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North Dakota State vs. Montana State

Monday, January 6, 2025, FCS Championship

North Dakota State beat Montana State 35–⁠32. It was their 10th meeting; North Dakota State leads the series 6–⁠4.

Neutral siteNorth Dakota State14–⁠2 in 2024
35
Neutral siteMontana State15–⁠1 in 2024
32

Final at Toyota Stadium, FriscoTV: ESPN, ESPN+Attendance 18,005

MVP Cam Miller (QB, North Dakota State)Wikipedia

At kickoff
37°F, clear, wind 7 mph from the northwestWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Addison Airport (KADS), 21 km from the stadium, 13 minutes before kickoff
Official
Matt OvertonGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
North Dakota State14701435
Montana State03151432

Standouts

  • PassingCam Miller19 of 22, 200 yards, 2 TDNorth Dakota State
  • RushingCam Miller18 carries, 121 yards, 2 TDNorth Dakota State
  • ReceivingBryce Lance9 catches, 108 yards, 1 TDNorth Dakota State

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

North Dakota State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Cam Miller19/2220020
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Cam Miller18121264
CharMar Brown1777116
Barika Kpeenu1404
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Bryce Lance9108139
RaJa Nelson552022
Joe Stoffel329120
Braylon Henderson1808

Montana State

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Tommy Mellott13/2419520
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Tommy Mellott14135144
Adam Jones113806
Scottre Humphrey112716
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Ryan Lonergan153053
Taco Dowler351126
Ty McCullouch432019
Ryan King125025

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

North Dakota StateMontana State
402Total yards394
200Passing yards195
202Rushing yards199
8.7Yards per pass8.1
5.6Yards per rush5.4
17First downs19
8–⁠12Third downs8–⁠13
0–⁠0Fourth downs1–⁠2
0Turnovers0
9–⁠58Penalties2–⁠20
28:49Possession31:01

Efficiency

North Dakota StateMontana State
56%Success rate53%
0.44EPA per play0.30
1.12Explosiveness1.20
0.23Rushing EPA0.30
0.73Passing EPA0.30
62%Passing-down success42%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Montana State 51% to win. North Dakota State won as Elo’s underdog.

The line

Montana State −6.5, over/under 58.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were Montana State 61%, North Dakota State 39%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

Every drive

Montana State end zoneNorth Dakota State end zoneQ1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 12 playsQ1 Montana StatePunt, 6 playsQ1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 5 playsQ1 Montana StateField goal, 17 playsQ2 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 playsQ2 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 7 playsQ2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 10 playsQ2 Montana StateEnd of half, 1 playQ3 Montana StateTouchdown, 11 playsQ3 North Dakota StatePunt, 6 playsQ3 Montana StateTouchdown, 2 playsQ3 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 8 playsQ4 Montana StateTouchdown, 5 playsQ4 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 playsQ4 Montana StatePunt, 3 playsQ4 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 9 playsQ4 Montana StateTouchdown, 10 playsQ4 North Dakota StateResult not recorded, 3 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Montana State drives left to right, North Dakota State right to left.
  1. Q1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 12 plays, 75 yards
  2. Q1 Montana StatePunt, 6 plays, 30 yards
  3. Q1 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 5 plays, 92 yards
  4. Q1 Montana StateField goal, 17 plays, 61 yards
  5. Q2 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 plays, −4 yards
  6. Q2 Montana StateTurnover on downs, 7 plays, 18 yards
  7. Q2 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 10 plays, 56 yards
  8. Q2 Montana StateEnd of half, 1 play, −1 yard
  9. Q3 Montana StateTouchdown, 11 plays, 75 yards
  10. Q3 North Dakota StatePunt, 6 plays, 8 yards
  11. Q3 Montana StateTouchdown, 2 plays, 58 yards
  12. Q3 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 8 plays, 75 yards
  13. Q4 Montana StateTouchdown, 5 plays, 75 yards
  14. Q4 North Dakota StatePunt, 3 plays, 9 yards
  15. Q4 Montana StatePunt, 3 plays, 6 yards
  16. Q4 North Dakota StateTouchdown, 9 plays, 66 yards
  17. Q4 Montana StateTouchdown, 10 plays, 73 yards
  18. Q4 North Dakota StateResult not recorded, 3 plays, −3 yards

