They met previously in the 2021 FCS championship game and had much different experiences. Now quarterbacks Tommy Mellot of Montana State and Cam Miller of North Dakota State are back for a busy trip to Frisco, Texas, while attempting to end their careers on top of the FCS.
Right smack in the middle of the 2024 FCS championship game is a storyline that’s in stark contrast to what continues to occur off the field in college football.
Literally behind center, that is, with quarterbacks Tommy Mellott of Montana State (15-0) and Cam Miller of North Dakota State (13-2) as they get set to complete long, successful careers at their original schools.
Their only schools.
The NCAA transfer portal swirls with comings and goings, with The Athletic reporting over 3,000 Division I players (FBS and FCS) have entered their name in it during the 2024-25 transfer window.
That’s not the case with No. 4 in blue and gold (Mellott) and No. 7 in green and yellow (Miller). They’ve long been happy with their school choices, and their programs couldn’t be happier as well.
“I encourage every young person out there, stay where you’re at, dig in and reach your full potential,” NDSU coach Tim Polasek said, “and believe in the people around you.”
With Mellott and Miller, it’s a story of dedication, perseverance and excellence – both part of the 2020 recruiting class when their respective program had a different head coach than today.
Monday night in Frisco, Texas, Miller will enter a much-anticipated championship matchup with a 44-11 career record as a starter, while Mellott will bring in a 33-7 mark, including this year’s only unbeaten record in the FCS.
Two nights earlier, one of them could receive the Walter Payton Award as the FCS offensive player of the year. Southern Utah running back Targhee Lambson will join them at the Stats Perform national awards banquet for the Payton Award announcement.
“I guess it is poetic that they both led their teams to this game,” Montana State coach Brent Vigen said. “They’ve continued to grow as quarterbacks.”
Each signal caller has saved the best for his senior season, Mellott winning Big Sky offensive player of the year and Miller the same award in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Their statistics have been similar throughout the campaign.
Mellott and Miller rank 1 and 2, respectively, in the FCS in pass efficiency and combined touchdowns (passing and rushing). Miller averages slightly more yards of total offense per game – 237.5 to 231.9 – and both are putting up career highs as passers.
It’s not often a quarterback will make his first career start in the postseason, but both did, although Miller’s occurred in the spring 2021 season and Mellott’s during the fall 2021 campaign.
Their final game will mark their third overall meeting in the postseason. In the 2021 FCS championship game, Mellott was knocked out of the game early with a left ankle injury, and Miller and NDSU cruised to a 38-10 victory. The Bison also won 35-34 in overtime in a 2023 second-round game.
“At the time, I was considered a game manager,” Miller said, looking back to NDSU’s most recent of nine FCS championship game wins since 2011. “I wasn’t really told to do anything spectacular other than, ‘Stay on the field on third down, don’t force the football and just play within yourself.’ I think my role from then has kind of evolved into being a playmaker and trying to do everything I can to help our team win.”
“Knowing I couldn’t do anything was an awful feeling,” Mellott said of the injury. “When I walked off the field, it was just a feeling of, ‘Are we ever going to be able to get back here in the next four years?’
“Ever since it’s really just been motivation to earn the right to go back and play in the national championship game. I do think it’s fitting that we’re going to be playing North Dakota State again.”
Said Vigen: “For your team to ultimately achieve its highest level, you generally need good quarterback play, if not great quarterback play. And both teams have that.”
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