FRISCO, Texas — A matchup of undefeated Montana State and perennial champion North Dakota State in the Football Championship Subdivision title game is no real surprise.
What is unique is that both quarterbacks, Montana native Tommy Mellott for the Bobcats and Cam Miller for NDSU, were also the starters when the two teams played in the championship game three years ago.
In the era with a transfer portal and lucrative NIL deals — only one of the four remaining College Football Playoff quarterbacks is with his original school — Mellott and Miller remained in place and will close out their college careers by going against each other for a national championship Monday night.
''It is poetic that they both led their teams to this game,'' Montana State coach Brent Vigen said.
''I think it speaks to both of our characters,'' said Miller, who will make his 54th consecutive start for North Dakota State. ''It speaks to the programs that we both play at.''
Montana State (15-0) is looking for its first national title since 1940. North Dakota State (13-2) has won nine championships in its previous 10 trips from Fargo to Frisco. The last for the Bison was a 38-10 victory three years ago when Mellott, then a freshman who became the Bobcats' starting quarterback in those playoffs, got hurt early in the title game.
''When I walked off the field, it was just a feeling of are we ever going to be able to back here,'' Mellott said. ''Ever since, it's really just been motivation to earn the right to go back and play in a championship game, and I do think it's fitting we get to play North Dakota State again.''
The player known as ''Touchdown Tommy'' won the Walter Payton Award as the FCS top offensive player, in a very close vote over Miller. Mellott has 33 wins as a starter and is the only active FCS player with at least 3,000 yards passing and 3,000 yards rushing. He has thrown for 2,684 yards and 29 touchdowns with only two interceptions this season, and has run for another 915 yards and 15 more scores.