Play by play

1st quarter4 drives, then North Dakota State 14, Montana State 0
North Dakota State Touchdown, 12 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:401st & 10 at own 25CharMar Brown run for 6 yds to the NDSU 31
13:582nd & 4 at own 31Cam Miller pass complete to Braylon Henderson for 8 yds to the NDSU 39 for a 1ST down
13:351st & 10 at own 39Cam Miller run for 4 yds to the NDSU 43
13:002nd & 6 at own 43Cam Miller pass complete to Bryce Lance for 14 yds to the MTST 43 for a 1ST down
12:201st & 10 at opp 43Cam Miller run for 1 yd to the MTST 42
11:222nd & 9 at opp 42Cam Miller pass complete to RaJa Nelson for 22 yds to the MTST 20 for a 1ST down
11:001st & 10 at opp 20CharMar Brown run for 5 yds to the MTST 15
10:242nd & 5 at opp 15CharMar Brown run for 4 yds to the MTST 11
9:253rd & 1 at opp 11Cam Miller run for 7 yds to the MTST 4 for a 1ST down
9:101st & goal at opp 4Cam Miller run for 2 yds to the MTST 2
8:352nd & goal at opp 2CharMar Brown run for no gain to the MTST 2
7:553rd & goal at opp 2Cam Miller run for 2 yds for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 7, Montana State 0
Montana State Punt, 6 plays
7:553rd & 8 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
7:451st & 10 at own 25Scottre Humphrey run for 3 yds to the MTST 28
7:132nd & 7 at own 28Scottre Humphrey run for 2 yds to the MTST 30
6:333rd & 5 at own 30Tommy Mellott run for 19 yds to the MTST 49 for a 1ST down
5:541st & 10 at own 49Adam Jones run for 6 yds to the NDSU 45
5:062nd & 4 at opp 45Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Ryan King
5:023rd & 4 at opp 45Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Rohan Jones
4:564th & 4 at opp 45Brendan Hall punt for 37 yds, fair catch by Jackson Williams at the NDSU 8
North Dakota State Touchdown, 5 plays
4:311st & 10 at own 8CharMar Brown run for 3 yds to the NDSU 11
3:452nd & 7 at own 11Cam Miller run for 4 yds to the NDSU 15
3:243rd & 3 at own 15Miller, Cam pass incomplete to Lance, Bryce, PENALTY MONTANAST pass interference (Powdrell, Andrew) 15 yards to the NODAKOTAST30, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN NODAKOTAST.
3:211st & 10 at own 30North Dakota State Penalty, False Start (Griffin Empey) to the NDSU 25
3:101st & 15 at own 25CharMar Brown run for 4 yds to the NDSU 29
2:342nd & 11 at own 29Cam Miller pass complete to RaJa Nelson for 7 yds to the NDSU 36
1:513rd & 4 at own 36Cam Miller run for 64 yds for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 14, Montana State 0
Montana State Field goal, 17 plays
1:513rd & 4 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
1:381st & 10 at own 25Adam Jones run for 2 yds to the MTST 27
1:002nd & 8 at own 27Adam Jones run for 6 yds to the MTST 33
0:103rd & 2 at own 33Adam Jones run for 2 yds to the MTST 35 for a 1ST down
Q2 14:451st & 10 at own 35Tommy Mellott run for 5 yds to the MTST 40
Q2 13:452nd & 5 at own 40Scottre Humphrey run for 3 yds to the MTST 43
Q2 13:243rd & 2 at own 43Tommy Mellott run for 3 yds to the MTST 46 for a 1ST down
Q2 12:201st & 10 at own 46Tommy Mellott pass complete to Rohan Jones for 8 yds to the NDSU 46
Q2 11:502nd & 2 at opp 46Tommy Mellott run for 3 yds to the NDSU 43 for a 1ST down
Q2 10:501st & 10 at opp 43Scottre Humphrey run for 6 yds to the NDSU 37
Q2 10:222nd & 4 at opp 37Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ty McCullouch for 3 yds to the NDSU 34
Q2 9:273rd & 1 at opp 34Tommy Mellott run for 2 yds to the NDSU 32 for a 1ST down
Q2 8:471st & 10 at opp 32Adam Jones run for 5 yds to the NDSU 27
Q2 7:462nd & 5 at opp 27Adam Jones run for 6 yds to the NDSU 21 for a 1ST down
Q2 7:071st & 10 at opp 21Tommy Mellott pass complete to Rohan Jones for 6 yds to the NDSU 15
