FCS championship live score: NDSU vs. Montana State updates, results, highlights from 2025 football title game

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Two of FCS’s greatest prizefighters are set to lock horns on Monday night. The reward? One of college sport’s grandest honors — a national championship.

North Dakota State (13-2) meets Montana State (15-0) in the 2025 FCS Championship. The showdown, slated to be held at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, is a rematch of the Bison and Bobcats’ 2021 championship duel. That matchup ended in a 38-10 NDSU victory, although the game turned on its head when Montana State’s star QB, Tommy Mellott, exited after the first series due to an ankle injury.

The Bison are FCS’s most preeminent powerhouse, winners of nine of the past 13 FCS titles. They’ve been held without a trophy for each of the past two seasons, losing in the championship to rival South Dakota State two years ago and in the semifinals to Montana last year. But with Cam Miller leading the line on offense, Tim Polasek’s side looks as capable as ever to take home some more hardware.

STREAM: Watch NDSU vs. Montana State live with Fubo (free trial)

To do so, it’ll have to down Mellott and the Bobcats. Montana State is seeking its first title since 1984 and the second 16-0 campaign in FCS history. Mellott leads the charge, having bested Miller and Southern Utah’s Targhee Lambson to take home the Walter Payton Award as FCS’s best offensive player. A quick glance at his stat line reveals why he garnered such praise: Mellott accounted for just over 3,500 yards of total offense and 43 touchdowns (29 passing, 14 rushing). He also tallied just two interceptions in his first 15 games.

The Sporting News is tracking live updates from NDSU and Montana State’s duel in the 2025 FCS Championship. Follow below for highlights, live results, and more as two of FCS’s best sides ready for their close-up.

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North Dakota State vs. Montana State score

  1 2 3 4 F
North Dakota State 14 7 0 7 x
Montana State 0 3 15 7 x

North Dakota State vs. Montana State live updates, results, highlights from 2025 FCS Championship

(All times Eastern)

9:51 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! CharMar Brown barrels into the end zone (with the help of a few of his friends) as NDSU pushes its advantage to two possessions.

NDSU 35, Montana State 25

9:47 p.m.: Miller drops the ball onto the opposite shoulder for Jones as NDSU moves inside of Montana State’s red zone.

9:40 p.m.: The scoring stalled over the following two drives, with both NDSU and Montana State limping to scoreless drives. The Bison got the ball back with about seven minutes left. They’ll look to let the clock dwindle for as long as possible here.

9:30 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Mellott bursts through a hole on the read option, exploding past the corner for a 44-yard score.

NDSU 28, Montana State 25

9:28 p.m.: Mellott is dealing. Rifled a pair of throws to Taco Dowler and Ty McCulloch as the Bobcats tiptoe past midfield.

9:23 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! What a rebuttal! The Bison bust into the end zone once again, with Miller floating a pass to tight end Joe Stoffel to collect his fourth score of the day. More vitally, the touchdown brings NDSU’s lead back to 10.

End of third quarter: NDSU 21, Montana State 18

9:19 p.m.: It wouldn’t be a successful North Dakota State drive without a Lance highlight. The standout pass-catcher stretched to reel in Miller’s lofted pass. NDSU will start the fourth inside of Montana State’s five-yard line. Lance is a major reason why.

9:17 p.m.: Solid answer by the Bison, who have broke into Montana State territory through Miller’s exploits.

9:10 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Mellott whips an arrow to Rohan Jones for six! Lonergan comes through again on the two-point play as Montana State cuts its deficit to three.

NDSU 21, Montana State 18

9:09 p.m.: Another drive, another chunk play. Mellott hits Ryan Lonergan on the RPO for 54 yards. The Bobcats are firmly back in this one.

9:05 p.m.: Montana State holds serve, swatting away a pair of Miller efforts to get the ball back via punt.

9:02 p.m.: Miller continues to wreak havoc on Montana State’s front seven. Just slipped past the Bobcats’ front seven to move the chains on third-and-short. He’s put to 115 yards on the ground thus far.

8:58 p.m. TOUCHDOWN! Scottre Humphrey trots into the end zone from one yard out. The Bobcats have life!

NDSU 21, Montana State 10

8:55 p.m.: Mellott connects with Ryan King for the Bobcats’ first chunk play of the game. 26 yards in the blink of an eye. Montana State is on the cusp of pay dirt.

8:45 p.m.: Montana State opens the second half with possession of the ball. Have to imagine the Bobcats will look to increase their tempo as they attempt to work their way back into this one.

