FCS Championship: NDSU Spoils Another Historic Montana State Season

On Saturday night, the Montana State football account shared a video of MSU players swarming and celebrating with quarterback Tommy Mellott in the hotel lobby after he returned from winning the Walter Payton Award.

The vibes were immaculate. 

The responses and comments to the video were aplenty, talking about how this Bobcat team was different, a truly special squad ready to accomplish greatness in the FCS championship game in two nights, a team of destiny, and some “Cats by 90” type of responses as well.

The video was another moment of things just lining up for MSU to win its first national championship in 40 years. From Mellott’s magical play as everyone’s favorite Montana son, to Brent Vigen not getting swayed by FBS openings, to how MSU had built itself up over the years to finally get to this moment, to finally reach the FCS mountaintop after a multi-season climb that ended in tough tumbles.

If not now, then when?

It was all leading up to a legendary day for the state of Montana.

And then … NDSU happened.

The Bison — an underdog in the spread (+4.5) and most predictions (even from FCS coaches who know what they’re seeing) — beat the Bobcats 35-32 Monday night to win their 10th FCS national championship.

NDSU took a commanding 21-3 lead into halftime. But MSU made a valiant comeback, making it a 21-18 deficit with two straight touchdowns in the third quarter. The Bison made it a 2-score game again, then MSU made it 28-25, then NDSU made it a 2-score game again, and then MSU made it 35-32 with 1:09 to go but couldn’t recover the ensuing onside kick.

It was a fun finish after a jarring first-half domination by the Bison. The FCS title game needed some late-game drama after three straight years of decisive results.

After a two-season “drought,” the Bison have reclaimed their FCS throne, continuing one of the most impressive runs in college football history. The true meaning of a program lives in Fargo.

“A pretty incredible journey started with a group of seniors that decided after a team meeting to get together and just what are we going to do?” NDSU head coach Tim Polasek said after the game. “They chose to stay. And once again, there’s a lot of evidence with our program, we’re running a football program, but those that stayed will be champions.”

Cam Miller was a gamer tonight, as he’s been all season. He completed 19/22 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 18 times for 121 yards and another two scores.

But all eyes were on Montana State entering this game. Was it finally their time? It seemed so, which makes this a crushing loss for MSU. And it was a business-as-usual and an OK-make-room-for-another-trophy win for NDSU.

“We came here with one expectation,” Vigen said postgame. “I know it stings a lot for these guys, for these seniors in particular that have laid such a foundation for our program. They’ve certainly built upon the seniors before them, but the success they’ve had, been through a lot of ups and some downs. Obviously this is a low point. You end up rattling off 15 victories and you can’t finish it off, this is not how we wanted this day to end. But I know the program’s much better for their efforts.”

Polasek is a very likable guy. The players are likable. NDSU fans, while brash and confident online, are some of the nicest humans when you talk to them in person. But NDSU is the villain in the FCS. That’s the reality when you’ve won this many titles. It’s less about you, and more about your success. The Kansas City Chiefs have gone from a likable team to a squad many are sick of. Same thing with Golden State in the 2010s.

And boy did NDSU play the villain part well on Monday.

It was supposed to be a historic day in Montana, a state that loves its football teams like the Frisco area loves its Cowboys. It was supposed to be a movie-like sendoff for several Montana seniors who learned their lessons in past playoff defeats to build themselves into a national championship team. It was supposed to be Mellott’s statue-building performance as one of, if not the most notable players in the state’s history. It was supposed to be a full-circle moment for MSU to finally topple NDSU.

And then … NDSU happened.

Maybe it’s because us FCS followers want new storylines. Something different. Maybe some were trying to wish an MSU win into existence and talk themselves into it being a likelihood. Maybe because this year’s NDSU team isn’t quite on the same level as all-time Bison teams like 2013, 2018, or 2019, we subconsciously think the Bison aren’t as good as they actually are. “This is an all-time Montana State team going up against one of NDSU’s least talented teams” was a common thought. But maybe this NDSU team was also really really good and our memories of the all-time Bison teams deceive how we evaluate more current NDSU rosters. Maybe there’s just something about this NDSU program where it rises up and plays its best in the biggest moment.

And the Bison reminded us who they are once again.

“The standard is the standard, and the expectation is the expectation,” Polasek said.

Every FCS fan base besides, of course, NDSU (and maybe Montana) wanted the Bobcats to win. It was a feel-good moment other fan bases were ready to celebrate. Instead, the Bison told the rest of the FCS, “Remember who we are.” The amount of dirt shoveled on their dynasty was probably enough to make a new road from Fargo to Frisco.

And then … NDSU happened.

It’s the Bison’s FCS once again.