Tayden Gray waited the entire 2024 season for his moment. In the fourth quarter of the FCS semifinals against South Dakota, the Montana State defensive back seized his opportunity.

With USD receiver JJ Galbreath charging toward the first down marker on a fourth-and-12, Gray met him at the Bobcats’ 2-yard line. He knocked the ball out of Galbreath’s outstretched arms to force the turnover on downs.

"Not playing the beginning of the season and being in my head, and then finally getting the opportunity to play and go out there and make that play and just send us to the finals (was special),” said Gray, now a redshirt sophomore.

Gray — who appeared in 13 games with 19 total tackles last year — and his younger teammates tried to capitalize on any snaps they got. Cornerbacks Jhase McMillan (1

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