The top eight seeds of the 2024 FCS playoffs are jumping into the deep end of the pool. Yes, the second season has reached the second round, all chasing the national championship.
Being home for the holidays is a clear advantage during the FCS playoffs.
Games are played at school host sites through the semifinal round, and home teams went 5-3 in the first round last Saturday, keeping with the overall theme between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Home teams are 171-57 (.750) since the FCS playoffs were expanded to 24 teams in 2013 (that doesn’t include the spring 2021 playoffs, which dropped back to 16 teams).
In the second round, home teams are 62-18 (.775). Not surprisingly, all eight home teams are favored on Saturday to advance from the second round to the national quarterfinals.
Following is a capsule preview of Saturday’s games (all times ET):
2024 FCS Playoffs – Second Round
No. 14 seed Montana (9-4) at No. 3 seed South Dakota State (10-2)
Kickoff – 2 p.m. at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota (ESPN+)
Series – Montana leads 8-1 (last meeting: South Dakota State won 23-3 in 2023 FCS championship game)
Coaches – Montana: Bobby Hauck (138-40, 14th season; 153-89 overall); South Dakota State: Jimmy Rogers (25-2, second season)
3 Players to Watch – Montana: RB Eli Gillman (157 carries, 1,092 yards, 15 TDs; 18 receptions, 2 TDs), WR/Returns Junior Bergen (46 receptions, 525 yards, 3 TDs; 9 career return TDs – 8 on punts), LB Riley Wilson (80 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks); South Dakota State: QB Mark Gronowski (173 of 280, 2,190 yards, 17 TDs, 6 INTS; 390 rush yards, 5 TDs), RB Amar Johnson (144 carries, 910 yards, 13 TDs; 26 receptions), LB Adam Bock (75 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 FR)
Notable – UM’s three points in the 2023 championship game loss to SDSU marked the Big Sky program’s fewest in a game since 1940 (also three in an FBS loss to Oregon in 2019). Bergen has five combined kickoff and punt return touchdowns in his last four postseason games. The two-time defending champion Jackrabbits, who earned the MVFC’s automatic playoff bid, lead the FCS in scoring defense (12.4 points per game allowed) and overall point differential (plus-290). Entering the FCS playoffs, Gronowski has 47 career wins as a starter, just two shy of former North Dakota State QB Easton Stick’s FCS-record 49.
Up Next – The winner will play either No. 11 seed Villanova (10-3) or No. 6 seed UIW (10-2) in the quarterfinals on Dec. 13 or 14.
Prediction – South Dakota State 31, Montana 21
No. 11 seed Villanova (10-3) at No. 6 seed UIW (10-2)
Kickoff – 2 p.m. at Benson Stadium in San Antonio (ESPN+)
Series – First meeting
Coaches – Villanova: Mark Ferrante (57-29, eighth season); UIW: Clint Killough (18-4, second season)
3 Players to Watch – Villanova: QB Connor Watkins (164 of 315, 1,999 yards, 13 TDs, 4 INTs; 437 rush yards, 8 TDs), RB David Avit (163 carries, 887 yards, 9 TDs; 11 receptions), LB Brendan Bell (111 tackles, 15 TFL, 4 takeaways, 1 blocked kick); UIW: QB Zach Calzada (288 of 440 yards, 33 TDs, 8 INTs; 222 rush yards, 4 TDs), WR Jalen Walthall (70 receptions, 1,149 yards, 14 TDs), S Mason Chambers (77 tackles, 2 INTs, 7 PBU)
Notable – Similar to the EKU win, Villanova has overcome sluggish first halves this season: The CAA squad has been outscored by 19 points before halftime, but is +88 in the second half, including +61 in the fourth quarter (second-best in the FCS). The Wildcats rank 14th nationally in fewest passing yards allowed per game (170.7), but they were without top cornerback Isas Waxter against EKU. At 7-0, Southland champ UIW is tied for the best home record in the FCS (three other teams, including Villanova). Walthall and Roy Alexander rank first among FCS duos in receiving yards (2,096) and TD catches (25), and second in receptions (148).
Up Next – The winner will play either No. 14 Montana (9-4) or No. 3 seed South Dakota State (10-2) in the quarterfinals on Dec. 13 or 14.
