FARGO, N.D. – Bryce Lance caught three touchdown passes from Cam Miller, including a one-handed game-winner, to give North Dakota State a 28-21 victory over two-time defending champion South Dakota State and a season-ending FCS berth on Saturday -Title game.

The second-seeded Bison (13-2) will face the winner of top-seeded Montana State and No. 4 seed South Dakota later Saturday for the Jan. 6 championship in Frisco, Texas. NDSU, winner of nine FCS titles, most recently in 2021, won its 20th straight home playoff game and defeated the Jackrabbits for the second time this season. These two teams and South Dakota shared the Missouri Valley Football Conference title.

After the third-seeded Jackrabbits (12-3) tied the game at 21-1, the Bison drove 75 yards and scored with 4:18 left when Lance caught a pass with his right hand and managed to gain control and to put a foot down into play in the right corner of the end zone. The piece was initially deemed incomplete, but was overturned upon review.

On South Dakota State’s final possession, Mark Gronowski was sacked on fourth-and-17 at the Jackrabbits’ 31.

The teams traded touchdowns in the first two quarters before both punting three times in the third quarter.

Miller found Lance deep for a 47-yard score early in the fourth, and the Jackrabbits tied the score midway through the quarter on Gronowski’s 14-yard pass to Grahm Göring.

Lance, the brother of NFL quarterback Trey Lance, made six catches for 125 yards, his other touchdown coming on a 21-yarder. Miller was 13 of 19 for 179 yards and also rushed for 93 yards and a TD.

Gronowski was 14 of 25 passing for 204 yards and he also ran for a score. Amar Johnson rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown.