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. FILE – Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott throws the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Portland, Ore., Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer, File) “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.” Top-ranked Montana State (15-0) is looking for its first national title since 1940. Second-ranked 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. Miller has a 44-11 record starting and is North Dakota State’s career record holder with 740 completions, 9,522 yards passing and 11,678 total yards. He has thrown for 3,052 yards with 31 touchdowns and rushed for 510 yards and 10 TDs this season. “We all know what opportunities are out there for players, for coaches, and it’s hard to dig in and to believe in the big picture,” first-year Bison head coach Tim Polasek said. “What I hope comes out of this for everybody watching this game …. (is) they see two guys that are leaders of their clubs, that have had the opportunity to reach their potential and now have mastered a system.” This will be the 39th meeting between the two schools. Montana State has an overall 21-17 series lead, but North Dakota State has won the past five meetings — all in playoff games since the 2010 season. The Bison won second-round games in 2010 and 2018 and a semifinal matchup in 2019. They also played last season, when Montana State lost 35-34 in overtime at home after a blocked extra point. North Dakota State junior receiver Bryce Lance, the younger brother of Trey, is the FCS leader with a school-record 16 touchdown catches. He had three in the 28-21 national semifinal win over South Dakota State, including the game winner on a spectacular one-handed catch with 4:02 left. Related Articles College Sports | College Football Playoffs: All that’s left are the blue bloods College Sports | When 2025 arrives, so will the end of the amateur athlete in college sports College Sports | Charley Walters: Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell is going to strike it rich College Sports | Gophers cherish chance to beat rival Badgers ‘like that’ and take Axe back College Sports | Meet incoming Gophers quarterback Jackson Kollock from Laguna Beach, Calif.