“ The Year of Excitement” is what I titled the September issue of our magazine, which previewed NDSU’s 2024 season, and, to be honest, ever since then I’ve kicking myself for having such a lame title, but I wasn’t wrong.
BRADY DRAKE
Excitement
In 2024, we saw an extremely exciting brand of NDSU football. We saw a near win against a very good Colorado team, which had the eventual Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter on the squad alongside a number of other future NFL players (including Shadeur Sanders who will
likely be a top 5 pick). We saw an opened up offense that allowed the best player in the FCS, Cam Miller, to flourish. We saw the physical brand of football that has made NDSU and absolute power. We saw the Bison reclaim the Dakota Maker Trophy and beat SDSU twice.
And we saw our favorite team crowned national champions. This year was certainly exciting, and I’ll be looking forward to kick off on August 30, 2025.
Sincerely,
Brady
Editor/Photographer
Team Makers
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Paul Hoefer Paul@SpotlightMediaFargo.com
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10 national championships in 14 years, let that sink in Bison Nation. What this program has accomplished is incredible.
This dynasty has been built on culture, resilience, and toughness, virtues that this team exhibited in full force.
Think about the consistency it takes to stay at the top in a sport where every opponent brings their best to dethrone you. Think about the pressure, the expectations, and the target on their back—yet the Bison continue to rise, time and time again.
This isn’t just a great football program; it’s one of the best ever. Cherish it, celebrate it, and recognize that what we are witnessing is truly special.
WEEK 01
COLORADO
31 NDSU 26
details stats
Date: August 29, 2024
Location: Boulder, CO
(Folsom Field)
Photos by: Tim Sanger
In a thrilling season opener at Folsom Field, the North Dakota State Bison narrowly fell to the Colorado Buffaloes, 31-26.
Bison quarterback Cam Miller showcased his dual-threat capabilities, completing 18 of 22 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown while leading the team on the ground with 81 rushing yards and two scores. On the final play of the game, Miller’s 49-yard pass to Tyler Terhark came up just four yards short of a gamewinning touchdown.
Miller’s connection with Joe Stoffel for a seven-yard touchdown in the first quarter set the tone, and his seven-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter helped NDSU secure a 20-17 halftime lead, aided by two field goals from Griffin Crosa.
Colorado surged in the second half, with the eventual Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter hauling in two touchdowns. Despite Miller’s electrifying 20-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, the Bison couldn’t overcome the Buffaloes’ offensive firepower.
NDSU’s Braylon Henderson led the receiving corps with 5 catches for 72 yards, while redshirt freshman CharMar Brown impressed in his debut with 33 rushing yards on 9 carries. Senior safety Sam Jung anchored the defense with eight tackles, as the unit faced the challenge of containing Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who threw for 445 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The Bison’s offense tallied an impressive 449 total yards and dominated the ground game, outgaining Colorado 157-59. Although the result didn’t fall in NDSU’s favor, the team’s performance showed their ability to compete at the highest level and set the stage for an exciting season ahead.
WEEK 02
North Dakota State delivered a commanding performance in their home opener, cruising to a 52-3 win over Tennessee State in the 35th annual Trees Bowl at Gate City Bank Field inside the FARGODOME
The No. 2-ranked Bison (1-1) scored touchdowns on all five first-half drives, on the way to securing their first win under new head coach Tim Polasek.
Junior wide receiver Bryce Lance enjoyed a breakout performance with a careerhigh 7 receptions for 106 yards, hauling in his first 2 touchdown passes of the season on 14- and 6-yard connections from quarterback Cam Miller.
The Bison saw contributions from across the roster, with four players scoring their first career touchdowns. CharMar Brown powered into the end zone with a 3-yard run, John Gores snagged a 12-yard touchdown pass from Miller, Mekhi Collins grabbed a 19-yard scoring pass from Cole Payton, and quarterback Nathan Hayes had a 51-yard touchdown run on his first career attempt.
Special teams also made an impact. Redshirt freshman Eli Ozick drilled a 51yard field goal midway through the third quarter. It marked his first career attempt and was the longest successful kick by an NDSU player in eight years.
Tennessee State (1-1) managed their only points with a 19-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter after the Bison defense held firm on a goal-line stand.
The Bison defense was led by cornerback Jaquise Alexander and safety Hudson Artz, who each recorded four tackles. Defensive end Toby Anene added three tackles, including two for loss and a strip sack.
Date: September 7, 2024
Location: Fargo, ND (FARGODOME)
Photos by: Zachary Lucy
WEEK 03
Cam Miller led No. 2-ranked North Dakota State to a dramatic 38-35 victory over East Tennessee State, scoring the game-winning touchdown on an 11-yard run with just 50 seconds remaining. The thrilling finish unfolded before a record-setting crowd of 11,040 at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.
Trailing by 12 points with 2:20 left in the game, the Bison mounted a remarkable comeback. Facing a fourth-and-10, Miller absorbed a hit in the pocket but delivered a 38-yard strike to John Gores, setting up TK Marshall’s 3-yard touchdown run on the next play. Griffin Crosa’s extra-point kick narrowed the gap to 35-30.
NDSU’s Kaedin Steindorf executed a perfect onside kick, which was recovered by Darius Givance with 1:57 to go. The Bison capitalized, driving 58 yards in six plays for the decisive score. A two-point conversion pass to Bryce Lance extended the lead to three points. Linebacker Logan Kopp sealed the victory with an interception of ETSU’s Jaylen King with just 17 seconds remaining. Miller finished 21 of 33 passing for 250 yards and 1 touchdown while adding 47 yards and 2 scores on the ground. CharMar Brown paced the rushing attack with 65 yards on 11 carries, while Barika Kpeenu added 61 yards on 9 attempts. Bryce Lance caught 5 passes, and Mekhi Collins led the team in receiving yards with 67 on 4 catches.
The first half featured a flurry of scoring, with both teams finding the end zone on their first three possessions. Eli Ozick’s 54yard field goal—the second-longest in Bison history—was a highlight, though ETSU (1-2) responded with a 61-yard touchdown run by Bryson Irby to take a 21-17 lead into halftime. Irby finished the game with 147 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 10-yard score early in the third quarter to extend the Buccaneers’ lead.
Date: September 14, 2024
Location: Johnson City, TN (William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium)
PASSING YARDS
Photos by: Dakota Hamilton/ ETSU Athletics
WEEK 04
CharMar Brown shined with a career-high 126 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns to propel No. 2-ranked North Dakota State to a 41-24 homecoming victory over Towson.
Quarterback Cam Miller started the game in flawless fashion, completing his first 14 passes. He finished 17 of 19 for 219 yards and a touchdown.
The Bison built a commanding 24-3 lead by halftime. Highlights included a 67-yard punt return touchdown by Jackson Williams and a 19-yard touchdown strike from Miller to Bryce Lance, which capped a 9-play, 88yard drive in the final moments of the second quarter.
Towson (1-3) mounted a comeback attempt in the second half. After a 15yard touchdown run by Carlos Davis, the Tigers’ defense forced an NDSU three-and-out, setting up a 72-yard scoring run by Tyrell Greene Jr. With 10:05 remaining, to narrow the deficit to 31-24.
North Dakota State responded with a time-consuming drive, lasting 5 minutes and 28 seconds, to regain control. Brown carried the ball five times for 41 yards on the drive, setting up a 34-yard field goal by Griffin Crosa that extended the Bison’s lead to 2 scores with 4:28 left on the clock.
Williams shone on special teams and offense, racking up 169 all-purpose yards. On defense, cornerback Marcus Sheppard snagged his first career interception and broke up a critical fourth-down pass to thwart a late Towson drive. Linebackers Oscar Benson, Marcus Gulley, and Logan Kopp each recorded six tackles to anchor the defensive effort.
Date: September 21, 2024
Location: Fargo, ND
Photos by: Zachary Lucy
North Dakota State’s defense dominated in a 42-10 victory over 15th-ranked Illinois State in front of a homecoming crowd of 11,687 at Hancock Stadium.
