Heading into the 2024 FCS playoffs, the top four teams in the country were pretty clear. Not including games against FBS opponents or each other, Montana State, North Dakota State, South Dakota State and South Dakota all went unbeaten this season. They've all dealt with various downs and (mostly) ups in form, but they were all heavily favored to become semifinalists, and they have all done exactly that.
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MVFC foes meet when the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (12-2) and the North Dakota State Bison (12-2) play on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at the Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
Interested in watching the matchup featuring the Jackrabbits and Bison? You can find it on ABC.
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The semifinals offer us a Dakota Marker rematch to start -- it's the sixth time in 13 years that North Dakota State and South Dakota State have met in the playoffs -- followed by a matchup between the subdivision's only unbeaten team (Montana State) and, in South Dakota, the closest thing to an upstart. Weather probably won't be an issue, as NDSU plays in a dome and temperatures will be in the 40s (disappointingly) in Bozeman. But we should be in for a treat.
When the playoffs started, these teams already had a combined 86.5% chance of winning the title, per SP+, with the other 20 teams combining for just 13.5%. So of the remaining semifinalists, no one's odds have changed significantly.
South Dakota State's odds have improved the most, mainly because it seems the Jackrabbits themselves have improved the most in recent weeks. They've overachieved against SP+ projections by an average of 13.9 points over the last five games.
Our four semifinalists won their quarterfinal games by an average of 43-15. In fact, they led by double digits for a combined 136.2 of their games' 240 minutes. Only South Dakota found itself with any sort of second-half anxiety, and that was against the fifth-best team in FCS, UC Davis.
Montana State was tied 10-10 late in the second quarter of a Friday night rematch with Idaho. But the Bobcats quickly found their knockout punch with a 28-0 run over about nine minutes and cruised 52-19. Quarterback Tommy Mellott threw 18 passes for 174 yards, rushed 14 times for 131 yards and produced three combined touchdowns. Adam Jones, meanwhile, did the dirty work between the tackles, rushing 23 times for 95 yards and four scores. The MSU defense got hit for 407 yards by a strong Idaho offense, but three sacks and two takeaways helped turn the game into a blowout.
Watch Division I Football - Championship Subdivision -- Semifinal Live Stream Online From Anywhere. No Cable or VPN. No Hidden Charges, No Auto Renewal.
Click To: NDSU vs South Dakota State Live Anywhere Low Price
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MVFC foes meet when the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (12-2) and the North Dakota State Bison (12-2) play on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at the Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
Interested in watching the matchup featuring the Jackrabbits and Bison? You can find it on ABC.
Watch college football live without cable. Stream ACC, SEC, ESPN and more with Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Sign up today and start watching college football games now.
South Dakota State vs. North Dakota State Game Info
- Date: Saturday, December 21, 2024
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ABC
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)
- City: Fargo, North Dakota
- Venue: Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome
The semifinals offer us a Dakota Marker rematch to start -- it's the sixth time in 13 years that North Dakota State and South Dakota State have met in the playoffs -- followed by a matchup between the subdivision's only unbeaten team (Montana State) and, in South Dakota, the closest thing to an upstart. Weather probably won't be an issue, as NDSU plays in a dome and temperatures will be in the 40s (disappointingly) in Bozeman. But we should be in for a treat.
When the playoffs started, these teams already had a combined 86.5% chance of winning the title, per SP+, with the other 20 teams combining for just 13.5%. So of the remaining semifinalists, no one's odds have changed significantly.
South Dakota State's odds have improved the most, mainly because it seems the Jackrabbits themselves have improved the most in recent weeks. They've overachieved against SP+ projections by an average of 13.9 points over the last five games.
Our four semifinalists won their quarterfinal games by an average of 43-15. In fact, they led by double digits for a combined 136.2 of their games' 240 minutes. Only South Dakota found itself with any sort of second-half anxiety, and that was against the fifth-best team in FCS, UC Davis.
Montana State was tied 10-10 late in the second quarter of a Friday night rematch with Idaho. But the Bobcats quickly found their knockout punch with a 28-0 run over about nine minutes and cruised 52-19. Quarterback Tommy Mellott threw 18 passes for 174 yards, rushed 14 times for 131 yards and produced three combined touchdowns. Adam Jones, meanwhile, did the dirty work between the tackles, rushing 23 times for 95 yards and four scores. The MSU defense got hit for 407 yards by a strong Idaho offense, but three sacks and two takeaways helped turn the game into a blowout.
