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PAYTON AWARD: Complete history of the top FCS offensive honor

Mellott received the Payton Award two days before playing in the 2024-25 FCS Championship game, his second appearance of his career. In 12 regular season games, the Bobcat quarterback completed 148 of 216 passes (68.5 percent) for 1,956 yards, 22 touchdowns and just one interceptions. He also ran for 640 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading Montana State to an undefeated record.

We Are All Witnesses⚡️ |

— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB)

Mellott is the 27th quarterback to win the Payton Award — the most of any position — since the award debuted in 1987. Quarterbacks have won the Payton Award in each of the last nine seasons and 20 of the last 21 seasons, with wide receiver Cooper Kupp's 2015 win being the lone exception.

As the 2024 Walter Payton Award winner, Mellott joins an elite fraternity of FCS greats including Steve McNair (Alcorn State, 1994), Adrian Peterson (Georgia Southern, 1999), Brian Westbrook (Villanova, 2001), Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois, 2002), Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington, 2015) and more.

UNBELIEVABLE 😱

TOMMY MELLOTT IS HIM.

📺 ABC |

— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB)

MORE AWARDS: Buck Buchanan Award history | Jerry Rice Award history

Top moments

See some more of Mellott's top moments from 2024 below.

76-YARD CRIB CALL 🏠☎️ |

— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB)

𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗜 ⛽️ x |

— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB)

TOMMY MELLOTT MAGIC 😱 x

— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB)

ABSOLUTE DIME 🎯 x

— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB)

50 Yard BOMB 💣 x |

— Montana State Football (@MSUBobcats_FB)