Field and Bracket announced today. I have to be honest I didn't even know Drake could qualify for this. They got a tough match-up with at North Dakota State.
***2023 FCS Playoffs Thread***
- Thread starter BigJCy
- Start date
I love the FCS setup where every conference champion gets a bid, including the Pioneer League. Drake will probably get demolished by NDSU, but they deserve a shot.
Yeah, I saw it’s Drake’s first playoff appearance. They went 8-0 in conference winning the Pioneer bid.
Unfortunately, the NDSU match-up in Fargo is going to be extremely tough to overcome. For reference, Drake got smoked by North Dakota and South Dakota State this year out of conference. Hard to keep up when you’re coming from a non-scholarship league with limited resources vs the haves.
Unfortunately, the NDSU match-up in Fargo is going to be extremely tough to overcome. For reference, Drake got smoked by North Dakota and South Dakota State this year out of conference. Hard to keep up when you’re coming from a non-scholarship league with limited resources vs the haves.
NDSU lost 3 games? Must not be the juggernaut they once were. And no UNI? That's gotta be a disappointment for them.
I think South Dakota State’s been the head dog over the last couple years. NDSU is still good though. Sam Houston was also dominant for a stretch (and moved up to FBS).
All the Klieman talent is gone at NDSU.
South Dakota State wins the title and I'm not sure there's a close game anywhere. They're every bit as good as the NDSU teams from 7 or 8 years ago.
South Dakota State wins the title and I'm not sure there's a close game anywhere. They're every bit as good as the NDSU teams from 7 or 8 years ago.
That looks like the score of my high school games. And Drake scored more points than we did.
Of the eight 2nd round games, six of the eight have schools from either the MVFC or Big Sky. Three of the eight games have MVFC vs Big Sky.
Flipped through some of these games today. Was surprised to see both SDSU and South Dakota with half full stadiums (half full may be generous for USD). A sharp contrast to the much larger and packed Montana State stadium.
Because it went past the neutral zone. In that situation, if the defense doesn't touch it, the offense can't recover/advance.
Second Round (Dec. 2)
#1 South Dakota State 41, Mercer 0
#8 Villanova 45, Youngstown State 28
#5 Albany 41, Richmond 13
Southern Illinois at #4 Idaho (ESPN2)
#3 South Dakota 34, Sacramento State 24
North Dakota State 35, #6 Montana State 34 (OT)
#7 Furman 26, Chattanooga 7
#2 Montana 49, Delaware 19
Quarterfinals (Dec. 8-9)
#8 Villanova at #1 South Dakota State
Southern Illinois at #5 Albany OR #5 Albany at #4 Idaho
North Dakota State at #3 South Dakota
#7 Furman at #2 Montana
#1 South Dakota State 41, Mercer 0
#8 Villanova 45, Youngstown State 28
#5 Albany 41, Richmond 13
Southern Illinois at #4 Idaho (ESPN2)
#3 South Dakota 34, Sacramento State 24
North Dakota State 35, #6 Montana State 34 (OT)
#7 Furman 26, Chattanooga 7
#2 Montana 49, Delaware 19
Quarterfinals (Dec. 8-9)
#8 Villanova at #1 South Dakota State
Southern Illinois at #5 Albany OR #5 Albany at #4 Idaho
North Dakota State at #3 South Dakota
#7 Furman at #2 Montana
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