The power teams have risen in the 2024 FCS playoffs as the four-highest seeds have advanced to the semifinals. Top-seeded Montana State and South Dakota are set to square off in one half of the bracket as they continue pursuit of the national championship.
Considering the way top-ranked Montana State has steamrolled through the competition this season, it might be easy to overlook a South Dakota program that’s playing in the FCS semifinal round for the first time.
The Coyotes, though, are among the more battled-test teams nationally. The No. 4 seed in the FCS playoffs (11-2) forced third-seeded South Dakota State to overtime and beat second-seeded North Dakota State in the regular season – earning a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference title – and they just eliminated fifth-seeded UC Davis in a national quarterfinal.
Yup, Montana State is next on their to-do list.
The Big Sky champion Bobcats (14-0) – the FCS’ only unbeaten team – are in the semifinal round for a third time since 2019 and the fifth time overall. They’ve begun their playoff run with two lopsided wins.
The two programs will meet on Saturday for just the third time, and the winner will advance to the FCS championship game on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas.
FCS Playoffs – Semifinal
No. 4 seed South Dakota (11-2) at No. 1 seed Montana State (14-0)
Kickoff – 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana (ABC)
Series – Montana State leads 2-0 (last meeting: Bobcats won 31-24 in overtime in Bozeman on Oct. 17, 2009)
Wins in FCS Playoffs – South Dakota: Tarleton State (42-31) and UC Davis (35-21); Montana State: UT Martin (48-17) and Idaho (52-19)
Coaches – South Dakota: Bob Nielson (53-47, ninth season; 239-127-1 overall); Montana State: Brent Vigen (46-9, fourth season)
3 Players to Watch – South Dakota: QB Aidan Bouman (194 of 283, 2,723 yards, 19 TDs, 4 INTs), RB Travis Theis (173 carries, 1,062 yards, 18 TDs; 26 receptions, 2 TDs), LB Gary Bryant III (101 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 PBU, 1 FR); Montana State: QB Tommy Mellott (182 of 259, 2,430 yards, 28 TDs, 2 INTs; 790 yards, 12 TDs), RB Adam Jones (155 carries, 1,068 yards, 14 TDs; 20 receptions), DE Brody Grebe (34 tackles, 9 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 5 PBU)
Notable – Montana State is 8-0 at home this season and has won 34 of its last 35 games at Bobcat Stadium (since 2019), while South Dakota is 3-2 on the road and playing outdoors for the first time since Oct. 26 (they have outdoor practices, however). MSU, the No. 1-ranked team to end the regular season, has scored 30+ points in every game en route to averaging an FCS-high 42.1 per game. These are the only FCS teams with multiple 1,000-yard rushers – the host Bobcats, who rank No. 2 in FCS rushing yards per game (306.6), with Scottre Humphrey (1,325; did not play in the quarterfinal-round win) and Jones (1,068), and USD with Charles Pierre Jr. (1,187) and Theis (1,062). The return to action of USD tight end JJ Galbreath against UC Davis (he had six receptions and two TDs) was a difference maker for the lefty Bouman. Mellott would have a similar boast if MSU gets back TE Rohan Jones (eight TDs this season) from injury. USD defensive end Mi’Quise Grace and Grebe were their conference’s respective defensive player of the year. MSU is second-best in the FCS at converting third downs into first downs (56.1%), making it a point of emphasis for the Coyotes defense. While USD has a five-game winning streak, it’s allowed 29 points on average over the last four outings.
Up Next – The winner will play either No. 2 seed North Dakota State (12-2) or No. 3 seed South Dakota State (12-2) in the FCS championship game on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Prediction – Montana State 34, South Dakota 21
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