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.

Denied ❌@MSUBobcats_FB forces the fumble and recovers to close it!#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC pic.twitter.com/sXk20fQ8OC

— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 21, 2024

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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.

Next Stop: Frisco ⏭🤠#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC / @MSUBobcats_FB pic.twitter.com/YzRv0wJ3Ln

— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 22, 2024

Click or tap here for stats from the game

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.

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.

See stats through three quarters below

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

LIVING LEGEND 🤯

Appreciating every minute of @Tommy_Mellott pic.twitter.com/yv65Rh8VOV

— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) December 21, 2024

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. 

BOZEMAN’S OWN 💪💪

📺 ABC@kennetheideniv | #BobcatBuilt pic.twitter.com/mkYnfX0mGj

— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) December 21, 2024

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.

When play resumes, South Dakota will receive the second half kickoff.

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.

Pierre Powers Ahead 🏃‍♂️

Charles Pierre Jr. takes it 45 yards to the house!#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC / @SDCoyotesFB pic.twitter.com/ptvbHqoItq

— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 21, 2024

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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

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. 

Theis for the Tie! 🙌@SDCoyotesFB RB breaks loose for a 55-yard touchdown to even the score!#FCSPlayoffs x 🎥 ABC pic.twitter.com/oShCPoukkx

— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 21, 2024

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.

TACO TIME TACO TIME 🌮🌮@DowlerTaco x @Tommy_Mellott

📺 ABC#BobcatBuilt | #CATS pic.twitter.com/HuyoCB2QTj

— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB) December 21, 2024

Here’s how to watch the 2024 FCS semifinal game between South Dakota and Montana State:

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
• Big Sky Freshman of the Year: RB Adam Jones

Montana State All-Big Sky Players

• 1st Team | QB Tommy Mellott
• 1st Team | RB Scottre Humphrey
• 1st Team | FB Rohan Jones
• 1st Team | OL Marcus Wehr (unanimous)
• 1st Team | OL Conner Moore
• 1st Team | DL Brody Grebe (unanimous)
• 1st Team | LB McCade O’Reilly
• 1st Team | DB Rylan Ortt
• 1st Team | PR Taco Dowler
• 2nd Team | OL Titan Fleischmann
• 2nd Team | OL Cole Sain
• 2nd Team | DL Paul Brott
• 2nd Team | LB Danny Uluilakep
• 2nd Team | DB Andrew Powdrell
• 2nd Team | P Brendan Hall