passing yards and a touchdown plus 125 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
It’s the first title appearance for Montana State since 2021. Fittingly enough, Montana State played — and lost to — North Dakota State in the title game that year, the first for head coach Brent Vigen and quarterback Tommy Mellott. The Bobcats and Bison will meet in Frisco, Texas to play in the FCS National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET.
After Montana State stopped South Dakota in the redzone on fourth down, the Coyote defense forced a punt to get the ball back. South Dakota will get the ball down 31-17 with 4:46 remaining and two timeouts.
11:00 pm, December 21, 2024
One quarter remains until we find out who the second FCS title game participant is. Montana State has a 14-point lead over South Dakota, 31-17 entering the fourth quarter. The Coyotes added a field goal with 2:11 to play in the third quarter to cut the deficit.
When play resumes, South Dakota will have the ball facing second-and-three at its own 40-yard line.
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See stats through three quarters below
10:31 pm, December 21, 2024
Tommy Mellott showed off why he’s one of the most electrifying players in the FCS. Mellott dropped the snap, made a defender miss, hurdled another defender and darted 41 yards into the endzone. Montana State leads 31-14
A field goal lat in the second quarter gave Montana State a 10-point lead entering halftime. The score was another addition to an explosive first half.
South Dakota scored two touchdowns of 55 and 45 yards on the ground. However, the pass game hasn’t been as explosive as Aidan Bouman only has 76 yards through the air going 0-2 on third down.
Montana State’s offense has been powered by Tommy Mellott. He’s 8-15 passing for 134 yards and a touchdown while rushing 13 times for 69 yards and a score. Mellott and the Bobcat offense have run 44 plays to South Dakota’s 16, while possessing the football for 20:28 to 9:24 for the Coyotes.
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When play resumes, South Dakota will receive the second half kickoff.
9:30 pm, December 21, 2024
9:19 pm, December 21, 2024
It took just one play into the second quarter for South Dakota to tie the game up. Running back Charles Pierre Jr. rushed 45 yards to the house on the second big run for the Coyotes today.
It’s been an explosive first quarter as both Montana State and South Dakota are moving the ball with ease for the most part. While both teams punted on their second possession, they scored quickly on their first.
Montana State’s third possession put them in front shortly before the first quarter expired as Tommy Mellott has two touchdowns, passing and rushing, for 90 yards passing and 29 yards rushing.
When play resumes, South Dakota will have the ball facing first-and-10 at the Montana State 45-yard line.
See first quarter stats below
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9:10 pm, December 21, 2024
8:47 pm, December 21, 2024
South Dakota responded to a quick Montana State touchdown on its opening drive with a quick touchdown of its own. The Coyotes found the endzone in just five plays as running back Travis Theis ran 55 yards for a touchdown.
It took just six plays and a little over three minutes for Montana State to find the endzone in the FCS semifinals. Quarterback Tommy Mellott found wide receiver Taco Dowler for a 34-yard score to put the Bobcats up 7-0. It was the second time the duo connected on the drive as they connected for 20 yards on the first play of the game.
The second FCS semifinal game is underway as No. 4 South Dakota battles No. 1 Montana State. The Bobcats received the opening kickoff.
8:12 pm, December 15, 2024
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Here’s how to watch the 2024 FCS semifinal game between South Dakota and Montana State:
8:11 pm, December 15, 2024
Here are some of the top storylines and players to watch entering this year’s FCS semifinal game between South Dakota and Montana State.
Storylines
How they got here
South Dakota ended the regular season with plenty of momentum after knocking off North Dakota State in a top-five matchup. Once the postseason started, the Coyotes rallied past Tarleton State in an explosive second-round win before beating UC Davis without ever trailing in the quarterfinals.
Montana State has dominated the competition all season long as the only undefeated team remaining in the FCS. The Bobcats haven’t played a close game in the playoffs after averaging 50.5 points scored and a 32.5 margin of victory in two games.
Past matchups
Montana State and South Dakota have only met once in the two program’s histories. The Bobcats won the lone matchup in 2008, 37-18.
Coaching
Two Coaches of the Year will meet in the semifinals. Big Sky Coach of the Year Brent Vigen will face MVFC Coach of the Year Bob Nielson. Vigen was also named the Eddie Robinson Award winner as the FCS coach of the year.
What’s at stake
South Dakota is in uncharted territory making its first-ever semifinal appearance. It’s only the fourth FCS playoff season in Coyote history. Meanwhile, Montana State is still chasing its 1984 FCS championship. The Bobcats have only made one return to the title game since (2021), the first year of the Brent Vigen-Tommy Mellott era.
Players to Watch
Here are some players to watch from South Dakota
MVFC Offensive Player of the Year: DL Mi’Quise Grace
South Dakota All-MVFC Players
1st Team | RB Charles Pierre Jr.
1st Team | FB Travis Theis
1st Team | OL Joey Lombard
1st Team | TE JJ Galbreath
1st Team | DL Nick Gaes
1st Team | DL Mi’Quise Grace
1st Team | DB Dennis Shorter
2nd Team | OL Joe Cotton
2nd Team | OL Bryce Henderson
2nd Team | DL Blake Holden
2nd Team | LB Gary Bryant III
2nd Team | DB Mike Reid
Here are some players to watch from Montana State
Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year: QB Tommy Mellott
Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year: DL Brody Grebe
North Dakota State and South Dakota State are tied at 14 apiece after the first half. It’s been a tightly-contested battle as most battles between the two rivals are.
South Dakota State has been able to lean on its running attack, gaining 111 yards to NDSU’s 53. Amar Johnson and Mark Gronowski have scored on the ground.
Meanwhile, Cam Miller has accounted for both North Dakota State touchdowns, scoring once with his legs and once with his arm. Miller also has been efficient, completing six of seven passes.
The biggest play of the first half was the lone turnover, a fumble by Amar Johnson that gave North Dakota State the ball in Jackrabbit territory.
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When play resumes, North Dakota State will receive the second half kick. See first half stats below.
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