Prediction – UIW 28, Villanova 24
No. 10 seed Rhode Island (11-2) at No. 7 seed Mercer (10-2)
Kickoff – 2 p.m. at Five Star Stadium in Macon, Georgia (ESPN+)
Series – First meeting
Coaches – Rhode Island: Jim Fleming (48-69, 11th season; 69-70 overall); Mercer: Mike Jacobs (10-2, first season; 84-19 overall)
3 Players to Watch – Rhode Island: RB Malik Grant (259 carries, 1,390 yards, 13 TDs; 13 receptions, 1 TD), WR Marquis Buchanan (71 receptions, 1,005 yards, 7 TDs), LB A.J. Pena (75 tackles, 20 TFL, 12 sacks, 2 FR); Mercer: RB Dwayne McGee (195 carries, 1,018 yards, 8 TDs; 12 receptions), DE Brayden Manley (32 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 8 sacks, 2 FR), CB TJ Moore (54 tackles, 7 INTs, 11 PBU)
Notable – Injuries to season-opening QBs have forced both URI (Hunter Helms) and Mercer (Whitt Newbauer) into a new starter the last three games. Grant has surpassed 200 rushing yards in back-to-back games – a first in URI program history. While setting a program record with 11 wins, the CAA squad has overcome 26 turnovers (tied for the fourth-most in the FCS). Conversely, SoCon champion Mercer has forced 31 turnovers (No. 2 in the FCS to Central Connecticut State, which URI just defeated). Moore, Myles Redding (six) and Dainsus Miller (five) lead the team in takeaways.
Up Next – The winner will play either No. 15 seed Abilene Christian (9-4) or No. 2 seed North Dakota State (10-2) in the quarterfinals on Dec. 13 or 14.
Prediction – Mercer 24, Rhode Island 17
UT Martin (9-4) at No. 1 seed Montana State (12-0)
Kickoff – 3 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana (ESPN+)
Series – Montana State leads 1-0 (26-7 in 2021 playoff second round)
Coaches – UT Martin: Jason Simpson (124-91, 19th season); Montana State: Brent Vigen (44-9, fourth season)
3 Players to Watch – UT Martin: QB Kinkead Dent (173 of 293, 2,338 yards, 19 TDs, 7 INTs; 328 yards, 7 TDs), RB Patrick Smith (208 carries, 1,194 yards, 14 TDs; 17 receptions), LB Jaylon Sharpe (79 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 3 takeaways); Montana State: QB Tommy Mellott (148 of 216, 1,956 yards, 22 TDs, 1 INT; 640 yards, 11 TDs), RB Scottre Humphrey (166 carries, 1,223 yards, 13 TDs), DE Brody Grebe (28 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 1 FF)
Notable – The Bobcats, who finished the regular season with the No. 1 ranking for the first time since 2011, lead the FCS in rushing yards per game (317.4), total yards per game (495.7) and points per game (40.7). The Big Sky champ has won 32 of its last 33 home games, losing only in last year’s second round to North Dakota State. UTM is allowing just 84.9 rushing yards per game – the fifth-best average in the FCS – and it’s ranked eighth with defending third downs (29.5% conversion rate). The Big South-OVC squad has allowed only seven sacks in nine wins, but 16 in four losses.
Up Next – The winner will play either Lehigh (9-3) or No. 8 seed Idaho (9-3) in the quarterfinals on Dec. 13 or 14.
Prediction – Montana State 33, UT Martin 14
(FCS playoffs: A look at champions by seed: Montana State was a No. 3 seed for its FCS title)
No. 13 seed Tarleton State (10-3) at No. 4 seed South Dakota (9-2)
Kickoff – 3 p.m. at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, South Dakota (ESPN+)
Series – First meeting
Coaches – Tarleton State: Todd Whitten (114-56, 15th season; 139-84 overall); South Dakota: Bob Nielson (51-47, ninth season; 237-127-1 overall)
3 Players to Watch – Tarleton State: QB Victor Gabalis (170 of 276, 2,504 yards, 19 TDs, 8 INTs; RB Tayvon Britten (316 carries, 1,896 yards, 18 TDs; 11 receptions, 1 TD), LB AJ Owens (63 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 FF); South Dakota: QB Aidan Bouman (162 carries, 2,257 yards, 14 TDs, 2 INTs), RB Charles Pierce Jr. (142 carries, 1,073 yards, 15 TDs; 17 receptions, 2 TDs), DE MiQuise Grace (51 tackles, 17 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 2 FR)
Notable – In Tarleton State’s first-ever game in the FCS playoffs against Drake, Britten surpassed 100 rushing yards for the 11th time this season, and WR Darius Cooper had a career-high 11 receptions for 190 yards, just one yard shy of his personal best. The United Athletic Conference squad is ranked second in the FCS with a +16 turnover margin. USD, which earned a share of its first MVFC title, committed only six turnovers during the regular season (the second-fewest to North Dakota State). The Coyotes are 6-0 at home, having scored 40+ points in each of the first five wins, then knocking off then-No. 1 NDSU 29-28.
Up Next – The winner will play either No. 12 seed Illinois State (10-3) or No. 5 seed UC Davis (10-2) in the quarterfinals on Dec. 13 or 14.