NDSU’s defense was relentless, recording five sacks and limiting Illinois State to just eight rushing yards. Defensive tackle Eli Mostaert led the charge with two sacks and three total tackles, while linebacker Marcus Gulley tallied a team-high eight tackles. Logan Kopp added seven tackles, and Enock Sibomana contributed five stops, including a sack. The Bison held the Redbirds to a 4-of-12 conversion rate on third down.
On offense, NDSU’s ground game was in full force, piling up 307 rushing yards while controlling the ball for nearly 39 minutes. CharMar Brown led the rushing attack with 17 carries for 100 yards and one touchdown, marking his second consecutive 100-yard game. He became the first Bison player to achieve back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since Kobe Johnson in 2022.
Quarterback Cam Miller was nearly flawless, completing his first 13 passes and finishing 20 of 23 for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns. His highlights included a 40-yard touchdown pass to Barika Kpeenu to kick off a streak of 4 consecutive second-half scoring drives. Miller also connected with Bryce Lance for a 7-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive and found Mekhi Collins for an 11-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. Collins’ score capped a marathon 16-play, 10-minute drive that gave NDSU a 14-0 lead.
Bryce Lance led the receiving corps with eight catches for 65 yards, including his opening-drive touchdown.
Date: September 28, 2024
Location: Normal, ILL (Hancock Stadium)
Photos by: Tim Sanger
WEEK 06
The No. 2-ranked North Dakota State Bison extended their winning streak to five games with a decisive 41-17 victory over No. 6-ranked North Dakota.
Quarterback Cam Miller led the Bison offense, completing 13 of 19 passes for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also set a new Missouri Valley Football Conference record for career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, recording his 42nd rushing score.
Safety Sam Jung anchored the NDSU defense with 6 tackles, including 1 for loss, as the Bison limited UND to 101 rushing yards and a 5-of-11 conversion rate on third down. The defense also forced two fumbles, with defensive end Dylan Hendricks contributing a forced fumble and a recovery.
The Bison got off to a fast start, sparked by TK Marshall’s 44-yard kickoff return to open the game. Seven plays later, CharMar Brown scored on a two-yard run. NDSU extended the lead to 14-0 late in the first quarter with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Miller to Bryce Lance.
NDSU’s largest lead came late in the third quarter, when Cole Payton connected with Mekhi Collins for a 33-yard touchdown, pushing the score to 38-10. Collins led the Bison receivers with three catches for 47 yards, while Lance added two receptions for 50 yards. TK Marshall contributed two catches for 42 yards, and Chris Harris scored his first career touchdown.
Date: October 5, 2024
Location: Fargo, ND
RUSHING YARDS
Photos by: Tim Sanger
WEEK 07
The No. 2-ranked North Dakota State Bison extended their winning streak to six games with a commanding 24-3 victory over Southern Illinois.
The Bison defense put on a stellar performance, limiting SIU to just 187 total yards and allowing only 4 conversions on 10 third-down attempts. Linebacker Logan Kopp led the team with seven tackles, including one of NDSU’s four sacks. The defensive unit also forced two turnovers, with Sam Jung stripping the ball and Nick Kubitz recovering it on the opening drive, setting up the Bison’s first score—a 6-yard touchdown run by Barika Kpeenu following a 7-play, 76-yard march down the field.
Southern Illinois managed to get on the board in the second quarter with a 50-yard field goal from Paul Geelen, but NDSU quickly responded. A methodical 14-play drive ended with Cam Miller finding Chris Harris for an 11-yard touchdown, giving the Bison a 14-3 advantage at halftime.
The Bison added to their lead in the second half with a 34-yard field goal from Griffin Crosa in the third quarter and sealed the victory in the fourth with a 9-yard touchdown run by CharMar Brown. Freshman Darius Givance grabbed his first collegiate interception late in the game, allowing NDSU to run out the clock.
Quarterback Cam Miller had an efficient outing, completing 18 of 24 passes for 193 yards. Brown led the ground attack with 95 yards on 20 carries, while Bryce Lance was the top target in the passing game, hauling in 5 catches for 63 yards.
Date: October 12, 2024
Location: Carbondale, IL
(Saluki Stadium)
Photos by: Saluki Communications
The No. 2-ranked North Dakota State Bison orchestrated a thrilling 92-yard drive late in the fourth quarter to secure a 13-9 victory over top-ranked South Dakota State in a highly anticipated Missouri Valley Football Conference matchup. A sellout crowd of 18,807 packed Gate City Bank Field at the FARGODOME for the first Dakota Marker game broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
RaJa Nelson caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Cam Miller with 1:49 left in the game, capping a 10-play drive that consumed over 5 minutes and gave NDSU the lead. Nelson, who also caught an 18yard touchdown in the second quarter, was instrumental in breaking the Bison’s five-game losing streak against South Dakota State and reclaiming the Dakota Marker trophy for the first time since 2019.
Miller was flawless on the game-winning drive, completing all seven of his pass attempts. He finished the game 20 of 27 for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns. Nelson recorded 4 catches for 48 yards, while Chris Harris had 5 receptions for 41 yards.
The contest featured limited big plays, with the lone exception being a 66-yard touchdown run by SDSU’s Chase Mason in the second quarter. The Bison’s Kody Huisman blocked the extra point, leaving the score 7-6. South Dakota State took a 9-7 lead into halftime after Hunter Dustman connected on a 42-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.
The third quarter was a defensive battle, highlighted by seven consecutive punts after NDSU missed a 48-yard field goal attempt on the opening drive of the half. The stalemate persisted until the Bison’s decisive march down the field in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, Logan Kopp secured the victory with a late interception at the SDSU 47-yard line, his second of the season. Kopp also recorded six tackles, while Oscar Benson and Luke Weerts led the defense with eight tackles each.
Date: October 19, 2024
Location: Fargo, ND (FARGODOME)
Photos by: Zachary Lucy
WEEK 09
Top-ranked North Dakota State put on a clinic Saturday, October 26, dismantling Murray State 59-6. The Bison controlled the game from start to finish, scoring on all five of their first-half possessions and capitalizing on five turnovers by the Racers.
The Bison’s defense played a key role in the rout, turning those turnovers into 24 points, highlighted by linebacker Enock Sibomana’s 34-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter. By halftime, NDSU had built an insurmountable 42-3 lead.
On offense, Bryce Lance was a major playmaker, hauling in 4 receptions for 108 yards and 3 touchdowns. CharMar Brown led the ground game with 97 yards and 3 rushing scores on 13 carries. Starting quarterback Cam Miller was flawless, completing all 5 of his passes for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns before handing the reins to backup Nathan Hayes, who went 9-of-15 for 141 yards and 2 more scores.
The Bison wasted no time setting the tone, marching down the field in six plays on the opening drive before Brown punched in a 7-yard touchdown. Remarkably, NDSU didn’t face a third-down situation until the second half.
The defense continued to shine, with Darius Givance grabbing his second interception in three games, Jaquise Alexander recording his first career pick on the first play of the second half to set up a short touchdown drive, and Luke Weerts forcing a fumble recovered by Austin Altepeter. Will Steil also recovered a fumbled snap.
Photos by: Tim Sanger
WEEK 10
A 100-yard kickoff return by TK Marshall ignited a dominant performance by No. 1-ranked North Dakota State as they cruised to a 42-19 victory over Northern Iowa in Missouri Valley Football Conference action on Saturday, November 2. The win marked NDSU’s ninth consecutive victory.
The Bison wasted no time setting the tone, with Marshall’s electrifying return providing an early spark. Quarterback Cam Miller continued to shine, completing 17 of 20 passes for 216 yards and 2 touchdowns. Miller also broke the school record for consecutive pass attempts without an interception, surpassing Trey Lance’s mark of 307 with his new total of 311.
