BOULDER, Colo. – The North Dakota State football team lost a back-and-forth battle with FBS opponent Colorado in the 2024 season opener, falling 31-26 at Folsom Field on Thursday night.
 
Bison quarterback Cam Miller completed a 49-yard pass to Tyler Terhark on the final play of the game, but the last-second heave came up four yards short of a game-winning touchdown.
 
Miller finished 18-for-22 passing for 277 yards and one touchdown through the air. He also led the Bison with 81 rushing yards and added two touchdowns on the ground.
 
Miller found Joe Stoffel for a 7-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and ran in a 7-yard score himself in the second quarter. With a pair of field goals from Griffin Crosa, the Bison led 20-17 at halftime.
 
Colorado outscored the Bison 14-6 in the second half with Travis Hunter's second and third TD receptions of the game. Miller scored on a 20-yard scamper with 2:19 remaining in the game to pull NDSU within five at 31-26.
 
NDSU senior receiver Braylon Henderson posted five catches for 72 yards. Redshirt freshman CharMar Brown had nine carries for 33 yards in his Bison debut.
 
Senior safety Sam Jung led the Bison defense with eight tackles.
 
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was 26-of-34 for 445 passing yards and four touchdowns.
 
NDSU racked up 449 yards of total offense and outgained Colorado 157-59 on the ground.
 
NDSU returns to Fargo for the home opener vs. Tennessee State on Sept. 7.