BROOKINGS South Dakota State is looking for its second straight national title but Saturdays matchup with Montana will have plenty of games within the game.
The Jackrabbits will need to manage these matchups as much as possible to come away with a win over the Grizzlies and heres a look at some of the key components that could decide this years national champion.
Montanas Junior Bergen vs. SDSUs Tucker Large
Bergen and Large will be on the field together when Montanas offense matches up with SDSUs defense, but the bigger matchup could come on special teams where both players have become electric punt returners.
Large is averaging 18.8 yards per punt return this season and ripped off a 79-yard return for a touchdown in SDSUs semifinal win over UAlbany. Bergen has also thrived returning punts averaging 15.6 yards per return with three touchdowns this season.
Bergens success has grown during Montanas run to Frisco, returning a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in the Grizzlies quarterfinal win over Furman and returning another punt for a touchdown during a semifinal win over North Dakota State.
While both players could make an impact in a traditional sense, they could also swing the game if either player manages to rip off a long return.
SDSUs defensive line vs. Montanas offensive line
The Jacks defensive line has been stout all season long but you wouldnt be able to tell by looking at their sack numbers. SDSU ranks 77th in the nation with 1.71 sacks per game this season but theyve collected five sacks over their three playoff games.
Quinton Hicks has been a catalyst for that production with 2.5 sacks in SDSUs past two games, but theyll face a different challenge against a Montana offensive line that ranks 10th with just 0.92 sacks per game allowed.
Another challenge for the Jacks defensive line will be stopping Montanas rushing attack, which features three players with over 600 yards rushing and eight touchdowns this season. With the Grizzlies ranking 21st with 186.1 rushing yards per game, the Jacks elite run defense, which ranks second with 92.6 yards allowed per game, will have its hands full in Frisco.
Montanas red zone defense vs. SDSUs red zone offense
SDSUs efficiency in the red zone has been near perfect this season, scoring on 52 of their 54 drives inside the 20. But its been their ability to finish drives with touchdowns that have made the difference.
The Jacks have scored 47 touchdowns after entering the red zone, which accounts for 90.3 percent of their red zone scores and 87 percent of their trips to the red zone this season.
SDSUs efficiency will be put to the the test against a Montana defense that is 21st in the nation with a 74.3 percent scoring rate inside the red zone this season but also goes both ways.
The Jacks have done a tremendous job of keeping their opponents off the board when they enter the red zone with a nation-leading 59.4 percent scoring rate allowed inside the 20 this season.
While SDSU will have their opportunities, theyll have to continue cashing in against the Grizzlies.
Montanas passing attack vs. SDSUs secondary
We talked a little bit about Bergens ability to wreck the game with the ball in his hands but its not the only weapon the Grizzlies will be bringing to Frisco.
Fellow top receiver Keelan White has been a downfield threat for Montana, catching 50 passes for 779 yards and four touchdowns this season. With Aaron Fontes catching 41 passes for 541 yards and five touchdowns, its helped dual threat Clifton McDowell command the offense with 1,861 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions.
SDSU has done a tremendous job containing opposing passing attacks in their run through the playoffs holding Mercers Carter Peevy to 75 yards and two interceptions in the second round, Villanovas Carter Watkins to 74 yards and an interception in the quarterfinals and UAlbanys Reese Poffenbarger to 232 yards and three interceptions in the semifinals.
With all three times attempting to throw their way out of big deficits, the Jacks secondary has been impressive throughout the season and have to continue its dominance on Saturday.
SDSUs Isaiah Davis vs. Montanas defense
Davis has been so dominant during the playoffs, his Playoff Zay nickname has almost faded into a secondary storyline coming into the national championship game.
Davis has ran for 1,893 yards and 19 touchdowns in 14 career playoff games and already has two massive games in Frisco under his belt. Davis ran 14 times for 178 yards and three touchdowns against Sam Houston State in the 2020 spring championship game and carried the ball 22 times for 103 yards and a touchdown against NDSU in last years championship game.
Montana ranks 12th in the nation with 102.8 rushing yards allowed per game but Davis could be their biggest threat. With 1,491 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, Davis is one of the biggest problems on an SDSU offense that also includes Mark Gronowski, Jaden and Jaxon Janke and Zach Heins in the passing game.
If Davis can continue his playoff success, the Jacks should be able to run their way to another national title.
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