Running back CharMar Brown delivered his third 100-yard rushing performance of the season, tallying 124 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Brown’s 5-yard scoring run capped a 13-play drive that gave NDSU a 14-3 lead late in the first quarter.
The Bison’s aerial attack struck twice in the second quarter, with Miller connecting on touchdown passes of 14 yards to Bryce Lance and 15 yards to Braylon Henderson. These scores helped NDSU build a commanding 28-3 halftime advantage. In the second half, Barika Kpeenu added to the scoring with touchdown runs of 6 and 11 yards.
In the third quarter, Northern Iowas was able to string together back-to-back touchdown drives. Quarterback Matthew Schecklman found Sergio Morancy for TD passes of 31 and 9 yards, and the Panthers converted both two-point attempts to close the gap to 35-19 with under 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
NDSU responded with a decisive seven-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in Kpeenu’s second touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The Bison defense sealed the victory with two critical goal-line stands, stopping UNI on downs after a 12-play drive and running out the final 5:52 of the game.
Linebacker Enock Sibomana played a key role in the defensive effort, contributing to both goal-line stops and recording a team-high six tackles. Safety Darius Givance and linebacker Nick Kubitz also registered six tackles each.
Date: November 2, 2024
Location: Fargo, ND (FARGODOME)
Photos by: Tim Sanger details stats
WEEK 11
Top-ranked North Dakota State showcased its dominance with a 59-21 victory over No. 14-ranked Missouri State in the annual Harvest Bowl. With the win, NDSU improved to 10-1 overall and 7-0 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, securing at least a share of their 11th league title.
The Bison were unstoppable on the ground, racking up 364 rushing yards and averaging an impressive 9.6 yards per carry. Barika Kpeenu led the charge with a career-high 169 yards on 10 carries, including touchdown runs of 52 and 49 yards. CharMar Brown added 113 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, including a 48-yard score on the opening drive of the second half.
Quarterback Cam Miller continued his stellar season, completing 17 of 24 passes for 155 yards and a career-high 4 touchdowns. Tight end Joe Stoffel was a key target, hauling in two short touchdown passes of three and one yards. Miller also connected with Jackson Williams on a 22-yard scoring strike and Bryce Lance on a 4-yard touchdown.
Kicker Griffin Crosa contributed 11 points with 8 extra points and a 32yard field goal. In doing so, Crosa set a new NDSU career scoring record with 404 points, surpassing Cam Pedersen’s previous mark of 399 set from 2015 to 2018.
NDSU’s defense was equally impressive, limiting Missouri State to a season-low 21 points and forcing 4 fumbles, recovering two. The Bison recorded six sacks, led by Eli Mostaert’s 1.5 sacks and Toby Anene’s single sack. Safety Darius Givance and linebacker Marcus Gulley each tallied five tackles.
Date: November 16, 2024
Location: Fargo, ND (FARGODOME)
Photos by: Zachary Lucy
WEEK 12
In a thrilling comeback, No. 4-ranked South Dakota scored two late touchdowns to edge top-ranked North Dakota State 29-28 in front of a sellout crowd of more than 9,000 at the DakotaDome.
South Dakota (9-2) claimed its first Missouri Valley Football Conference title, sharing the crown in a three-way tie with South Dakota State (10-2) and North Dakota State (10-2).
NDSU overcame a sluggish start after falling behind 14-0 in the first half. The Bison struggled early, going three-and-out on their first three possessions and punting four times before finding their rhythm with four consecutive touchdown drives.
Quarterback Cam Miller connected with Braylon Henderson on a 23-yard touchdown pass, and CharMar Brown added a 3-yard rushing score in a two-minute drill to tie the game 14-14 at halftime.
USD opened the second half with a 37-yard field goal to retake the lead, but NDSU responded with a methodical 10-play, 80-yard drive. Miller’s clutch plays included a 44yard pass to Chris Harris and a 3-yard scramble, capped by his 2-yard touchdown run to make it 21-17.
In the third quarter, USD pinned NDSU at its own 1-yard line, but the Bison orchestrated an impressive 99-yard, 20-play drive that consumed nearly 11 minutes. Brown’s second rushing touchdown extended NDSU’s lead to 28-17.
The Coyotes fought back with a fourth-down conversion on a 31-yard catch by Javion Phelps and a 40-yard touchdown pass from Bouman to Jack Martens, cutting the deficit to 28-23. A deep kickoff forced NDSU to start at its own 2-yard line, and after a defensive stop, USD regained possession with 1:16 remaining.
A pivotal replay overturned an incomplete pass to award USD a 23-yard completion, setting up the game-winning 25-yard touchdown pass from Bouman to Phelps. The Coyotes sealed the victory with their second score in under two minutes.
Miller finished 10 of 22 passing for 174 yards, becoming NDSU’s all-time leader in career passing yards with 8,810, surpassing Easton Stick’s record of 8,693. Miller also led the Bison in rushing with 82 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown, while Brown added 54 yards and two scores on 19 carries.
Date: November 23, 2024
Location: Vermillion, SD (DakotaDome)
Photos by: Tim Sanger
WEEK 13
No. 2-seeded North Dakota State rebounded from an early deficit to score 31 unanswered points, ultimately defeating No. 15-seeded Abilene Christian 51-31 in the second round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship.
North Dakota State advanced to the FCS quarterfinals for the 15th consecutive season.
The Bison found themselves in an early hole, trailing 17-3, before Jackson Williams ignited a comeback with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Griffin Crosa added the first of his three field goals, and RaJa Nelson’s six-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Cam Miller gave NDSU a 20-17 halftime lead.
Miller extended the lead in the third quarter with touchdown passes of 30 yards to TK Marshall and 36 yards to Bryce Lance, who sprinted past two defenders for the score. The Bison defense also made significant contributions, forcing three turnovers, including a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Logan Kopp. Kopp added 5 tackles, 2 pass breakups, and a sackfumble that resulted in a 16-yard fumble recovery return.
Linebacker Enock Sibomana led the defense with a game-high 10 tackles, while linebacker Marcus Gulley recorded his first interception as a Bison. Defensive tackle Eli Mostaert chipped in with five tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack.
Miller delivered an impressive performance, completing 20 of 29 passes for 274 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. He also rushed for a score and broke Brock Jensen’s NDSU career completions record, while surpassing Jensen for second on the program’s all-time passing touchdowns list with 74.
Lance led the receiving corps with 5 catches for 70 yards, followed by Nelson’s 5 receptions for 26 yards. Braylon Henderson contributed 3 catches for 67 yards, including a diving 32-yard grab that set up a go-ahead touchdown drive.
Date: December 7,
Date: December 14, 2024
Location: Fargo, ND (FARGODOME)
Photos by: Zachary Lucy
Cam Miller propelled No. 2-seeded North Dakota State to a commanding 31-7 victory over seventhseeded Mercer in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championship.
Miller showcased his precision and leadership, passing for 259 yards and 2 touchdowns while also adding a 34-yard rushing score. He connected with Bryce Lance for touchdown receptions of 40 and 4 yards on NDSU’s first two possessions, giving the Bison a quick 14-0 lead. Griffin Crosa added a 38-yard field goal, and Miller’s rushing touchdown helped build a 24-7 halftime advantage.
Bryce Lance led the receiving corps with 5 catches for 73 yards, including his 2 early touchdowns. Mekhi Collins delivered a career-best performance with 4 receptions for 119 yards, highlighted by a 70-yard catch-and-run that set up Lance’s second score.
Defensively, NDSU held firm. Cornerback Anthony Chideme-Alfaro recorded a career-high six tackles and his first interception as a Bison, halting a Mercer drive at the NDSU six-yard line after a turnover. Linebacker Nick Kubitz also made six tackles, while defensive tackle Eli Mostaert added to the defensive effort with two tackles for loss and a sack.
Mercer’s defense limited NDSU to 133 rushing yards and a season-low 3.2 yards per carry, including 4 sacks—the most allowed by the Bison since their September matchup with Towson.
