Bristol, CT (SportsNetwork.com) - FCS powers North Dakota State and Montana will open the 2015 college football season in the FCS Kickoff on Aug. 29, ESPN announced Thursday.
The matchup in Missoula, Montana, is the second game of a home-and-home series after North Dakota State beat the Grizzlies, 22-10, in Fargo this past Sept. 20.
Kickoff for the 2015 matchup on ESPN will be 3:30 p.m. ET.
The NCAA granted a waiver to both universities to play five days prior to the official start of the 2015 season on Sept. 3. The game between North Dakota State and Montana was originally scheduled for Sept. 5.
North Dakota State holds a 4-3 series lead.
The inaugural FCS Kickoff earlier this season - played the Saturday (Aug. 23) prior to the first full week of college football - featured Eastern Washington defeating Sam Houston State, 56-35.
North Dakota State will seek an unprecedented fourth straight FCS national championship in the 2014 playoffs, which begin Nov. 29. Montana, under retiring coach Mick Delaney, will try to play its way into the 24-team field this weekend. The Grizzlies have appeared in the playoffs 20 times since 1988 and is a seven-time national finalist, including title wins in 1995 and 2001.
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