The facility groups have risen within the 2024 FCS playoffs because the four-highest seeds have superior to the semifinals. High-seeded Montana State and South Dakota are set to sq. off in a single half of the bracket as they proceed pursuit of the nationwide championship.
Contemplating the way in which top-ranked Montana State has steamrolled by way of the competitors this season, it may be simple to miss a South Dakota program that’s enjoying within the FCS semifinal spherical for the primary time.
The Coyotes, although, are among the many extra battled-test groups nationally. The No. 4 seed within the FCS playoffs (11-2) pressured third-seeded South Dakota State to additional time and beat second-seeded North Dakota State within the common season – incomes a share of the Missouri Valley Soccer Convention title – and so they simply eradicated fifth-seeded UC Davis in a nationwide quarterfinal.
Yup, Montana State is subsequent on their to-do listing.
The Huge Sky champion Bobcats (14-0) – the FCS’ solely unbeaten workforce – are within the semifinal spherical for a 3rd time since 2019 and the fifth time total. They’ve begun their playoff run with two lopsided wins.
The 2 packages will meet on Saturday for simply the third time, and the winner will advance to the FCS championship sport 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)
Collection – Montana State leads 2-0 (final assembly: Bobcats received 31-24 in additional time 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 total); Montana State: Brent Vigen (46-9, fourth season)
3 Gamers 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 dwelling this season and has received 34 of its final 35 video games at Bobcat Stadium (since 2019), whereas South Dakota is 3-2 on the street and enjoying outside for the primary time since Oct. 26 (they’ve outside practices, nonetheless). MSU, the No. 1-ranked workforce to finish the common season, has scored 30+ factors in each sport en path to averaging an FCS-high 42.1 per sport. These are the one FCS groups with a number of 1,000-yard rushers – the host Bobcats, who rank No. 2 in FCS speeding yards per sport (306.6), with Scottre Humphrey (1,325; didn’t play within the quarterfinal-round win) and Jones (1,068), and USD with Charles Pierre Jr. (1,187) and Theis (1,062). The return to motion of USD tight finish JJ Galbreath in opposition to UC Davis (he had six receptions and two TDs) was a distinction maker for the lefty Bouman. Mellott would have an identical boast if MSU will get again TE Rohan Jones (eight TDs this season) from damage. USD defensive finish Mi’Quise Grace and Grebe had been their convention’s respective defensive participant of the 12 months. MSU is second-best within the FCS at changing third downs into first downs (56.1%), making it a degree of emphasis for the Coyotes protection. Whereas USD has a five-game successful streak, it’s allowed 29 factors on common over the past 4 outings.
Up Subsequent – The winner will play both No. 2 seed North Dakota State (12-2) or No. 3 seed South Dakota State (12-2) within the FCS championship sport on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Prediction – Montana State 34, South Dakota 21
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