It’s funny, because for two of the defining FCS programs of all time, there aren’t many occasions over the past two decades when a potential matchup between the Montana Grizzlies and the North Dakota State Bison would have had all that much import on the national title picture. Like two ships passing in the night, the Bison rose to dominate the 2010s as Montana’s success in the 2000s faltered and then crumbled.
When the two teams played in the 2015 season opener, it was more a nod to Montana’s historical cachet than anything else; the Grizzlies’ classic 38-35 win was most notable for its suggestion of a resurrection, a notion crushed by a 37-6 reverse in the second round of the playoffs three months later in the Fargodome. That year, the Grizzlies were a speedbump on the road to NDSU’s fifth straight national title.
Seven years later, they have a chance to be more than that. The Bison, conventional wisdom says, are down slightly from their best, with their first two-loss regular season (excepting the partial spring 2020 campaign) since that 2015 run.
Of course, so are the Grizzlies, and to maintain their tenuously regained level – they’re playing for their third straight quarterfinal appearance – they’ll have to beat the closest comparison to what they used to be.
QUICK HITS
Nickname: Bison
Location: Fargo, North Dakota
Founded: 1890
Enrollment: 12,242
Stadium: The Fargodome seats 18,700 and has spent the last decade-plus as a haunted house for the rest of the subdivision. The Bison have lost just one playoff game in Fargo in their FCS history, 27-17 to James Madison in 2016.
Famous alumni: The non-football division doesn’t carry a ton of weight: Bob Backlund (professional wrestler) and Ilhan Omar (U.S. House of Representatives). The football guys you already know: Carson Wentz, Trey Lance, Kyle Emanuel, Gus Bradley, etc.
Last meeting: The 37-6 final score at the Fargodome in a second-round matchup on December 5, 2015, doesn’t even accurately convey how harshly NDSU buried the memories of Montana’s shocking season-opening win three months prior.
The Bison jumped out to a 24-0 lead and then gave their offense a rest, closing the scoring with a 100-yard kick return and their second pick-six of Brady Gustafson. Easton Stick went just 7 of 13 for 66 yards, but NDSU pounded the rock for 250 yards – Jeremiah Kose had 19 tackles for the Griz – and Montana had six net rushing yards on 19 carries.
THE COACH
Matt Entz (fourth year at NDSU, 46-6)
Entz was the second straight NDSU defensive coordinator to take over the head coaching role when he ascended to that position in 2019, following in Chris Klieman’s footsteps. Entz didn’t break into the Division I ranks until 2010, but after three years at Northern Iowa and one at Western Illinois, Klieman brought him to Fargo when he became the head coach in 2014.
Entz has won the national title in each of the two full seasons NDSU has played since his hiring, including an undefeated year in his debut campaign that saw the Bison go wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country. After faltering to a 7-3 record and quarterfinal loss in the 2020 spring season, Entz guided NDSU to a 14-1 record and another national title last year. This year, they’ve lost to FBS Arizona and No. 1 South Dakota State by a combined five points.
PLAYERS TO WATCH – OFFENSE
QB Cam Miller (6-1, 212, Jr.)
Miller’s value lies in his efficiency — he’s throwing for just 132.5 yards per game but completes 69% of his passes, has 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions, and has added 11 rushing touchdowns.
RBs TaMerik Williams (6-1, 229, Sr.)/Kobe Johnson (5-9, 188, Sr.)
With All-American fullback Hunter Luepke “highly doubtful” to play, Williams and Johnson will carry NDSU’s offense. The two have similar numbers, but Williams is averaging nearly a yard more per carry (7.6 to 6.7) and has seven touchdowns to Johnson’s three.
OL Cody Mauch (6-6, 303, Sr.)
Mauch, NDSU’s left tackle, was named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award and is a legit NFL prospect.
PLAYERS TO WATCH – DEFENSE
DL Spencer Waege (6-5, 282, Sr.)
On a defense defined by its depth, Waege’s numbers stand out — seven sacks and 13 TFLs, twice as many as anybody else on the team. He’s a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award.
LB James Kaczor (6-0, 215, Sr.)
A former backup safety, Kaczor has a team-high 69 tackles, plus 5 1/2 TFLs.
