The tension in Frisco, Texas, during the 2025 FCS National Championship was so thick you could practically carve it. On one side, you had the Montana State Bobcats, sitting on a perfect 15-0 season, looking like a team of destiny. On the other, the North Dakota State Bison—the gold standard of the subdivision—carrying a legacy that usually intimidates teams before they even step off the bus.
It was a clash of titans. Honestly, it lived up to every bit of the hype.
If you’ve followed the history of Montana State Bobcats football vs NDSU football matches, you know this isn't just a game. It's a collision of cultures. You have the rugged, mountain-tough grit of Bozeman facing off against the disciplined, championship-bred machine out of Fargo. For years, NDSU has been the mountain the Bobcats just couldn't quite summit.
The 2025 National Championship Heartbreaker
January 6, 2025. Toyota Stadium was a sea of blue, gold, green, and yellow. Montana State entered as the top seed, yet they found themselves staring down a 14-0 hole before they could even blink. Cam Miller, the Bison quarterback who seems like he’s been playing college football since the Bush administration, was surgical. He ripped off a 64-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that left the Bobcat secondary looking like they were stuck in North Dakota mud.
By halftime, it was 21-3. Most teams would have packed it in.
But Brent Vigen has built something different in Bozeman. Vigen, who actually has deep roots at NDSU (having coached there for years), knows exactly how the Bison think. He didn't panic. The Bobcats roared back in the third quarter, fueled by Tommy Mellott. If you haven't watched Mellott play, you're missing out. The kid is basically a human highlight reel. He orchestrated a 15-point swing in the third, cutting the lead to 21-18.
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The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth slugfest. Mellott broke loose for a 44-yard touchdown run of his own to make it 28-25. But every time the Bobcats got close, the Bison did what they do best: they went on a soul-crushing, nine-play, 66-yard drive that ate five minutes off the clock. CharMar Brown punched it in for the Bison, and despite a late Taco Dowler touchdown for MSU, NDSU walked away with a 35-32 win and their 10th FCS title.
A History of Playoff Pain for the Bobcats
It’s becoming a bit of a recurring nightmare for the folks in Bozeman. When you look at the recent Montana State Bobcats football vs NDSU football matches, the postseason has been a one-way street.
Before the 2025 heartbreaker, there was the 2023 second-round matchup. That one was arguably even more painful. It went to overtime in Bozeman, ending in a 35-34 win for the Bison. A blocked extra point was the difference. Think about that. Sixty minutes of elite football decided by a finger tip on a kick.
Then there was the 2021 National Championship. That one wasn't close. NDSU rolled 38-10. Mellott got hurt early in that game, and the Bobcats never recovered. If you go back even further—2010, 2018, 2019—it’s the same story. NDSU has won the last six meetings.
The overall series is actually closer than people realize, with MSU leading 21-18-0 historically, but that's a stat for the history buffs. In the modern FCS era, the Bison have owned the rivalry. They are the gatekeepers. To be the best, the Bobcats have to beat the Bison, and lately, they just can't find the key to the gate.
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What Makes This Rivalry Different?
Most rivalries are built on geography or conference ties. This one is built on excellence. Montana State and NDSU aren't even in the same conference—MSU is Big Sky, NDSU is Missouri Valley—but they keep running into each other because they are consistently the last two teams standing.
The Coaching Connection
Brent Vigen is the bridge between these programs. He won national titles as an assistant at NDSU. He understands the "Bison Way." When he took over at Montana State, he brought that physical, run-first mentality with him. You can see it in the way the Bobcats play. They aren't the "finesse" Big Sky team of old. They are a physical, bruising squad that mirrors NDSU's identity.
The Quarterback Duel
We’ve been spoiled lately. Seeing Cam Miller and Tommy Mellott face off is like watching two heavyweight boxers who refuse to go down. Both were Walter Payton Award finalists in 2024. Miller is the steady, efficient leader who rarely makes mistakes. Mellott is the dynamic, explosive playmaker who can score from anywhere on the field.
In the 2025 title game, their stats were almost identical:
- Cam Miller (NDSU): 320 total yards, 4 touchdowns.
- Tommy Mellott (MSU): 330 total yards, 3 touchdowns.
It’s rare to see two quarterbacks at this level who are so clearly the heartbeat of their respective teams.
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The "What Ifs" and Misconceptions
People like to say Montana State has a "Bison problem." While the 0-6 recent record suggests that, it ignores how thin the margins are. In 2023 and 2025, a total of four points separated these two teams. If a kick isn't blocked in 2023, or if the Bobcats get one more stop in the first half of 2025, the narrative is completely different.
There's also a misconception that NDSU just has better athletes. That’s not really true anymore. The recruiting gap has closed significantly. The difference now is "postseason poise." NDSU has been in these games so many times that they don't rattle. They expect to win. Montana State is still learning how to get over that final mental hurdle.
Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond
The 2025 season ended in a "dud" for the Bison in some ways—they were actually upset by Illinois State in the 2025 playoffs (the biggest upset in FCS history, according to some)—which opened the door for Montana State to finally grab a ring. But even then, the shadow of the Bison looms.
If you’re a fan or a bettor looking at future Montana State Bobcats football vs NDSU football matches, here is the reality:
- Home Field Matters (Until it Doesn't): MSU has struggled to beat NDSU even in the "Gold Rush" atmosphere of Bobcat Stadium. Don't assume the home crowd is enough to tilt the scale.
- The Trenches Decided Everything: In every single one of these games, the team that averages more yards per carry wins. It’s not about the deep ball; it’s about who can get 4 yards on 3rd and 3.
- Depth is the Deciding Factor: NDSU’s ability to rotate defensive linemen keeps them fresh for those fourth-quarter drives. MSU is getting better at this, but they aren't quite at the Bison's "two-deep" level of consistency yet.
To really understand where this rivalry is going, you have to watch the recruiting trails. Both teams are now poaching players from the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest, fighting for the same three-star recruits who got overlooked by the FBS.
The gap is gone. The rivalry is peak. And honestly? We’re probably going to see them in Frisco again sooner rather than later.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Line of Scrimmage: Next time these two play, ignore the scoreboard for the first quarter. Look at how much push the NDSU offensive line is getting. If they are moving the Bobcats 2-3 yards back on every snap, the game is already over.
- Quarterback Health is Key: Both teams rely heavily on "running" quarterbacks. History shows that when Mellott or Miller are dinged up, the entire offense stalls.
- Track the Coaching Carousel: With the success of both Vigen and NDSU’s staff, keep an eye on FBS schools trying to lure them away. A coaching change at either school would drastically shift the power balance in the FCS.