WEEK 15
Bryce Lance’s heroics secured a thrilling victory for No. 2-seeded North Dakota State, as they edged No. 3-seeded South Dakota State 28-21 in the NCAA Division I Football Championship semifinals.
Lance’s spectacular one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone with 4:02 remaining marked his schoolrecord 16th touchdown reception of the season and proved to be the game-winner. He finished with 6 catches for 125 yards, tying NDSU’s FCS playoff record for receiving yards set by Darrius Shepherd in the 2018 national championship.
Quarterback Cam Miller delivered a balanced performance, completing 13 of 19 passes for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns while rushing for a game-high 93 yards on 15 carries, including a 2-yard score.
NDSU’s comeback began with a critical defensive play late in the second quarter. Kody Huisman forced a fumble recovered by Loshiaka Roques, setting up a short field at the SDSU 23. Seven plays later, Miller’s 2-yard run tied the game at 14-14 heading into halftime.
After a defensive stalemate in the third quarter, Miller connected with Lance on a 47-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth, giving NDSU a 21-14 lead. South Dakota State responded with a 10-play, 90-yard drive capped by Grahm Goering’s 14-yard touchdown reception from Mark Gronowski, leveling the score at 21-21.
Miller ignited the Bison’s game-winning drive with a 25yard run to midfield, aided by a personal foul penalty on SDSU. CharMar Brown’s gritty 2-yard run converted a third-and-2, followed by Barika Kpeenu’s 12-yard gain to the SDSU 10-yard line. Two plays later, Miller found Lance in the end zone for the decisive score.
The Jackrabbits threatened on their final drive, advancing into Bison territory before a 15-yard facemask penalty derailed their momentum. Roques and Jaxon Duttenhefer combined for a crucial sack on fourth-and-17, sealing the win for NDSU.
Defensively, linebacker Logan Kopp led the Bison with a career-high 10 tackles, including 2 of the team’s 10 tackles for loss. NDSU’s defense consistently disrupted SDSU’s offense, forcing key mistakes in critical moments.
Date: December 21, 2024
Location: Fargo, ND (FARGODOME)
Photos by: Zachary Lucy
WEEK 16
Cam Miller delivered an unbelievable performance to lead No. 2-seeded North Dakota State to a dramatic 35-32 victory over top-seeded Montana State in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game. With the win, the Bison captured their 10th FCS national title in 14 seasons and the 18th football national championship in school history.
Miller, named the game’s Most Outstanding Player, accounted for 320 total yards and 4 touchdowns. He rushed 18 times for 121 yards and 2 scores while completing 19 of 22 passes for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Bryce Lance was a key target for Miller, as he was all year, hauling in 9 receptions for 107 yards, including a critical 1-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left in the first half. The 10-play, 56-yard drive was set up by a pivotal fourth-down stop by the Bison defense, giving NDSU a 21-3 halftime advantage.
Montana State stormed back in the second half, scoring consecutive touchdowns, including a twopoint conversion, to close the gap to 21-18. NDSU responded early in the fourth quarter when Miller connected with tight end Joe Stoffel on a 1-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 28-18. However, Bobcats quarterback Tommy Mellott answered with a 44-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 28-25.
After both teams traded punts, the Bison embarked on a nine-play, 66-yard drive capped by CharMar Brown’s 3-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 35-25 with 2:35 remaining.
Montana State made one last push as Mellott connected with Taco Dowler for a 19-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 35-32 with 1:09 left. Lance recovered the ensuing onside kick, and the Bison sealed the win with a 45-yard punt by Kaedin Steindorf to run out the clock.
Linebacker Nick Kubitz led the Bison defense with a team-high nine tackles, including one tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Safety Jaylin Crumby and linebacker Enock Sibomana each added six tackles.
Date: January 6, 2025
Location: Frisco, TX
(Toyota Stadium)
Photos by: Tim Sanger
Head Coach
hen Tim Polasek accepted the job offer to become North Dakota State's 32nd head coach in program history, he also accepted the challenge of restoring NDSU's dominance in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Recently, the Bison had seen their supremacy challenged by their arch-rival, the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits, who had claimed the Dakota Marker trophy in consecutive meetings since 2019 and who had also won the last two FCS national championships.
Polasek rose to the occasion, leading the Bison to a 14–2 record in his inaugural season, culminating in a 35–32 victory over Montana State in the FCS National Championship to capture NDSU's 10th FCS national title.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU HAD A CHAMPIONSHIPCALIBER TEAM ON YOUR HANDS?
A: It felt like the first pretty big moment was beating South Dakota State. I mean, they had a good football team, and the way we beat them the first time—without playing our best—but with our best player having the ball in his hands late in the game, we came through... That game really put us in position to start thinking about home-field advantage. And as you go along and see how things play out, being in the dome, anytime that’s the case, we have a shot.
HOW DID YOU MANAGE THE COLLAPSE AT THE END OF THE USD GAME?
A: There have been a lot of years where we needed to lose in order to recalibrate and reset. In all the championship years, that’s been the case more often than not. But I didn’t feel like it was necessary for us to take the next step forward with this team. But, that moment really grabbed the kids’ attention and reinforced situational football and the importance of playing the full 60 minutes.
From that point on, at every practice, when it got to the last few periods
of practice everyone would put four fingers up for the fourth quarter. It was a reminder that what happened before would never happen to this team again. We want to finish fourth quarters on our terms. That was instrumental. And it also allowed us to really refocus on situational football, on defensive two-minute drills at the end of games. We needed to be sharp.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM THE SEASON?
A: Man, it’s hard, especially getting put on the spot like this—it’s so difficult.
Bryce Lance’s catch against South Dakota State, RaJa Nelson’s catch against South Dakota State, Jackson Williams’s 100 yard kick return against Abilene Christian—that might have been the biggest play of the year. Kody Huisman’s strip and forced fumble against South Dakota State was another huge momentum changer. There were just big moments happening over and over again. Cam Miller’s grit and his willingness to go out there and play hurt, willing the team to stay on the field.
Jaxon Duttenhefer’s sack at the end of the South Dakota State game was just so fitting. They still had a shot, and then we got the sack.
Those were the moments of the season. Of course, there were several more big plays, but those were the ones that really stood out.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO BUILD UPON TO IMPROVE IN YEAR TWO?
A: We just have to keep recruiting. It’s interesting because this team was totally bought in from the start—whatever change, whatever adversity came our way, they embraced it. I think we switched gears pretty quickly and became a group that worked together, that was tough together. And suddenly, there was respect for each other, there was likability, and that grew into love. Honestly, that happens all the way into next November—you don’t even think about it, you just stay the course. They’ve got to be in the weight room, getting bigger, getting stronger. Staying true and attacking the process all over again is critical because you don’t start ahead just because you won in ‘24. That’s not how it works. Everyone goes back to the starting line, and then you have to run the race again. By November, you have to be playing your best football, your most complementary football. You have to be tough together, and that takes work—a lot of work. Recognizing all of that and trusting the process, and attacking the process all over again is key.
Tim Polasek
This championship is interesting because it will impact the team more three or four years from now than it will next year. Why? Because of recruiting. The way we represented ourselves on national TV, backto-back weeks, in two of the bestplayed college football games in the last month and a half—that looked like a damn big-time product you’d want to be a part of. We had eally cool uniforms, really good coaching, really good players, and really good environments.
Sure, there’s a lot to build on, but there’s always been a lot to build on here. It comes back to our core values, our standards, getting to know each other, figuring out where the leadership is going to come from. What can our quarterback do? What can’t he do? It’s a big process. Nobody hands you the trophy again just because you did it once.
I KNOW YOU’VE TALKED ABOUT IT AT LENGTH, AND IT’S BEEN COVERED, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STOOD OUT— RIGHT AFTER YOU GUYS WON, IN THE POSTGAME INTERVIEW ON THE FIELD—WAS THAT ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU MENTIONED WAS HOW ALL OF THE PLAYERS STAYED THIS YEAR. WHAT DID THAT MEAN TO YOU?
