| Game Name: | Grantland Rice Bowl |
| Date Game Played: | December 4 |
| Year Game Played: | 1976 |
| Football Season: | 1976 |
| Football Division: | NCAA Division II |
| Stadium: | Dacotah Field |
| City: | Fargo, North Dakota |
| Attendance: | 6,100 |
| Visitor School: | Montana State University |
| Visitor Name Short: | Montana State |
| Visitor Nickname: | Bobcats |
| Visitor Conference: | Big Sky Conference |
| Visitor Coach: | Sonny Holland |
| Visitor Record: | 10–1 |
| Visitor 1Q: | 0 |
| Visitor 2Q: | 0 |
| Visitor 3Q: | 7 |
| Visitor 4Q: | 3 |
| Home School: | North Dakota State University |
| Home Name Short: | North Dakota State |
| Home Nickname: | Bison |
| Home Conference: | North Central Conference |
| Home Coach: | Jim Wacker |
| Home Record: | 9–2 |
| Home 1Q: | 3 |
| Home 2Q: | 0 |
| Home 3Q: | 0 |
| Home 4Q: | 0 |
The 1976 Grantland Rice Bowl was an NCAA Division II game following the 1976 season, between the Montana State Bobcats and the North Dakota State Bison. This was the first time that the game was hosted by one of the participants – in prior years the game had been played at a fixed location; first Murfreesboro, Tennessee and later Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Montana State guard Lee Washburn was the last player selected in the 1978 NFL draft, and tackle Jon Borchardt was selected in the 1979 NFL draft. Quarterback Paul Dennehy and head coach Sonny Holland are inductees of the university's hall of fame.[1]
North Dakota State defensive back Chuck Rodgers was selected in the 1977 NFL draft. Wide receiver / kicker Mike McTague was selected in the 1979 CFL Draft. McTague and linebacker Rick Budde are inductees of the university's athletic hall of fame.[2]