The 2024 FCS playoffs are the 47th in Division I subdivision history. After “The Road to Frisco” began with 24 teams in pursuit of the national championship, here’s a breakdown of how Montana State and North Dakota State – the top two seeds – advanced to the title game.
The 2024 FCS playoffs were short on outstanding games through the first third rounds.
The semifinal round on Saturday was a different story, however, as Montana State and North Dakota State both won at home to advance to the FCS championship game on Jan. 6 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Second-seeded North Dakota State pulled out a 28-21 thriller over No. 3 seed South Dakota State, the two-time defending national champion, in what’s basically the best game of the entire season (to date).
Fourth-seeded South Dakota hung tough with No. 1 seed Montana State, but the Bobcats prevailed 31-17.
FCS Playoffs – Semifinals
No. 2 seed NDSU (13-2) 28, No. 3 seed SDSU (12-3) 21
How It Happened – NDSU quarterback Cam Miller and wide receiver Bryce Lance connected for three touchdown passes, including the 10-yard game-winner with 4:02 left to break a 21-21 tie. The Bison ended SDSU’s bid for a national title three-peat.
Game Ball – Lance finished with six receptions for 125 yards, catching TDs of 21, 47 and 10 yards. The game-winner was sensational: He made a one-handed grab and got his outside foot down in the SDSU end zone before momentum carried him out of bounds. The play was ruled an incompletion, but overturned on review – giving him an NDSU-record 16th TD catch this season.
Key Stat – The two FCS titans finished with similar statistics, so how about one of the best in subdivision history: NDSU improved to 38-1 inside the Fargodome in FCS playoff games.
Upcoming – NDSU will seek to add to its record nine FCS championships against unbeaten Montana State. The Bison trail 21-17 in the all-time series, but have won each of the last five meetings – all in the postseason since 2010.
South Dakota State QB Mark Gronowski ended his career ranked second in school history in passing yards (10,309), total offense (12,076 yards) and TD passes (93).He started 49 wins, sharing the FCS QB record with former North Dakota State signal caller Easton Stick.
— Craig Haley (@CraigHaley) December 21, 2024No. 1 seed Montana State (15-0) 31, No. 4 seed South Dakota (11-3) 17
How It Happened – MSU quarterback Tommy Mellott accounted for 259 yards of total offense (134 passing, 125 rushing) and three touchdowns to fuel the Bobcats, who have scored at least 30 points in all 15 of their games this season.
Game Ball – Mellott threw a 34-yard touchdown to Taco Dowler on the game’s sixth play and scored on a 41-yard run on the Bobcats’ first possession of the second half. He also scored on a 5-yard run.
Key Stat – The Bobcats, who entered with the No. 2 FCS ranking in third-down conversion percentage, was 7 of 15, while USD was 3 of 10 on third down and 0 of 2 on fourth down.
Upcoming – Montana State next faces North Dakota State, seeking its second all-time FCS championship. The Bobcats, who fell to NDSU 38-10 in the 2011 title game, will seek to join the 2019 Bison squad as a second FCS team to go 16-0 in a season.
FCS Playoff Record by ConferenceThrough QuarterfinalsMVFC (4 qualifiers): 8-3 (1 remaining)Big Sky (5): 6-4 (1 remaining)UAC (3): 2-3CAA (4): 2-4SoCon (1): 1-1Southland (1): 1-1Patriot (1): 1-1Big South-OVC (3): 1-3NEC (1): 0-1Pioneer (1): 0-1
— FCS Football (@OptaAnalystFCS) December 22, 2024Follow all of our FCS football coverage, including on X, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.
FCS Playoffs Semifinal-Round Scoreboard: Montana State, North Dakota State Advance Opta Analyst.
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