A: Well, we as coaches, we as an administration, as support, we’re talking a lot about the environment as a totality, and what probably will happen to our program at some point. And so immediately after the game, I’m like, ‘You know, gosh,
I thought we’d have a shot if the group would stay together.’ So much credit has got to be given to those players. It’s not just some speech. You can’t win over a group of young people nowadays with one talk—you have to be consistent daily. They got together and said, ‘We have to stay together. We have unfinished business ourselves, no matter who the coaches are.’ For the majority of those guys to stay, for the team to stay together, it’s just uncommon in this day and age. And we’re trying to be uncommon. We’re trying to stick to high school recruiting. We’re trying to pour into and teach and coach football and have that be the emphasis, rather than talking about what we don’t have and focusing on negatives. We’re going to focus on the positive things that we do have. And that seems to be working for us, but it goes in cycles, and so to protect against that, we just have to make sure we do a good job recruiting and making sure we do a good job running a really good football program.
WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS WHEN THE CLOCK HIT ZERO?
A: Well, I knew we were going to win this thing when we hit the 48-second mark. I knew I was going to take it down and call a timeout. We try to draw them offside—that doesn’t work. So we back up. And right then, it’s like, ‘If we get this ball off, it’s over.’
You have those small two or three-minute moments to reflect on what you’ve done, and what’s
coming next. But there’s still that one play left, and we know it’s an all-out block attempt. Then, as soon as we touch it down, it was just pure joy. It’s instinctive. I just remember jumping up, throwing my headset, and thinking, ‘We did it. Congratulations, Bison Nation.’ That was my first thought—like, ‘We all did it. We get to say we’re champs for a year.’
And then, you take off running, completely forgetting you have a postgame interview to do. All I could think was, ‘I just want to see my wife.’ That became the only thought in my head, over and over. Then, I had to do the interview, saw my nephews, started running to the stage, and all I wanted was my wife there with me.
It all comes and goes so fast. Honestly, I think it’s better for the fans than it is for the coaches— it’s just a blur. And I’ve been on that stage before, and your mind immediately jumps to, ‘How are we going to do this again next year?’
As a head coach, these interviews actually help—it forces you to reflect instead of immediately shifting to what’s next. I got a great question from Rod Carey (former head coach at Northern Illinois and Temple), who asked, ‘Was it relief or was it joy and accomplishment?’ And without a doubt, it was joy and accomplishment.
That morning, we talked about how my emotions were going to come from one place: I wanted the players to feel the pure joy of
accomplishment. Because this is hard to do.
And on that stage, I was really happy for Cam Miller. It’s not just about him—maybe too much is made of that—but it’s a big deal. To be in that starting role for five years, to not beat South Dakota State, to constantly hear what you’re not, to deal with comparisons at this position. And he outplayed the guy who beat him out for the Walter Payton Award—that was really cool.
IT’S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE WITH ALL OF THE UPS AND DOWNS HE HAS GONE THROUGH HERE, DO YOU AGREE?
A: I don’t think the lows were that low. I mean, we’re talking about a nine-win season. If we put it in perspective, we have to remember—a 9-3 or 9-4 record means you’re just a play or two away. And for Cam to maintain his grit, stay true to his process, attack it daily, and ultimately get the reward—that’s just sports. That’s what makes it special. You wish it worked out that way all the time.
In the NFL playoffs, Lamar Jackson went home again, and the criticism he’ll face is unfair. He’s an unbelievable, fantastic player, but only one person gets to hoist that trophy each year. We’ve just been fortunate to do it a bunch of times.
Cam was so clean—near perfect. He was 19-22 and 13-19 the week before—that was unbelievable. The entire team bought into the concept
of complementary football. It’s really hard to beat the Bison if we don’t beat ourselves. For about a five- or six-week stretch, I kept preaching: ‘Guys, it’s damn hard for someone to beat us if we make them beat us. If we stay clean, don’t turn the ball over, and force takeaways, we’re a tough out.’ And the numbers show it. In the top four matchups, we won the turnover battle significantly. We lost to South Dakota State five times in a row because they forced nine turnovers while we had zero. But the two times we beat them this year? We won the turnover battle 2-0. That’s football—stealing possessions is huge.
There are so many great stories from this season. Coach Crutchley did an incredible job with that receiver room. Week after week, somebody new stepped up. Bryce Lance put himself in the record books, but Chris Harris had his moment. RaJa Nelson got healthy and made big plays. Braylon Henderson had big weeks. Mekhi Collins had a huge game. It was just an unbelievable job across the board.
At the start of the year, the narrative was that the Bison O-line wouldn’t be very good. But if you look at our pass protection and overall balance, that success still starts up front. Dan Larson did a great job. Our D-line came together—Toby Anene stepped up. Kody Huisman became a superstar, and Keenan Wilson is right behind him. Jaxon Duttenhefer played his best football.
And the job Coach Matt Entz and Grant Olson did recruiting
that linebacker group—huge. The flexibility and depth were key. The corner position wasn’t healthy all year— and Will Johnson made sure that group was ready. Devin Klieman lost his top two safeties— but the team held together.
There were a lot of storylines, a lot of guys stepping up, and that’s what made this team special.
I REMEMBER YOU SAYING IN THE PRESEASON PRESS CONFERENCE, ‘THE BIG QUESTION IS WHERE ARE THE PLAYMAKERS GOING TO COME FROM?’ AND THEN YOU GET BRYCE LANCE SETTING RECORDS. YOU GET MARTY BROWN WINNING THE JERRY RICE AWARD. YOU GET A GUY WHO, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD HAVE WON THE WALTER PAYTON AWARD IN CAM MILLER. AND LIKE YOU SAID, A LOT OF RECEIVERS HAD BIG GAMES HERE AND THERE. IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO SEE.
A: During that press conference, I was trying to project to the media that I liked the group, but the question was always—who was going to emerge? And who was emerging.
The press did a good job of continuing to poke at it—‘Hey, Bryce Lance is coming on. You called it back in spring,’ that kind of thing. But Marty was still an unknown.
Tim Polasek
IT’S REALLY SPECIAL TO BRING A CHAMPIONSHIP NOT JUST TO BISON NATION, OR TO TEAM MAKERS, OR THE GREEN AND GOLD COLLECTIVE, BUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES— THE ONES OUR FANS DON’T EVEN KNOW ABOUT.”
We didn’t know how he would really react when he got hit. We didn’t know how TK Marshall was going to handle pass protection, and he made some big plays this year, for sure.
In the end, it was a collective effort. Joe Stoffel still made enough plays. And when your quarterback plays as well as he does, you don’t need singular great performances— because he’s going to spread the ball around. It’s a team effort. There’s balance. But a lot of guys emerged, made a name for themselves, and played really big roles, for sure.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE READERS?
A: Never winning a championship at Iowa and never winning one at Wyoming—you start getting pretty
hungry. But one thing I’ve learned in this position is that this is for all of us. This is for the loyal fans, the loyal supporters—I’m so appreciative of all the role players in our outfit. We have 160 people in this program. Think about it—how does the equipment get set up every day? How do the kids get their ankles taped? A lot of that comes down to student helpers, GAs—people who don’t get paid very much. It’s really special to bring a championship not just to Bison Nation, or to Team Makers, or the Green and Gold Collective, but to all the people behind the scenes—the ones our fans don’t even know about. They make this whole thing run. If they don’t do their jobs, it’s hard to get a Tuesday practice off and running. And the rare times we did hit snags, I appreciate those guys for fixing things immediately and striving for perfection.
Somewhere in there this year, we captured excellence. And I know what it means to be a fan—to be able to walk around for a year saying, ‘We’re the national champs.’ Until we kick off on August 31, we are the national champs.
Now, players and coaches—we have to move on pretty quickly. But fans don’t have to. They get to enjoy it and say, ‘We’re back.’ And I think that’s pretty cool.