End of second quarter: NDSU 21, Montana State 3

8:22 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Lance corrals another Miller dart, this time on the delayed slant route. North Dakota State is in control thus far, although the Bobcats will get the ball back first to start the third quarter.

NDSU 21, Montana State 3

8:18 p.m.: Miller fired a bolt to Lance in the corner of the end zone. The ball strayed from the the plane of the end zone, with Lance reeling the ball in just short of pay dirt. NDSU will look to take another score onto its advantage with 14 seconds left.

8:11 p.m.: Now, it’s the Bison’s turn to work their way down the field methodically. Miller is using his legs and arm to great effect in the game’s opening two frames. This drive is no exception; after connecting with Bryce Lance and RaJa Nelson on three straight plays, NDSU is just outside the red zone. 30 seconds left in the second quarter. The Bison have one timeout left.

8:05 p.m.: TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Mellott and Co. are stuffed on fourth-and-five. NDSU gets the ball back with about a minute left and 30 or so yards from field goal range.

8:02 p.m.: Mellott and Montana State are starting to find their form. Mellott continues to jab at NDSU’s defense with short- and intermediate-length runs. The Bobcats are on the brink of Bison territory.

7:57 p.m.: The Bobcats finally stifled Miller, spilling into the pocket to crowd him out. NDSU is forced to punt it back to the Bobcats after falling short of the first down marker after three plays.

7:49 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Montana State breaks the seal with a three-point try from short distance.

NDSU 14, Montana State 3

7:45 p.m.: Montana State’s second drive of the day has gone about as good as one can hope. NDSU is limiting the Bobcats’ ability to string together big plays. But Montana State is employing a “death by a thousand paper cuts” approach to the drive, moving down the field at an onerous pace. Up to 14 plays thus far.

End of first quarter: NDSU 14, Montana State 0

7:30 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Miller does it again! This time, he opted for both the marathon and the sprint, dashing beyond the Bobcats surveillance after splitting the defensive line. 67 yard house call for the senior standout. The Bison are rolling early.

NDSU 14, Montana State 0

7:20 p.m.: Montana State’s drive fell to bits after breeching NDSU territory. The ball is headed back to the Bison via punt. 

7:18 p.m.: Mellott danced down the sideline, collecting 19 yards on third down to keep the Bobcats’ offense churning.

7:12 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Miller bursts through the seams, leaps and crosses the plane of the end zone while his helmet flies off his head. Wondrous start for the Bison, who collect 75 yards and more than seven minutes en route to the game’s opening score.

NDSU 7, Montana State 0

7:08 p.m.: Miller and Co. are moving down the field with relative ease. Miller’s already up to 44 yards on 3-of-3 passing. He’s added an additional 12 yards on the ground. NDSU is inside Montana State’s 10-yard line five minutes into the contest.

7:04 p.m.: And we’re off! NDSU’s offense is trotting onto the field, led by its star hurler, Miller. Here we go!

6:58 p.m.: We’re mere moments away from kickoff. As a reminder, here’s a look at how NDSU-Montana State matchup ended. It’s safe to say that the Bobcats will want some revenge.

6:10 p.m.: Here come the senior gunslingers! It’s NDSU’s Cam Miller vs. Montana State’s Tommy Mellott in a rematch of the 2021 FCS Championship. Both hurlers were among the best at their position in 2024. Let’s see if that translates into a barnstorming performance tonight.

5:45 p.m.: Here’s another view of the raptures taking place outside of the Toyota Stadium concourses.

5:30 p.m.: There are plenty of eyes on tonight’s contest, with the Toyota Stadium backdrop sharing an eery resemblance to both the Fargodome and Bobcat Stadium, depending on your vantage point.

North Dakota State vs. Montana State start time

  • Date: Monday, Jan. 6
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local)

North Dakota State and Montana State will lock horns in the 2025 FCS Championship. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local time) from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

What channel is North Dakota State vs. Montana State on today?

  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo

ESPN will carry coverage of North Dakota State and Montana State’s matchup in the 2025 FCS Championship. Dave Flemming will lead the broadcast, serving as the game’s play-by-play announcer. He’ll be joined by Brock Osweiler (analyst) in the booth. Stormy Buonantony will serve as the game’s sideline reporter.

Cord-cutters can find the action on ESPN+ or Fubo, which offers a free trial.

This article was originally published by Sportingnews.com. Read the original article here.
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