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Home > Bison Media Zone > How the final four in the FCS playoffs match up
Podcast: Bison Media Zone
Episode:

How the final four in the FCS playoffs match up
Category: Sports & Recreation
Duration: 00:00:00
Publish Date: 2021-12-15 19:52:39
Description: (Stats Perform) -- It's not surprising to feel sore before the FCS semifinal between South Dakota State and Montana State.

Even if you're just reading about Saturday's showdown.



These two programs pound the physical run game and wear down opponents, basically making most wince even before the bodies start flying.



The matchup is a little surprising, though, given that Montana State is hosting despite being the last of the playoff's eight seeded teams, and South Dakota State is there as an unseeded team. They have strong offensive lines and the No. 6 (MSU) and 8 (SDSU) rushing attacks in the 128-school FCS.



Bison host James Madison

The most well-known statistic in the FCS playoffs may be North Dakota State's 30-1 record inside its Fargodome since the first of the Bison's 12 straight appearances in 2010.



The Bison's home field advantage looks even more dominating when matched against their 0-2 record outside the friendly confines in playoff matchups prior to their eight successful trips to the championship game in neutral Frisco, Texas.



The caveat in NDSU's next home playoff game Friday night is the Bison are hosting James Madison, the only program to beat them at the Fargodome. The Dukes stole off with a 27-17 win in the same semifinal round five years ago en route to winning the 2016 FCS championship.



It's the most anticipated matchup of the season, as it also was with the 2017 and '19 national championship games when NDSU beat JMU both times.




South Dakota State (11-3, 5-3 MVFC) at No. 8 seed Montana State (11-2, 7-1 Big Sky)


Kickoff - 1 p.m. CT Saturday at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana (ESPN2) Series - Montana State leads, 10-5 (most recent meeting: SDSU won 45-14 at home on Sept. 8, 2018) Coaches - South Dakota State: John Stiegelmeier (184-110, 25 seasons); Montana State: Brent Vigen (11-2, one season) 5 Players to Watch - South Dakota State: QB Chris Oladokun (215 of 347, 2,849 yards, 24 TDs, 6 INTs), RB Isaiah Davis (86 carries, 688 yards, 7 TDs), WR Jaxon Janke (66 receptions, 1,061 yards, 5 TDs), LB Adam Bock (119 tackles, 9 TFL, 2 TDs, 6 pass breakups), DE Reece Winkleman (30 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery); Montana State: QB Tommy Mellott (76 carries, 550 yards, 8 TDs; 16 of 35, 228 yards, 2 TDs), RB Isaiah Ifanse (262 carries, 1,539 yards, 10 TDs; 13 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD), LT Lewis Kidd (All-Big Sky first team, 46 consecutive starts), LB Troy Andersen (127 tackles, 13 TFL, 2 INTs, 7 pass breakups), DE Daniel Hardy (65 tackles, 20.5 TFL, 14 sacks) 5 Key Factors - 1. Although Davis has been incredible during the playoffs (499 yards and six TDs rushing), SDSU hopes to get back Pierre Strong Jr. (1,592 yards, 17 TDs) from concussion protocol to have the most-dangerous rushing duo in the FCS. 2. SDSU seeks to limit MSU's strong rushing punch of Ifanse (Bobcats are 17-0 in his career when he scores a TD) and Mellott, and force third-down passing situations. The Jackrabbits have an FCS-high 21 interceptions. 3. Hardy has six sacks in the last four games for what's been a red-hot MSU pass rush. The Jackrabbits have allowed only 14 sacks in 14 games. 4. MSU is strong against the pass, often using five defensive backs while ranking 12th nationally in passing efficiency defense and allowing just 11 TD passes. SDSU boasts a tall receivers unit which has four different players (6-foot-3 WRs Jaxon and Jadon Janke, 6-5 tight end Tucker Kraft and 6-7 Zach Heins) with at least five TD catches. 5. While MSU ranks second in the FCS in scoring defense at 13.2 points per game, it's a mere 8.6 in home games, where the Bobcats are 7-0 before raucous crowds. Meanwhile, the visiting Jackrabbits are playing their third straight road playoff game and FCS-high 25th game in this calendar year. Up Next - The winner will face either No. 2 seed North Dakota State (12-1) or No. 3 seed James Madison (12-1) in the FCS championship game on Jan. 8 in Frisco, Texas. Prediction - Montana State 24, South Dakota State 23

No. 3 Seed James Madison (12-1, 7-1 CAA) at No. 2 Seed North Dakota State (12-1, 7-1 MVFC)


Kickoff - 8:15 p.m. CT Friday at the Fargodome (ESPN2) Series - North Dakota State leads 3-1 Coaches James Madison: Curt Cignetti (33-4, three seasons; 100-30 overall); North Dakota State: Matt Entz (36-4, three seasons) 5 Players to Watch - James Madison: QB Cole Johnson (262 of 388, 3,569 yards, 39 TDs, 2 INTs; 225 rushing yards, 6 TDs), WR Antwane Wells Jr. (78 receptions, 1,197 yards, 14 TDs), DE Bryce Carter (47 tackles, 19 TFL, 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles), LB Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey (106 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4 INTs, 2 forced fumbles), PK Ethan Ratke (29 of 32 FGs with 47 long, 148 points); North Dakota State: QB Cam Miller (84 of 120, 1,153 yards, 11 TDs, 3 INTs; 215 rushing yards, 4 TDs), RB TaMerik Williams (106 carries, 696 yards, 12 TDs), FB Hunter Luepke (54 carries, 351 yards, 5 TDs), LB Jackson Hankey (85 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries), S Michael Tutsie (76 tackles, 1 INT, 3 pass breakups) 5 Key Factors - 1. JMU has scored over 50 points five times and boasts a 40.2-point average, ranking fourth in the FCS. However, NDSU is allowing a scant 11 ppg - the lowest average of its Division I era (since 2004) and bettered by only four other FCS teams during that time. 2. Johnson has been sizzling, throwing 165 consecutive passes without an interception and setting JMU's single-season record for passing yardage (3,569). Wells and Kris Thornton have the most receiving yards (2,247) among any pair of FCS teammates. 3. NDSU hopes WR Christian Watson (39 receptions, 739 yards, 7 TDs) is healthy enough to play for the first time in the playoffs, but the Bison first want to establish their No. 2 rushing attack in the FCS (281.3 ypg). Since the beginning of their first FCS championship season in 2011, the Bison dynasty is 128-1 when it has 162 or more rushing yards and 19-11 when below that mark. 4. The visiting Dukes take, but don't give. They rank No. 1 nationally in turnovers gained (31) and turnover margin (plus-21). NDSU is plus-7 overall, but was minus-2 in its only loss to South Dakota State. 5. Will the game be won on third downs? These defenses are the FCS' second- and third-best at preventing conversions: NDSU is allowing opponents to convert 25.4 percent of attempts and JMU 26 percent. Up Next - The winner will face either No. 8 seed Montana State (11-2) or South Dakota State (11-3) in the FCS championship game on Jan. 8 in Frisco, Texas. Prediction - James Madison 19, North Dakota State 17]]>
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