FCS Playoffs Recap - 2nd Round

December 3, 2023 by CollegeFootballPoll.com Staff

North Dakota State took down 6-seed Montana State, but 7 of the top 8 seeds advance and the top 4 seeds will all host quarterfinal games next week

The Bison, along with South Dakota State, Montana and Furman, were all preseason playoff picks by the Congrove Computer Rankings at CollegeFootballPoll.com, but Montana State was the pick to win it all.

Second-round Results

December 2 (winner underlined)

Mercer 0, at #1 South Dakota State 41

The Jackrabbits improved to 12-0 on the season and extended their overall winning streak to 26 games dating back to early in the 2022 campaign. Mercer ended its season with a 9-4 overall record.

Youngstown State 28, at #8 Villanova 45

The Penguins led 10-7 in the second quarter before the Wildcats reeled off 31 of the games' next 34 points and pulled away for the victory. Fifth-year QB Connor Watkins ran for 2 scores and passed for another while amassing 331 yards of total offense

Richmond 13, at #5 Albany 41

It was all-around performance for the Great Danes as QB Reese Poffenbarger threw for 170 yards and two TDs, and added 2 rushing TDs. CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year Griffin Woodell had 96 yards rushing and a score, and Bill Hacket housed a 71-yard pick-six. On defense, four difference players recorded a total of 5 sacks.

Southern Illinois 17, at #4 Idaho 20 (OT)

A walk-off 27 yard FG gave the Vandals win in the Kibbie Dome after an INT on the Salukis' possession in overtime.

Sacramento State 24, at #3 South Dakota 34

South Dakota will make its first FCS quarterfinals appearance. The Coyotes got a career-high 123 yards from Charles Pierre Jr., Aidan Bouman threw 2 TD passes, and the defense forced a pair of turnovers that led to two scores as the Coyotes (10-2) reached 10 wins for the first time since 1986. South Dakota, the No. 3 overall seed, will host North Dakota State next week. Sacramento State (8-5) starting quarterback Kaiden Bennett went down with a shoulder injury early in the second quarter and the Hornets turned to former South Dakota starter Carson Camp who passed for 168 yards, ran for 39 and orchestrated three long touchdown drives in the loss.

North Dakota State 35, at #6 Montana State 34 (OT)

A walk-off blocked XPA sealed the win for the Bison who will visit fellow MVFC member South Dakota next. It will be rematch of a regular season game that the Coyotes won 24-19 in Fargo on September 30.

Chattanooga 7, at #7 Furman 26

Furman gave up the first score, then took care of business as Dominic Roberto scored two touchdowns and Furman rode its stout defense to the win. The Paladins' will visit 2-seed Montana next week for their first quarterfinal round playoff appearance since 2005 and ninth overall.

Delaware 19 at #2 Montana 49

Montana won the game in heavy snow and improved to 33-7 inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium in postseason history.

SWAC Championship - Prairie View A&M 14 at Florida A&M 35

The Rattlers won the title in their second football season in the SWAC as they captured their 20th straight home win.

FCS Quarterfinal Matchups, Times, TV

All times eastern
Friday, 12/8
(7) Furman (10-2) at (2) Montana (11-1), 9pm on ESPN2

Saturday, 12/9
(8) Villanova (10-2) at (1) South Dakota State (12-0), Noon on ESPN
North Dakota State (10-3) at (3) South Dakota (10-2), 2:30pm on ABC
(5) Albany (10-3) at (4) Idaho (9-3), 10pm on ESPN+

Bracket (2nd Round through Final)

Home team in BOLD

12/2	12/8-9	12/15-16	C'ship (Frisco) (1/7, 2 PM)
Mercer 0 1 SDSU 41
	1 SDSU 8 Villanova
Youngstown 28 8 Villanova 45
		? ?
Richmond 13 5 Albany 41
	5 Albany 4 Idaho
Southern Ill. 17 4 Idaho 20 (OT)
			? ?
Sacramento St. 24 3 South Dakota 34
	3 South Dakota NDSU
NDSU 35 (OT) 6 Montana State 34
		? ?
Chattanooga 7 7 Furman 26
	7 Furman 2 Montana
Delaware 19 2 Montana 49

Celebration Bowl, December 16 at Noon at Atlanta

Howard vs. Florida A&M

FBS vs. FCS

This season had 117 of the 133 FBS schools facing one FCS opponent, and Army played two such games for a total of 118 FBS-FCS matchups.

Of the 16 FBS schools that did NOT play a FCS program, 7 were in the B1G (Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, Wisconsin). 6 more are evenly split between the Big 12 (Houston, Oklahoma, Texas) and Pac-12 (Colorado, USC, Washington). The other three were Liberty (CUSA) , UTSA (American), and Virginia Tech (ACC).

The FBS programs were 114-4 this year against the FCS schools. Over-all, the FBS is a collective 1,800-152 (.922) since we began tracking this in 2003.

Here are the FCS wins in 2023, so far:
September 9: Idaho 33, Nevada 6
September 9: Southern Illinois 14, Northern Illinois 12
September 9: Fordham 40, Buffalo 37
September 16: Sacramento State 30, Stanford 23

Streaks - Current FCS Longest

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE - Won 26 straight over-all, 18 straight conference games, 8 straight road games.
Last: The #1 seed won 41-0 at home over Mercer in the 2nd round of the FCS Playoffs.
Next: Hosts 8-seed Villanova on Saturday 12/9

MONTANA STATE - Had won 26 straight home games.
Last: The # 6 seed lost 35-34 in OT at home to North Dakota State
Next: 2024 season opener

FLORIDA A&M - Won 20 straight home games
Last: 35-14 home win over Prairie View A&M in the SWAC Championship game on Saturday, December 2.
Next: Faces Howard in Celebration Bowl in Atlanta on Saturday, December 16.

WESTERN ILLINOIS - Lost 24 straight over-all, 18 straight conference games, and 11 straight home games.
Last: 48-6 home loss vs. South Dakota in season finale on Saturday, November 18.
Next: 2024 season opener

CAL POLY - Lost 16 straight true road games.
Last: 48-21 home loss to Weber State in season finale on Saturday, November 18.
Next: 2024 season opener