FARGO — For the second straight year, a North Dakota State quarterback is a finalist for the Walter Payton Award that goes to the best offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. And for the second year in a row, he’s still playing football in December.

Cam Miller finished runnerup in the voting last year, but left Frisco, Texas, with a national championship. Cole Payton is hoping for more of the same, with the Bison starting their postseason by hosting a second round game Saturday at noon against Illinois State.

Payton is one of three who will be invited to the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Saturday, Jan. 3 in Nashville, two days before the national championship game. The others are Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard and Western Carolina qua

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