Q2 6:452nd & 4 at opp 15Scottre Humphrey run for 1 yd to the NDSU 14
Q2 5:453rd & 3 at opp 14Tommy Mellott run for no gain to the NDSU 14
Q2 5:384th & 3 at opp 14Myles Sansted 32 yd FG GOODNorth Dakota State 14, Montana State 3
2nd quarter4 drives, then North Dakota State 21, Montana State 3
North Dakota State Punt, 3 plays
5:384th & 3 at own 35Brendan Hall kickoff for 64 yds , Jackson Williams return for 23 yds to the NDSU 24
5:051st & 10 at own 24Barika Kpeenu run for 4 yds to the NDSU 28
4:102nd & 6 at own 28Cam Miller run for a loss of 4 yards to the NDSU 24
4:003rd & 10 at own 24North Dakota State Penalty, Personal Foul (Grey Zabel) to the NDSU 12
3:553rd & 22 at own 12Cam Miller pass complete to Joe Stoffel for 8 yds to the NDSU 20
3:484th & 14 at own 20Kaedin Steindorf punt for 42 yds, downed at the MTST 38
Montana State Turnover on downs, 7 plays
3:401st & 10 at own 38Tommy Mellott run for 8 yds to the MTST 46
2:302nd & 2 at own 46Adam Jones run for a loss of 2 yards to the MTST 44
2:113rd & 4 at own 44Tommy Mellott run for 7 yds to the NDSU 49 for a 1ST down
1:301st & 10 at opp 49Adam Jones run for no gain to the NDSU 49
1:142nd & 10 at opp 49Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Adam Jones
1:053rd & 10 at opp 49Tommy Mellott run for 5 yds to the NDSU 44
1:054th & 5 at opp 44Timeout North Dakota State, clock 01:05
0:594th & 5 at opp 44Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Taco Dowler
North Dakota State Touchdown, 10 plays
0:551st & 10 at own 44Cam Miller pass incomplete to CharMar Brown
0:472nd & 10 at own 44Cam Miller run for 8 yds to the MTST 48
0:433rd & 2 at opp 48Cam Miller pass complete to Bryce Lance for 6 yds to the MTST 42 for a 1ST down
0:391st & 10 at opp 42Cam Miller pass complete to Bryce Lance for 7 yds to the MTST 35
0:342nd & 3 at opp 35Cam Miller pass complete to RaJa Nelson for 10 yds to the MTST 25 for a 1ST down
0:341st & 10 at opp 25Timeout North Dakota State, clock 00:34
0:281st & 10 at opp 25Cam Miller run for 3 yds to the MTST 22
0:282nd & 7 at opp 22Timeout North Dakota State, clock 00:28
0:282nd & 7 at opp 22North Dakota State Penalty, False Start (Mason Miller) to the MTST 27
0:222nd & 12 at opp 27Cam Miller run for 17 yds to the MTST 10 for a 1ST down
0:191st & goal at opp 10TEAM pass incomplete
0:132nd & goal at opp 10Cam Miller pass complete to Bryce Lance for 9 yds to the MTST 1
0:123rd & goal at opp 1Cam Miller pass complete to Bryce Lance for 1 yd for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 21, Montana State 3
Montana State End of half, 1 play
0:123rd & 1 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 64 yds , Adam Jones return for 29 yds to the MTST 30
0:001st & 10 at own 30TEAM run for a loss of 1 yard to the MTST 29
3rd quarter4 drives, then North Dakota State 21, Montana State 18
Montana State Touchdown, 11 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds , Adam Jones return for 25 yds to the MTST 25
14:251st & 10 at own 25Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ty McCullouch for 8 yds to the MTST 33
14:002nd & 2 at own 33Scottre Humphrey run for 4 yds to the MTST 37 for a 1ST down
13:301st & 10 at own 37Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Rohan Jones
13:002nd & 10 at own 37Scottre Humphrey run for 2 yds to the MTST 39
12:143rd & 8 at own 39Tommy Mellott pass complete to Taco Dowler for 26 yds to the NDSU 35 for a 1ST down
12:081st & 10 at opp 35Montana State Penalty, False Start (Conner Moore) to the NDSU 40
11:271st & 15 at opp 40Adam Jones run for 6 yds to the NDSU 34
11:012nd & 9 at opp 34North Dakota State Penalty, Defensive Offside (Eli Mostaert) to the NDSU 29