I’d love for the readers to know that they mean a lot to me. The community means a lot to me. The people mean a lot to me. And as long as our players keep coming back, allowing us to coach them, staying coachable—I think this is a fantastic place.
2024 Stats
GAMES PLAYED:
PASSING YARDS:
PASSING TOUCHDOWNS:
INTERCEPTIONS:
RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS:
RUSHING YARDS:
RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS:
SCHOOL RECORDS
PASS COMPLETIONS
PASSING YARDS
PASS COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
Cam Miller #7 QB
BY BRADY DRAKE
Career
Awards
▶ 2X WALTER PAYTON AWARD FINALIST
▶ 2024 STATS PERFORM FCS ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
▶ 2024 FCS FOOTBALL CENTRAL ALL-AMERICA FIRST TEAM
▶ 2024 ASSOCIATED PRESS FCS ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM
▶ 2024 AFCA FCS ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM
▶ 2024 PHIL STEELE FCS ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM
WHERE ARE YOU TRAINING RIGHT NOW?
A: I’m in New Jersey right now, living in a hotel and training. It’s called Test Football Academy—about eight minutes from the hotel I’m staying at. There are around 20 to 25 guys training here from different universities.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR REASON YOU CHOSE THAT FACILITY TO TRAIN AT?
A: The quarterback trainer I’ve been working with for the last two or three years, Tony Racioppi, lives out here, and I just wanted to be closer to him. My decision to train at this facility was really based on where he was going to be. He’s trained guys like Kenny Pickett, Michael Pratt last year, Sean Clifford, Trace McSorley, and a few others.
HOW’S ALL OF THE TRAINING GOING SO FAR?
A: It’s been pretty good—just different from what I’m used to. I’m used to Coach Kramer’s workouts, where there’s a lot more structure. Everyone knew exactly what they
▶ 2024 MVFC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
▶ 2024 ALL-MVFC FIRST TEAM
▶ 2023 STATS PERFORM FCS ALL-AMERICA SECOND TEAM
▶ 2023 PHIL STEELE FCS ALL-AMERICA FOURTH TEAM
▶ 2023 ALL-MVFC SECOND TEAM
were doing, we had a sheet for everything. I’m not saying the place I’m training at is doing things the wrong way—it’s just different. I’m trying to get accustomed to it and adjust, but so far, it’s been good. For me, it’s been difficult because I’m used to holding people accountable if they’re not doing what they’re supposed to. But now, it’s really on them. If they don’t want to put in the work or do extra reps, that’s their choice. They’re not my teammates, so who am I to tell them what they should or shouldn’t be doing? That’s been a little different for me. But in my opinion, Coach Kramer is the best strength coach in the entire country, so I was very fortunate to have been in his program.
WHEN DID YOU START WORKING OUT THERE?
A: It was two days after the championship when I got out here. I had to drive all my stuff from my apartment back home as soon as we got back. I think our flight landed at noon the day after the game, and I already had everything packed up. I drove home, then got on a flight the next morning to come out here. So yeah, it was an extremely quick turnaround, for sure.
WHEN THE CLOCK HIT ZERO AT THE END OF THE GAME, WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD?
A: Just knowing that all the work my teammates and I put in had paid off— there’s really no feeling quite like it. Knowing my college career was over made me emotional in that aspect, but coming out on top was the best feeling ever. All the times Braylon Henderson and RaJa Nelson came out here to train with my trainer, all the sacrifices we made—it all paid off. It was a long season, guys were playing through injuries, and to see a group that was so close-knit finish the job the way we did was truly incredible.
WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM THE SEASON?
A: It started in week one. I think that game really elevated me for the rest of the season. I felt like my level of play in that game was extremely high, and I knew that if I could play that way against the level of competition at the FCS, I was going to be okay.
I think our team played extremely well in that game, so I had a lot of
Cam Miller
I WANT TO THANK THE FANS FOR TRULY TAKING ME IN AND STICKING WITH ME THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES—THE LOW MOMENTS AND THE POOR PERFORMANCES I HAD WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. THEY CONTINUED TO BELIEVE IN ME, TO POUR INTO ME, AND THAT MEANS EVERYTHING.
confidence going into the rest of the season after that, and then finally getting the Dakota Marker back felt really good. That was definitely a highlight, and then meeting them again in the playoffs, and then the last one, those were probably my biggest highlights from the season. And I think a lot of people would agree and say the same thing.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR TIME AT NDSU?
A: I think I’m most proud of the fifthand sixth-year guys who decided to stay, cement their legacy in the program, and show the younger guys that you don’t need to go anywhere else to get what you want. This program is special. What I’ve told a lot of people in the interview process is that, for me, staying was
about establishing a legacy, winning national championships, and building relationships. Those three things are far more important than any paycheck you could get from another school. That outweighs money by so much, in my opinion. And I think that’s the legacy we left behind—we stayed together, trusted the process, put in the work, and in the end, it all paid off.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE READERS AND FANS?
A: I want to thank the fans for truly taking me in and sticking with me through the tough times—the low moments and the poor performances I had when I was younger. They continued to believe in me, to pour into me, and that means everything. I’m also incredibly grateful to the coaches
and support staff for giving me the opportunity to play at such an incredible program. This place is special—there’s nothing like it. The guys I interact with here are great, but being in this new environment has only made me appreciate even more the recruiting process our coaches go through. They bring in high-character kids who, despite coming from different backgrounds, share the same values. Highcharacter individuals who love one another, play for each other, and play for our community.
*Interview conducted prior to the East West Shrine Bowl
RUSHING ATTEMPTS: 244
RUSHING YARDS: 1181 YD
RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS: 15 RECEPTIONS: 6 RECEIVING YARDS: 57
CharMar Brown #25 RB
BY BRADY DRAKE
fter the Missouri State game this season, a game in which North Dakota State amassed 364 rushing yards, Head Coach Tim Polasek said, “You guys know that I want to get back to where tailbacks are special in this program. I want our tailbacks on the posters for camp; on posters for the schedule. We’ve had outstanding quarterbacks but I’d like to have some guys who have production like that.”
Well, if that’s the goal, CharMar Brown looks to be a big part of that going forward.
The standout redshirt freshman was instrumental for the Bison this year, rushing for 1181 yards on the ground and 15 rushing touchdowns while coming down with 6 receptions for 57 yards on his way to winning the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE PLAYING YOUR FIRST COLLEGIATE SEASON?
A: It was awesome. I feel like it went by pretty fast, but overall, it was just a great experience being part of this team. And honestly, I just want to do it again.
DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE THAT BIG OF A ROLE IN THE COLORADO GAME?
A: I mean, I was prepared for it, but I wasn’t expecting that much.
WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR YOU?
A: My dream has been to play DI college football so that was just a blessing.
WHAT DID IT MEAN TO WIN THE JERRY RICE AWARD?
A: At first, when the finalists were released, I didn’t know much about the Jerry Rice Award. So, I did my research and I saw there were that a lot of notable names like Trey Lance,
Cooper Kupp, and Cam Ward had won the award. The award really means something. It really boosted my confidence and even made me humble.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM THE SEASON?
A: My first game, my first touchdown, and then the game against Missouri State—especially running the ball. That was one of our better rushing performances. And, of course, the national championship.
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN THE CLOCK HIT ZERO AGAINST MONTANA STATE AND YOU GUYS WERE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS?
A: I saw everyone running into the stands—it was just crazy. All the work we put in—it all paid off in that moment. At first, I thought they were going to have at least one more play, but then I realized there was no one back there, and it hit me—we had done it.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO ABOUT NEXT SEASON?
A: Really, just doing the same things over again—but at a higher level. I want more games like the one against Missouri State, for sure. That means being more critical in practice, being a better teammate, and stepping up as a leader. This year, I want to improve on everything I did last season—be a better player, make more plays, and create more explosive runs. I want to see myself come through in bigger ways—more clutch plays, and more game-shifting moments.
