FARGO — The Gold Star Marching Band wasn’t even in its seats yet when North Dakota State receiver Bryce Lance took a 78-yard touchdown pass from Cole Payton on NDSU’s first play of the game. At least the Fargodome sound person was alert, playing a recorded version of the school song over the sound system after Eli Ozick’s extra point kick made it 7-0.

It looked too easy.

It was too easy.

It was way too easy.

“There were definitely a couple of times I thought this game was over and one of those being the first play of the game,” said Bison receiver Jackson Williams. “I said it's over, they’re going home, they don’t want to be here but there were some punches we threw and they threw back.”

A bizarre thing happened on the way to Nashville, the site of the FCS national championship game,

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