10:222nd & 4 at opp 29Adam Jones run for 3 yds to the NDSU 26
9:183rd & 1 at opp 26Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ryan King for 25 yds to the NDSU 1 for a 1ST down
8:401st & goal at opp 1Scottre Humphrey run for a loss of 1 yard to the NDSU 2
8:182nd & goal at opp 2Mellott, Tommy pass incomplete to King, Ryan, PENALTY NODAKOTAST holding (Gulley, Marcus) 1 yards to the NODAKOTAST1, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN MONTANAST.
8:121st & goal at opp 1Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Rohan Jones
8:092nd & goal at opp 1Scottre Humphrey run for 1 yd for a TD (Myles Sansted KICK)North Dakota State 21, Montana State 10
North Dakota State Punt, 6 plays
8:092nd & 10 at own 35Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
7:431st & 10 at own 25CharMar Brown run for 3 yds to the NDSU 28
6:442nd & 7 at own 28Cam Miller pass complete to CharMar Brown for 3 yds to the NDSU 31
6:103rd & 4 at own 31Cam Miller run for 7 yds to the NDSU 38 for a 1ST down
5:241st & 10 at own 38Cam Miller run for no gain to the NDSU 38
5:142nd & 10 at own 38Cam Miller pass incomplete to Bryce Lance
5:143rd & 10 at own 38North Dakota State Penalty, False Start (Mason Miller) to the NDSU 33
5:103rd & 15 at own 33Cam Miller pass incomplete to RaJa Nelson
5:004th & 15 at own 33Kaedin Steindorf punt for 37 yds , Taco Dowler returns for 12 yds to the MTST 42
Montana State Touchdown, 2 plays
4:401st & 10 at own 42Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ryan Lonergan for 53 yds to the NDSU 5 for a 1ST down
4:031st & goal at opp 5Tommy Mellott pass complete to Rohan Jones for 5 yds for a TD (Tommy Mellott pass to Ryan Lonergan for Two-Point Conversion)North Dakota State 21, Montana State 18
North Dakota State Touchdown, 8 plays
4:031st & 10 at own 35Brendan Hall kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
3:501st & 10 at own 25Cam Miller pass complete to Joe Stoffel for 20 yds to the NDSU 45 for a 1ST down
3:061st & 10 at own 45Cam Miller run for 1 yd to the NDSU 46
2:202nd & 9 at own 46Cam Miller pass complete to Bryce Lance for 9 yds to the MTST 45 for a 1ST down
1:391st & 10 at opp 45CharMar Brown run for 7 yds to the MTST 38
1:222nd & 3 at opp 38CharMar Brown run for 2 yds to the MTST 36
0:403rd & 1 at opp 36North Dakota State Penalty, False Start (Carson Williams) to the MTST 41
0:003rd & 6 at opp 41Cam Miller pass complete to Bryce Lance for 39 yds to the MTST 2 for a 1ST down
Q4 14:451st & goal at opp 2CharMar Brown run for 1 yd to the MTST 1
Q4 14:182nd & goal at opp 1Cam Miller pass complete to Joe Stoffel for 1 yd for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 28, Montana State 18
4th quarter6 drives, then North Dakota State 35, Montana State 32
Montana State Touchdown, 5 plays
14:182nd & 9 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:081st & 10 at own 25Scottre Humphrey run for 4 yds to the MTST 29
13:302nd & 6 at own 29Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ty McCullouch for 2 yds to the MTST 31
12:503rd & 4 at own 31Tommy Mellott pass complete to Taco Dowler for 6 yds to the MTST 37 for a 1ST down
11:551st & 10 at own 37Tommy Mellott pass complete to Ty McCullouch for 19 yds to the NDSU 44 for a 1ST down
11:251st & 10 at opp 44Tommy Mellott run for 44 yds for a TD (Myles Sansted KICK)North Dakota State 28, Montana State 25
North Dakota State Punt, 3 plays
11:251st & 10 at own 35Brendan Hall kickoff for 61 yds
11:151st & 10 at own 35CharMar Brown run for 2 yds to the NDSU 37
10:342nd & 8 at own 37Cam Miller pass complete to RaJa Nelson for 6 yds to the NDSU 43
9:593rd & 2 at own 43Cam Miller run for 1 yd to the NDSU 44
