BREAKING: The defending champion North Dakota State Bison have just been named the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs, leading a record-tying six teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). This announcement comes as the Bison, boasting an impressive 12-0 record, prepare for their 16th consecutive playoff appearance.
The playoffs kick off on Saturday, January 5, 2025, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. In total, 24 teams will compete, including 11 automatic qualifiers and 13 at-large selections. The top eight seeds, including North Dakota State, will benefit from a first-round bye, adding to the stakes of this year’s championship series.
This year marks a significant moment in FCS history as the Ivy League participates in the playoffs for the first time, with Yale earning an automatic bid by defeating Harvard 45-28 for the Ivy title. The Crimson also secured a spot as an at-large team.
The Bison’s latest victory over St. Thomas-Minnesota, where they dominated with a score of 62-7, extends their remarkable winning streak to 16 games. This powerful performance underlines their reputation as a formidable force in college football, having clinched 10 of the last 14 FCS titles.
Joining North Dakota State as top contenders are:
– Montana State (10-2), the No. 2 seed after their narrow 31-28 win against Montana.
– Montana (11-1), earning the No. 3 seed.
– Tarleton State (11-1) is the No. 4 seed.
– Lehigh (12-0), the Patriot League champion, holds the No. 5 seed.
– Mercer (9-2), the Southern champion, is No. 6.
– Stephen F. Austin (10-2) is the No. 7 seed.
– UC Davis (8-3) rounds out the top eight as the No. 8 seed.
As anticipation builds for the playoffs, first-round matchups include:
– Illinois State (8-4) at Southeastern Louisiana (9-3)
– Central Connecticut State (8-4) at Rhode Island (10-2)
– Harvard (9-1) at Villanova (9-2)
– North Dakota (7-5) at Tennessee Tech (11-1)
– New Hampshire (8-4) at South Dakota State (8-4)
– Drake (8-3) at South Dakota (8-4)
– Lamar (8-4) at Abilene Christian (8-4)
– Yale (8-2) at Youngstown State (8-4)
With the playoff field set and excitement at an all-time high, fans can look forward to thrilling matchups that will shape the future of college football. Stay tuned for more updates as teams gear up for this crucial postseason battle!
