FCS Playoffs: SDSU vs. NDSU Preview and Prediction

The Power teams advanced to the 2024 FCS Playoffs as the four highest seeds advanced to the semifinals. North Dakota State and South Dakota State are expected to face off in one half of the bracket as they continue to compete for the national championship.

North Dakota State, meet South Dakota State.

South Dakota State, meet North Dakota State.

Oh, so you already know each other.

Their series dates back to 1903, and a rivalry that has continued into the semifinal round of the FCS playoffs is unique in college football, as SDSU has won the last two FCS national championships after NDSU won between the 2011 and 2011 seasons 21 won a record nine. Every Missouri Valley Football Conference title since 2011 has involved at least one of the two powers, and this season they shared that title with South Dakota, which, like NDSU and SDSU, advanced to the FCS playoffs.

In FCS playoff games, NDSU won the first four times before SDSU responded with a 45-21 victory in the 2022 national championship game.

In the regular season, NDSU went 13-9 when quarterback Cam Miller and wide receiver RaJa Nelson caught a second touchdown pass with 1:49 left.

The winner of Saturday’s showdown will advance to the FCS championship game on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas.

FCS Playoffs – Semifinals

No. 3 seed South Dakota State (12-2) at No. 2 seed North Dakota State (12-2)

Start – Saturday noon ET at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota (ABC)

Series – North Dakota State leads 64-47-5 (last meeting: NDSU won 13-9 on Oct. 19)

FCS Playoff Wins – SDSU: Montana (35-18) and UIW (55-14); NDSU: Abilene Christian (51-31) and Mercer (31-7)

Coach – SDSU: Jimmy Rogers (27-2, second season); NDSU: Tim Polasek (12-2, first season)

3 players to watch – SDSU: QB Mark Gronowski (192 of 312, 22 TDs, 7 INTs; 330 rush yards, 9 TDs), WR Griffin Wilde (66 receptions, 1,081 yards, 12 TDs), LB Adam Bock (94 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 INTs, 1 FR); NDSU: QB Cam Miller (226 of 310, 2,873 yards, 28 TDs, 4 INTs; 417 rush yards, 9 TDs), DT Eli Mostaert (53 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 6 sacks), LB Logan Kopp (59 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 INTs, 6 PBU, 1 FR)

Remarkable – SDSU has a 10-game winning streak in the FCS playoffs – all by double digits. NDSU has the most national titles (nine) and wins (49) and the best winning percentage (.907) in FCS postseason history, going 37-1 at home. In the regular season game, NDSU held a lead of 3 minutes, 14 seconds in game time, allowing the team with the longer time of possession to emerge victorious in 21 of the last 22 meetings. Gronowski has the FCS’s all-time winning record by a starting quarterback (49), while Miller has the fourth-most wins of his career with 43. Both signal callers have long been protected by their programs’ NFL-producing offensive lines. SDSU has more speed at the skill positions, including running backs Amar Johnson (1,145 yards, 13 TDs) and Angel Johnson (646, 3); NDSU racks up yards often, especially with Jerry Rice Award winner CharMar Brown (1,081, 14). SDSU is stronger on the other side of the ball, ranking first in the FCS in scoring defense (12.9 points per game) and fifth in total defense (280.4 yards per game), but NDSU has the pass in won well defended in his regular season. SDSU is also the best in the FCS at preventing sacks — just seven in 14 games. Griffin Crosa made 268 PATs at NDSU, the all-time FCS record.

Next – The winner will face either No. 1 seed Montana State (14-0) or No. 4 seed South Dakota (11-2) in the FCS championship game on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). ).

Prediction – North Dakota State 21, South Dakota State 20

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