MOBILE, Ala. — Former North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton was named player of the game for the National Team for his performance Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Panini Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
The American Team scored the game’s first 17 points en route to a 17-9 victory in the college football all-star game for some of the top NFL Draft-eligible prospects.
“It’s an honor,” Payton said during a television interview. “What a atmosphere. What a week. A lot of growth. And just being able to come out here represent NDSU, represent my family. It’s been a blast.”
National quarterback Cole Payton (9) of North Dakota State throws the ball during the second half of the 2026 Senior Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
Vasha Hunt / IMAGN IMAGES
Former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who played for the American Team, was named the game’s most valuable player.
“It means a lot,” Nussmeier said during his postgame television interview. “I hadn’t played football in three months and so getting to be out here again, and be out here with guys, and get to play the game I love is an awesome feeling.”
Nussmeier completed 5 of 8 passes for 57 yards. He also rushed for a 3-yard touchdown. Oklahoma running back Jayden Ott rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown on eight attempts for the American Team.
National quarterback Cole Payton (9) of North Dakota State throws the ball during the second half of the 2026 Senior Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.
Vasha Hunt / IMAGN IMAGES
Payton completed 5 of 10 passes for 72 yards. He also rushed for 22 yards on five carries, including a long run of 19 yards.
“We had a slow start as an offense, some turnovers, some things not going our way,” Payton added. “It’s just about having that next play mentality.”
Missouri defensive end Zion Young was the player of the game for the American Team. Young had two total tackles with a solo stop. The American Team held the National Team scoreless through the first three quarters.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound
Payton also had a strong week of practice
leading into Saturday’s game, receiving favorable from multiple national NFL Draft analysts.
“That was the name of the game for me my whole career, being opportunistic,” Payton said. “You might only get a couple of opportunities, you might just get one year. You might just get one drive, you might just get a couple drives.”
Payton was a one-year starter for the Bison and injured his thumb during the second round of the FCS playoffs where the Bison lost 29-28 to Illinois State. The injury required surgery.
“I’m feeling like myself again,” Payton said of coming off the injury. “About, so, a week-and-a-half ago, two weeks, I started throwing again, and it wasn’t feeling the best. … Last week, it was feeling good when I was spinning it so I was feeling like myself again.”
Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996.