2024 STATS
GAMES PLAYED:
GAMES STARTED: TACKLES: 37
TACKLES FOR LOSS:
SACKS: 0.5
FORCED FUMBLES:
BLOCKED KICKS:
Kody Huisman #50 DT
BY BRADY DRAKE
ody Huisman came big for the Bison whether it was his critical forced fumble in the semifinals against the Jackrabbits or disrupting blocks all season.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE 20242025 SEASON?
A: I’d say, for me at least, it just kept building exponentially throughout the year. I kept growing as a player, and our team kept growing together. That was one of the biggest things for me—just seeing that progression. And in the end, it was a pretty great way to finish it all.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU THINK YOU GREW THROUGHOUT THE SEASON?
A: I think it was about becoming a better player and playmaker. I started the year as a second-string guy—we rotate a lot—but as the season went on, my role kept growing. I kept improving, my snaps increased, and I found myself stepping into a bigger role.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE TEAM GREW THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?
A: I think togetherness was one of the biggest things—just the way we stuck together as a team. Our toughness really showed, pushing through a lot of key injuries throughout the year. A lot of younger players had to step up into roles they probably didn’t expect to be in this season—roles they might have thought were meant for next year. But when the time came, they rose to the challenge.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS FOR THE SEASON?
A: You can never overlook beating SDSU—let alone doing it twice in one year. That was pretty awesome, and I was definitely excited about that. Obviously, the national championship game was another huge moment. Just being out there and competing—compared to my freshman year when I was just dressed on the sidelines, watching everyone else play for it—made it an incredible experience.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN THE CLOCK WENT TO ZERO?
A: I saw the punt rolling on the ground and just thought, ‘That’s crazy—they don’t have anyone back there to get it.’ After that, I just took off running, trying to find my family and celebrate with them. Thinking about everything we put in throughout the year—from the moment we lost to Montana last year until now—all that work finally paid off. It was an incredibly gratifying feeling. But now, it’s time to go do it again.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR THIS NEXT SEASON?
A: I’m just excited to see how the team responds to losing a bunch of leaders. We lost two big groups— the sixth-years and some key fifth-years—so now it’s about seeing how the team steps up. My class is essentially the new senior class, and I’m looking forward to seeing who steps into those leadership roles and how we all come together and manage as a team.
2024 Stats
GAMES PLAYED:
GAMES STARTED: TACKLES:
TACKLES FOR LOSS:
PASS BREAKUPS:
Ryan Jones #27 S
BY BRADY DRAKE
Career Stats
GAMES PLAYED: 46
TACKLES: 61
TACKLES FOR LOSS: 1
PASS BREAKUPS: 5
WHAT DID THIS SEASON MEAN TO YOU?
A: This really represents all the hard work we put in and shows what it takes to accomplish the goals we set at the beginning of the year. It took a lot of hard work and overcoming adversity—because success isn’t linear. We battled through challenges, and it required a lot of mental toughness. But in the end, it showed us what it truly means to accomplish something that’s really hard to do, and to do it the way we envisioned.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE TEAM LEARNED QUITE A FEW LESSONS THIS SEASON?
A: I would say so, yeah. Especially defensively. We started the year with a close non-conference game on the road, and early on, we probably weren’t playing the way we wanted to as a team. But then, as we moved into conference play, we started rolling—we were playing really well, dominating conference teams. Then came the South Dakota game. We had them beat but didn’t finish. So we reset, dialed back in, and made a playoff run. Played really well as a team through those four playoff games.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT DID FOR YOU ALL AS DEFENSIVE BACKS PLAYING COLORADO IN THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON AND GOING UP AGAINST A RECEIVING CORPS LIKE THAT?
A: It definitely brings confidence when your biggest challenge, especially in man coverage, comes right away in week one. After that,
we pretty much don’t see receivers of that caliber for the rest of the year—there are a few good ones, but nothing quite at that level. So it gives you a little extra confidence knowing you’ve already faced the best you’re going to see at that position. You go into the rest of the season feeling prepared—your brain is trained for that kind of speed, and it just makes things a little easier as the year goes on. Not that you take it for granted—it’s always in the back of your mind, but you still respect every player you go up against. They’re still Division I guys, still talented players. But having that early challenge definitely helps.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS OF THE SEASON?
A: I’d say there are definitely two. First, when we played South Dakota State the first time. Logan Kopp’s interception. I was on the field for it, and that’s my roommate, one of my best friends, making the pick right in front of me. Celebrating together in that moment was unforgettable. And second, obviously, was winning the national championship in my home city—the last time it’s going to be there, at least for me. It was a huge sense of accomplishment and relief. That was a goal I had back in high school when I decided to play here and to see it through felt incredible.
WHAT’S IT LIKE PLAYING IN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN YOUR HOMETOWN?
A: I had my family there, a couple of friends, and even some people I didn’t know were there until they texted me. It was surreal because I’ve been to a lot of these games.
I went to the first one in 2011 as a young kid, then again in 2018 and 2019—the two seasons right before COVID. Back then, as a high schooler, I was one of the players holding the flag for the national anthem. They still do that, and I was that kid two years in a row. So when we lined up for the anthem this time, I was thinking back, remembering what it felt like a few years ago. It was just a full-circle moment—memories and goals accomplished.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU HERE?
A: I ’ve got one more year. I graduate this spring with my undergrad in civil engineering, and then the plan is to go into a master’s program—probably something in business, either an MBA or business analytics. I haven’t decided yet, but that’s the direction I’m looking at academically. Beyond that, it’s all about finishing strong with a great senior year. We have the same goals as always—pushing forward, staying locked in as a team, and making the most of this last ride. This is my fifth season—four full years now—and you can feel it coming to a close. But there’s still one more year, one more chance to do it all again with my guys, my best friends. I’m really looking forward to it. Should be a fun ride.
24-25 Stats
GAMES PLAYED:
GAMES STARTED:
RECEPTIONS:
RECEIVING YARDS:
RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS:
RUSHING ATTEMPTS:
RUSHING YARDS:
RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS:
Bryce Lance #5 WR
BY BRADY DRAKE
Career Stats
GAMES PLAYED: 44
RECEPTIONS: 76
RECEIVING YARDS: 1078
RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS: 17
RUSHING ATTEMPTS: 5
RUSHING YARDS: 29
RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS: 1
JOSIAH KOPP
ryce Lance had big-time expectations to live up to coming to NDSU, where his brother was one of the greatest players in program history. Well, he did just that this past season, setting the single-season record for touchdown receptions and coming up huge in clutch moments.
WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE GETTING YOUR FIRST CONSISTENT COLLEGIATE PLAYING TIME?
A: Honestly, it just felt like a weight off my shoulders. These past three years, I put in my time—grinding on special teams, working my butt off in practice, through spring ball, fall camp, all of it. So to finally see all that hard work come to fruition—it’s really cool and, honestly, a blessing.
THAT HAD TO BE KIND OF A LONG WAIT.
A: Yeah, it definitely felt long. But honestly, I think there was a reason for it. I was more than ready for this season, so in the end, it all worked out.
WHEN DID YOU START TO FEEL COMFORTABLE THIS SEASON?
A: Honestly, I felt comfortable—that’s why the past couple of years were tough. I knew I was comfortable in this offense. Maybe in-game situations, it took some time, but after that Colorado game, I really felt settled in. Obviously, they were a great team, but after that game, I had this moment where I thought, ‘Wow, I have an opportunity to do something special here.’ That’s when I truly felt locked into the offense.
DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU AND CAM’S RELATIONSHIP AND CHEMISTRY KIND OF BUILT THROUGHOUT THE SEASON?
A: Yeah, I think it was just a trust thing. It kept building and building with each game. The chemistry just grew stronger. It wasn’t like Cam and I needed to say much to each other—it was more of an unspoken understanding, a mutual respect. And like I said, that connection only got better as the season went on.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM THE SEASON?