9:224th & 1 at own 44Kaedin Steindorf punt for 39 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the MTST 17
Montana State Punt, 3 plays
9:001st & 10 at own 17Scottre Humphrey run for 2 yds to the MTST 19
8:302nd & 8 at own 19Adam Jones run for 4 yds to the MTST 23
7:533rd & 4 at own 23Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Rohan Jones
7:474th & 4 at own 23Brendan Hall punt for 43 yds, fair catch by Jackson Williams at the NDSU 34
North Dakota State Touchdown, 9 plays
7:331st & 10 at own 34Cam Miller pass complete to Bryce Lance for 18 yds to the MTST 48 for a 1ST down
6:591st & 10 at opp 48CharMar Brown run for 7 yds to the MTST 41
6:152nd & 3 at opp 41CharMar Brown run for 16 yds to the MTST 25 for a 1ST down
5:381st & 10 at opp 25Cam Miller pass complete to Bryce Lance for 5 yds to the MTST 20
4:282nd & 5 at opp 20Cam Miller sacked by Kenneth Eiden IV for a loss of 1 yard to the MTST 21
4:193rd & 6 at opp 21Timeout North Dakota State, clock 04:19
4:083rd & 6 at opp 21Cam Miller pass complete to RaJa Nelson for 7 yds to the MTST 14 for a 1ST down
3:281st & 10 at opp 14CharMar Brown run for 9 yds to the MTST 5
2:422nd & 1 at opp 5CharMar Brown run for 2 yds to the MTST 3 for a 1ST down
2:421st & goal at opp 3Timeout Montana State, clock 02:42
2:411st & goal at opp 3CharMar Brown run for 3 yds for a TD (Griffin Crosa KICK)North Dakota State 35, Montana State 25
Montana State Touchdown, 10 plays
2:411st & 10 at own 35Eli Ozick kickoff for 65 yds , Adam Jones return for 27 yds to the MTST 27
2:291st & 10 at own 27Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Lonyatta Alexander Jr.
2:132nd & 10 at own 27Tommy Mellott run for 15 yds to the MTST 42 for a 1ST down
2:001st & 10 at own 42Tommy Mellott run for 7 yds to the MTST 49
1:522nd & 3 at own 49Tommy Mellott run for 9 yds to the NDSU 42 for a 1ST down
1:451st & 10 at opp 42Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Taco Dowler
1:332nd & 10 at opp 42Tommy Mellott pass complete to Adam Jones for 15 yds to the NDSU 27 for a 1ST down
1:291st & 10 at opp 27Tommy Mellott pass incomplete to Ty McCullouch
1:232nd & 10 at opp 27Tommy Mellott pass incomplete
1:153rd & 10 at opp 27Tommy Mellott run for 8 yds to the NDSU 19
1:094th & 2 at opp 19Tommy Mellott pass complete to Taco Dowler for 19 yds for a TD (Myles Sansted KICK)North Dakota State 35, Montana State 32
1:094th & 2 at own 35Timeout North Dakota State, clock 01:09
North Dakota State Result not recorded, 3 plays
1:094th & 2 at own 35Brendan Hall on-side kick recovered by North Dakota State at the NDSU 48 North Dakota State Penalty, Personal Foul (15 Yards) to the NDSU 37
1:031st & 10 at own 37Cam Miller run for 3 yds to the NDSU 40
1:032nd & 7 at own 40Timeout Montana State, clock 01:03
0:562nd & 7 at own 40Cam Miller run for 2 yds to the NDSU 42
0:563rd & 5 at own 42Timeout Montana State, clock 00:56
0:143rd & 5 at own 42CharMar Brown run for 3 yds to the NDSU 45
0:104th & 2 at own 45Timeout North Dakota State, clock 00:10
0:104th & 2 at own 45North Dakota State Penalty, Delay of Game (-5 Yards) to the NDSU 40

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every North Dakota State–Montana State game

North Dakota State leads 6–⁠4 in 10 meetings.

Recent meetings
2024North Dakota State 35, Montana State 32FCS Championship
2023North Dakota State 35, Montana State 34FCS Championship – Second Round
2021North Dakota State 38, Montana State 10
2019North Dakota State 42, Montana State 14
2018North Dakota State 52, Montana State 10
2010North Dakota State 42, Montana State 17NCAA Division I Football Championship – Second Round

Around this game

North Dakota State

Montana State