North Dakota State Secures Top Seed in FCS Playoff Bracket

The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff bracket has been finalized, with defending national champion North Dakota State earning the top overall seed. The announcement was made on Sunday, highlighting the Bison’s impressive record of 12-0 during the regular season, marking their first unbeaten finish since 2019. North Dakota State averaged an impressive 42.2 points per game, the highest in the school’s history. Their defense was equally formidable, allowing just 11.7 points and 238 yards per game, the best figures in the FCS.

Joining North Dakota State as top seeds in the playoff field are Montana State, Montana, and Tarleton State. The Bobcats secured the second overall seed following a thrilling 31-28 victory over Montana in the annual “Brawl of the Wild.” Both teams are now two wins away from a potential rematch in the FCS semifinals.

FCS Playoff Structure and Key Dates

The FCS playoffs feature a total of 24 teams, with 11 conferences receiving automatic berths and 13 at-large selections filling the remaining spots. The top eight teams receive first-round byes, with all playoff games hosted on the campus of the higher seed until the national championship game. This year’s championship is scheduled for January 5 in Nashville.

The playoff action begins on Saturday, November 29, with the second round following on December 6. Quarterfinals are set for December 12-13, and the national semifinals will take place on December 20.

This weekend’s results determined several automatic bids, including Lehigh’s victory over Lafayette, which clinched the Patriot League title. Additionally, Yale upset Harvard to win the Ivy League title, marking the first playoff appearance for the Bulldogs. Harvard also secured an at-large berth in the FCS field.

Six teams from the Missouri Valley Conference earned playoff positions, including all four teams from the Dakotas. Notably, South Dakota State achieved their fifteenth consecutive FCS playoff appearance following an overtime victory against North Dakota.

First Round Matchups

The playoff bracket is set for the first round, which features the following matchups:

– Illinois State (8-4) at No. 16 Southeastern Louisiana (9-3)
– Central Connecticut State (8-4) at No. 9 Rhode Island (10-2)

In the Tarleton State quadrant, the first-round games include:

– North Dakota (7-5) at No. 13 Tennessee Tech (11-1)
– Harvard (9-1) at No. 12 Villanova (9-2)

In the Montana quadrant:

– New Hampshire (8-4) at No. 14 South Dakota State (8-4)
– Drake (8-3) at No. 11 South Dakota (8-4)

Finally, in the Montana State quadrant:

– Lamar (8-4) at No. 10 Abilene Christian (8-4)
– Yale (8-2) at No. 15 Youngstown State

As the FCS playoffs approach, excitement builds for teams and fans alike, with the journey to Nashville officially underway.