The College Sports Journal

Covering All College Sports Since 2012

2022 Division I FCS National Championship Game Preview: #8 Montana State vs. #2 North Dakota State

These two border state schools in the northern part of the country head south to Texas to see who is the best in the FCS this year when Montana State and North Dakota State meet this Saturday.

For the Bison, this is old hat. This is NDSU’s ninth trip to Frisco in the last 11 years. The two missing years were this past spring’s contest–held then due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2016 when James Madison upset NDSU in the semi-final round. And all prior eight trips to north Texas have resulted in the Bison capturing the crown.

For Montana State, this is the first trip to the national title game since 1984 when the Bobcats won the title over Louisiana Tech in a game played in Charleston, S.C. MSU has been a contender in the playoffs though as the last season this team played it made it to the FCS semifinals in 2019 to the same team it will playing this year in the title game in NDSU.

Group of Five 2021-22 Bowl First Weekend Recap & Highlights

The first weekend is in the books for the Group of Five teams. Eight bowls were played Dec. 17th and 18th–all involving at least one G5 team in those games. The big story of the weekend was Western Kentucky’s QB Bailey Zappe breaking former LSU QB Joe Burrow’s record with 61st TD pass of season in WKU’s 59-38 win over Appalachian State in the Boca Raton Bowl. Zappe also broke the pass yardage record with over 5,800 yards passing.

2021 Division I FCS Playoff Semifinal Preview: South Dakota State at #8 Montana State

FCS SEMIFINAL PLAYOFF MATCHUP: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT MONTANA STATEWHERE: BOBCAT STADIUM, BOZEMAN, MONT.WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 12:00 PM MSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN2 / WATCHESPN The other semifinal game between James Madison and North Dakota State will rightfully get its attention as those are the top seeds left in the final four but the South Dakota State-Montana State.

2021 Division I FCS Playoff Quarterfinal Preview: #7 East Tennessee State at #2 North Dakota State

FCS QUARTERFINAL PLAYOFF MATCHUP: EAST TENNESSEE STATE AT NORTH DAKOTA STATEWHERE: FARGODOME, FARGO, N.D.WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 11:00AM CSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN / WATCHESPN Two conference champions meet in Fargo in this quarterfinal round match-up. East Tennessee State won the Southern Conference title this year and defeated Kennesaw State in the second round of the Division I FCS.

2021 Division I FCS Playoff Second Round Preview: South Dakota State at #4 Sacramento State

FCS SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT SACRAMENTO STATEWHERE: HORNET STADIUM, SACRAMENTO, CALIF.WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 6:00PM PSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ A first time match-up will take place in Sacramento in the Division I FCS Second Round when South Dakota State visits Sacramento State. Sacramento State was the Big Sky Conference champions with an unblemished conference mark to.

2021 Division I FCS Playoff Second Round Preview: Southern Illinois at #2 North Dakota State

FCS SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF MATCHUP: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AT NORTH DAKOTA STATEWHERE: FARGODOME, FARGO, N.D.WHEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2:30PM CSTTV/STREAMING: ESPN+ Southern Illinois advanced the first round last week by defeating Missouri Valley Football Conference mate South Dakota on the road. The reward for the Salukis is to face another MVFC foe on the road in #2.