A: Gosh, I think my first touchdown stands out, but honestly, the whole playoff experience was just so special—something I’ll remember forever. I look back at pictures now, thinking about those moments during the games, and it’s all such a blur. But even just being in the huddle with the guys—that’s something I’ll miss. This group of seniors was special, and I think the playoffs as a whole were an unforgettable experience.
DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE IN ON THE SDSU CATCH?
A: Right away, I didn’t know. I knew I caught it, but I wasn’t sure if I got a foot in. But once I saw it on the board, I knew I was in.
WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN THE CLOCK WENT TO ZERO AND YOU WERE CROWNED NATIONAL CHAMPIONS?
A: Just ecstatic. Honestly, it’s hard to put into words. Looking around at all the guys, seeing their faces when they realized we were national champions—there’s really no feeling like it. You can’t replicate that moment. Running up on the stage with my brothers—that was something truly special.
WHY STAY AT NDSU?
A: I think, honestly, it’s the people I’ve met—my best friends are here, and I’m not ready to be done with them. I’ve been given a lot of opportunities this past year, and I just want to do it all over again with my brothers.
WHAT DOES NEXT YEAR LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
A: I think just accomplishing all our goals—that’s what matters most. Obviously, I achieved a lot of individual goals this year as well, but nothing compares to winning a national championship. Honestly, I’d trade all my accolades for that. So for next year, the goal remains the same—accomplishing everything as a team.
2024 Stats
GAMES PLAYED: 16
TACKLES: 56
RECEPTIONS: 75
TACKLES FOR LOSS: 11.5
SACKS: 6
Awards
▶ 2021 HERO SPORTS SOPHOMORE ALL-AMERICA TEAM
▶ 2020-21 HERO SPORTS FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
▶ 2020-21, 2021 ALL-MVFC HONORABLE MENTION
▶ 2020-21 MVFC ALLNEWCOMER TEAM
Career Stats
GAMES PLAYED: 61
TACKLES: 176
TACKLES FOR LOSS: 33
SACKS: 19.5
INTERCEPTIONS: 1
PASS BREAKUPS: 6
FUMBLES RECOVERED: 1
BLOCKED KICKS: 1
Eli Mostaert #53 DT
Eli Mostaert
BY BRADY DRAKE
li Mostaert has been an absolutely dominant force along NDSU’s defensive line since stepping on campus and he’s a big reason why your Bison are national champions. Now, he’s preparing for a shot in the NFL.
WHERE ARE YOU TRAINING OUT OF RIGHT NOW?
A: Training HAUS in the twin cities.
WHEN DID YOU START THAT PROCESS?
A: Thursday after the championship. WAS THE PLAN TO START THAT THURSDAY?
A: I wanted to start pretty quickly, but there wasn’t a set date yet. I ended up deciding on Thursday because Wednesday is kind of an off day for training—we still do some stuff, but not as much. Thursday, on the other hand, is one of the bigger lift days, so it just made sense to start then.
HOW’S EVERYTHING GOING SO FAR?
A: It’s been good. I like it here so far— good atmosphere, good people, good energy.
WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN THE CLOCK HIT ZERO AGAINST MONTANA STATE?
A: It was a really interesting way to end the game on the punt—a surreal moment for me and my teammates,
especially the senior group, to go out on top. When the clock hit zero, I was one of the first ones to run over to the stage. It was really cool to be up there with the guys I started this journey with and to hoist that trophy one last time.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THIS TEAM COULD ACCOMPLISH THIS?
A: I think that middle stretch—where we beat SDSU, UND, and a bunch of the teams we lost to last year—was when we really realized, we’re doing it. We knew we could all along, but that was when it actually clicked— we knew we were going to do this and take it all the way. And then, after the loss to USD, it hit us even harder. That loss meant we missed out on the outright title, and from that point on, it was like, we really want this. We wanted something that was ours.
DO YOU THINK THAT WAS ALMOST GOOD THAT HAPPENED?
A: I would’ve rather it happened a little earlier—maybe not the last game of the regular season—but yeah, I think it was something we needed. After winning 10 in a row and not really feeling that sting since game one, it was almost like a wake-up call. I’ve always believed that sometimes, a loss can be a good thing. We had already experienced
it once this year, but we needed that little kick in the butt to get us moving in a positive direction again.
WHAT DO YOU THINK CHANGED FOR YOUR TEAM BETWEEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR THAT ALLOWED YOU GUYS TO HAVE THAT SUCCESS?
A: I think it just came down to the senior leaders and the older guys in the room realizing this was our last time. Our last season together as brothers. The 26 seniors who went out on senior night wanted to make it special, to get it done, and to have something meaningful to end our careers on.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM THE YEAR?
A: Going down to Colorado was really fun. The atmosphere was incredible. It was my first FBS game, and even though it didn’t end the way we wanted, it was still a cool experience to go down there with the guys and experience something new. Beating SDSU to win the Dakota Marker again—that was huge. That was a massive accomplishment for us, especially for the senior class. Beating UND was another favorite, especially after losing to them up in the Alerus Center. Then, beating SDSU the second time was definitely up there,
Eli Mostaert
WE’RE PROUD TO LEAVE IT ON TOP, AND HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GO BACK-TO-BACK NEXT YEAR.
too. Just being able to correct some of the wrongs from last year was really cool to see. It was fun to get it done with the guys, especially after losing to those teams the year before. They’re some of our biggest rivals, so those wins meant a lot.
WHAT DO YOU TAKE THE MOST PRIDE IN LOOKING BACK AT YOUR NDSU CAREER?
A: I’d say it’s just that loyalty and resilience—to stay and get something done. We started here, and we wanted to finish on top. I’m proud of myself for coming back from my broken leg in 2022 and being able to put together a couple of really strong seasons. But more than that, getting to play one last time with the guys in
my grade and the class below me— meant a lot. I think we’re all really proud of how we finished, how we carried ourselves throughout the season, and how we upheld the standard, keeping it high for this team every step of the way.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE READERS?
A: I think something really cool about this season is that we’ve been through so many ups and downs, but for the guys who have been playing here a long time, this felt like destiny. With the end of the COVID era, the extra games, and so many guys in this program who graduated this year having played a ton of football, it felt like the right
way to finish. But it’s not going to drop off after this—this is going to be a special team next year. I think they’re going to carry things really well. We’re proud to leave it on top, and hopefully, we can go backto-back next year. A lot of the big names may be gone, but there are guys ready to step up.
TEAM MAKERS Join
By Team Makers
ZACHARY LUCY
Team Makers, the national fundraising arm for North Dakota State University athletics, produced another banner year in 2024, again contributing $5.5 million in support of Bison studentathletes.
Team Makers saw cash donations total over $5.2 million from 3,609 members in 2024. Trade for goods and services totaled more than $624,278, in addition to more than $1.9 million in other revenues with the total impact for NDSU Athletics surpassing $7.7 million.
Established in 1950, Team Makers Inc. is a 501(c) (3) foundation committed to supporting NDSU Athletics and its student-athletes by providing resources necessary to succeed at the highest level in the classroom and in competition.
“The Team Makers organization continues to provide unmatched financial support for all of Bison Athletics,” said NDSU Director of Athletics Matt Larsen. “This investment provides championship-level experiences for our studentathletes in competition, the classroom and in the community. Their collective generosity truly makes a difference.
“A sincere thank you to all our current Team Makers for your support and passion for Bison Athletics,” Larsen said. “Your passion and support are the driving force behind our continued success year after year. Go Bison!”
Team Makers invites Bison fans to support NDSU Athletics by becoming a member of the annual fund. Memberships start at just $100 and accepted year-round from January 1 through December 31. Members enjoy a variety of benefits, including priority points, a welcome packet, exclusive access to ticket opportunities, reserved parking and tailgating, preferred seating, and special events with Bison coaches and staff. Every membership directly impacts NDSU student-athletes, providing essential resources for their success.
Join Team Makers today and make a difference in Bison Athletics!