Prediction – South Dakota 31, Tarleton State 20
No. 15 seed Abilene Christian (9-4) at No. 2 seed North Dakota State (10-2)
Kickoff – 3 p.m. at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota (ESPN+)
Series – First meeting
Coaches – Abilene Christian: Keith Patterson (21-14, third season; 21-15 overall); North Dakota State: Tim Polasek (10-2, first season)
3 Players to Watch – Abilene Christian: QB Maverick McIvor (292 of 467, 3,675 yards, 29 TDs, 5 INTs), RB/KR Sam Hicks (195 carries, 1,180 yards, 12 TDs; 41 receptions, 3 TDs), LB Will Shaffer (115 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3 takeaways), North Dakota State: QB Cam Miller (190 of 256, 2,340 yards, 23 TDs, 1 INT; 370 yards, 7 TDs), RB CharMar Brown (189 carries, 965 yards, 14 TDs), LB Logan Kopp (50 tackles, 2 INTs, 4 PBU)
Notable – Nine-time champion NDSU is 35-1 at home, 47-5 overall and has never failed to advance to the quarterfinals in its FCS playoff history. Miller (50 straight starts) is 41-11 overall as a starter. The Bison have an FCS-low three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble). McIvor missed ACU’s first FCS playoff game, with Carson Haggard (23-for-29, 244 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs) subbing in for him. The UAC champs are allowing 29.1 points per game – highest among the 16 remaining teams in the FCS playoffs.
Up Next – The winner will play either No. 10 seed Rhode Island (11-2) or No. 7 seed Mercer (10-2) in the quarterfinals on Dec. 13 or 14.
Prediction – North Dakota State 36, Abilene Christian 21
No. 12 seed Illinois State (10-3) at No. 5 seed UC Davis (10-2)
Kickoff – 4 p.m. at UC Davis Health Stadium in Davis, California (ESPN+)
Series – First meeting
Coaches – Illinois State: Brock Spack (111-73, 16th season); UC Davis: Tim Plough (10-2, first season)
3 Players to Watch – Illinois State: QB Tommy Rittenhouse (229 of 342, 2,607 yards, 16 TDs, 6 INTs; 436 rush yards, 8 TDs), LB Tye Niekamp (106 tackles, 11 TFL, 3 sacks, 4 INTs), DB Keondre Jackson (91 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 4 takeaways); UC Davis: QB Miles Hastings (303 of 436, 3,745 yards, 32 TDs, 8 INTs), RB Lan Larison (255 carries, 1,321 yards, 14 TDs; 58 receptions, 755 yards, 6 TDs), S Rex Connors (91 tackles, 2 INTs, 5 PBU)
Notable –The visiting Redbirds from the MVFC are tied for the FCS high with Montana State with six road victories. Rittenhouse has a trio of productive weapons in RB Wenkers Wright (210 carries, 1,052 yards, 11 TDs) and WRs Daniel Sobkowicz and Xavier Loyd (combined 136 receptions, 1,909 yards, 15 TDs). UC Davis is 4-1 in games decided by three points or less (the loss to Big Sky champ Montana State 30-28). Larison ranks No. 1 nationally in all-purpose yards per game (177.7), while Hastings is the only FCS signal caller with 12 games of 200+ passing yards.
Up Next – The winner will play either No. 13 seed Tarleton State (10-3) or No. 4 seed South Dakota (9-2) in the quarterfinals on Dec. 13 or 14.
Prediction – UC Davis 28, Illinois State 27
Lehigh (9-3) at No. 8 seed Idaho (9-3)
Kickoff – 9 p.m. at Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho (ESPN+)
Series – Idaho leads 1-0 (77-14 win on Nov. 13, 1999)
Coaches – Lehigh: Kevin Cahill (11-12, second season); Idaho: Jason Eck (25-12, third season)
3 Players to Watch – Lehigh: QB Hayden Johnson (98 of 139, 1,229 yards, 10 TDs, 6 INTs; 238 rush yards, 4 TDs),WR Geoffrey Jamiel (56 receptions, 701 yards, 8 TDs), DE Matt Spatny (36 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 3 QBH); Idaho: QB Jack Layne (94 of 172, 1,389 yards, 12 TDs, 5 INTs), WR Jordan Dwyer (60 receptions, 837 yards, 8 TDs), LB Jaxton Eck (110 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 INT)
Notable – Lehigh RBs Luke Yoder (182 carries, 940 yards, 10 TDs) and Jaden Green (129-763-10) form one of four FCS teammate duos with both 750+ rushing yards and 10+ TDs. The Mountain Hawks rank 10th nationally in allowing just249.9 yards per game (down from 429.6 last season). Two of Idaho’s three losses are to the unbeaten No. 1s of Division I (Oregon and Montana State). Back from injury, Layne passed for three touchdowns in each of the Vandals’ final two regular-season games. Seven of DE Keyshawn James-Newby’s 9.5 sacks occurred during a rugged nonconference schedule (he didn’t play in the regular-season finale).
Up Next – The winner will play either UT Martin (9-4) or No. 1 seed Montana State (12-0) in the quarterfinals on Dec. 13 or 14.
Prediction – Idaho 23, Lehigh 13
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