The 2022 FCS playoff quarterfinals unfolded over two days with four berths in the semifinals at stake.
One major upset headlined the proceedings as a top-two seed took a fall, stirring up guaranteed chaos despite a recent champion and the top seed advancing to the final four.
Below, we'll outline the quarterfinal results and preview the semifinals.
Friday, Saturday Quarterfinal Scores
No. 3 North Dakota State 27, No. 6 Samford 9
No. 4 Montana State 55, No. 5 William & Mary 7
No. 7 UIW 66, No. 2 Sacramento State 63
No. 1 South Dakota State 42, No. 8 Holy Cross 21
Semifinal Matchups and Schedule
No. 3 North Dakota State vs. No. 7 UIW (Friday, Dec. 16, at 9 p.m. ET)
No. 4 Montana State vs. No. 1 South Dakota State (Saturday, Dec. 17, at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2)
Full bracket available at NCAA.com.
Semifinal Preview
Defending champion North Dakota State, the third seed this year, didn't flirt with an upset by any means during a 27-9 dismissal of sixth-seeded Samford in the quarterfinals.
Quarterback Cam Miller went 15-of-18 with 194 yards and a passing touchdown and added 21 yards and a score on the ground. His offense chewed 39:05 of game clock by way of 48 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns, and the defense didn't give up a touchdown until near the end of the fourth quarter.
Now NDSU, a semifinalist in 11 of the last 12 seasons and champion nine times since 2011, has to face an upset-minded Incarnate Word.
"I wouldn't say there is any pressure," Miller said, per Eric Peterson of InForum. "This program is going to do what it does."
But the magical season for No. 7 Cardinals has a stunning bit of momentum. In the quarterfinals, the San Antonio school took down No. 2 Sacramento State when quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. threw a game-winner with 27 seconds left.
The highest-scoring game in FCS playoff history earned UIW a semifinal spot for the first time in the program's 10-year history in Division I.
Scott changes the outlook on what was otherwise the Bison looking like predictable favorites in the semifinals. In the upset, he threw for 219 yards and four touchdowns, plus rushed for 166 yards and two more scores. That explosive output is a possible counter to NDSU's ball-controlling style.
The other semifinal offers similar vibes.
Top-seeded South Dakota State fell behind eighth-seeded Holy Cross 14-6 in the first half of their quarterfinal matchup. An interception return for a touchdown broke the 14-14 tie before Mark Gronowski threw for a touchdown and ran for another late in the fourth quarter.
Fourth-seeded Montana State didn't have issues in its quarterfinals, blowing out fifth-seeded William & Mary.
Running back Isaiah Ifanse ran for 162 yards and two scores on a 14.7 per-carry average, and quarterback Tommy Mellott had the team's other three rushing scores. William & Mary broke up the shutout with roughly three minutes left.
That sets up a matchup between two offenses that prefer to impose their wills on the ground.
Entering the quarterfinals, Montana State led the FCS by averaging 331.8 rushing yards per game to the Jackrabbits' 165.8 (45th), so the task is again immense for the bracket's top seed.
And of course, the possibility of an all-Dakota title game remains, though two upset-minded upstarts have eyes on keeping special stories of their own alive.
The North Dakota State Bison will attempt to win their ninth FCS title in 11 years on Saturday.
The Bison have won each of their last eight title-game appearances, but they face the Montana State Bobcats in the championship game for the first time.
North Dakota State is looking to reclaim the FCS throne after it was taken away during the spring season in 2021. The Sam Houston State Bearkats won that title, but their repeat shot was taken away by Montana State in the quarterfinal round.
The Bobcats comes in as the underdog as the No. 8 seed, but the six-seed gap between them and the second-ranked Bison is not indicative of how close the contest in Frisco, Texas, could be.
FCS Championship Info
Date: Saturday, January 8
Start Time: noon ET
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: ESPN app and ESPN.com.
Preview
North Dakota State has more of a dynasty at the FCS level than the Alabama Crimson Tide have in the FBS.
The Bison have controlled the FCS postseason since they won their first crown in 2011. The only years they did not win were in 2016 and 2021.
This year, North Dakota State established its dominance throughout its three postseason contests, holding its opponents to a combined 24 points.
The eight-time champion did not blow out its last opponent, but it came away with a win in what felt like a championship contest against the James Madison Dukes. JMU won the 2016 title and lost to NDSU in 2020.
NDSU will try to win Saturday's contest with its rushing attack. The Bison ran for 174 yards in the win over James Madison, and they had 278 rushing yards versus the East Tennessee State Buccaneers in the quarterfinal round.
Hunter Luepke and TaMerik Williams have taken turns as the stars of the Bison rushing attack, and both players should be problems for the Montana State defense.
Montana State reached the championship through a trio of double-digit wins, including the final two triumphs over the two championship game participants from the 2021 spring season. The FCS opted to play a spring season in 2021 because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in fall 2020.
Freshman quarterback Tommy Mellott was the star of the last two playoff wins, throwing a pair of touchdowns in each victory. He also ran for 155 yards and two scores against South Dakota State.
Mellott may not have the same level of success against the NDSU defense in a setting where the Bison are used to playing.
The Bobcats need the same magic out of Mellott to have a shot at beating the FCS powerhouse at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
North Dakota State should be favored because of its recent dominance at the FCS level, but if it can't contain Mellott, Montana State could hang around and fight for the victory.
The Montana State Bobcats and South Dakota State Jackrabbits tore apart the order in the top half of the FCS playoff bracket.
Montana State advanced to Saturday's quarterfinal with a 42-19 upset win over the top-seeded Sam Houston State Bearkats.
South Dakota State won three times on the road as an unseeded team to earn a trip to Bozeman, Montana.
South Dakota State is looking to get back to the FCS National Championship for the second season in a row. The Jackrabbits fell to Sam Houston State in May after the FCS shifted its season from the fall to spring.
Montana State is playing for its second trip to the title game and first since it won the championship back in 1984.
South Dakota State vs. Montana State Info
Date: Saturday, December 18
Start Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app
Game Odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Spread: South Dakota State (-5.5)
Over/Under: 47
Money Line: South Dakota State (-210; bet $210 to win $100); Montana State (+175; bet $100 to win $175)
Preview
South Dakota State is the weaker team in seeding only.
The Jackrabbits are more than deserving of the favorite tag in Saturday's semifinal because of the manner in which they plowed through their three postseason opponents.
South Dakota State blew past the UC Davis Aggies with 56 points in the first round, beat the No. 4 Sacramento State Hornets by five and dominated the No. 5 seed Villanova Wildcats on the ground in a 14-point victory.
The Jackrabbits' running back tandem of Isaiah Davis and Pierre Strong Jr. Davis ran for 499 yards in the postseason, and Strong leads the FCS in rushing yards.
South Dakota State produced a relentless 266-yard rushing game against a Villanova defense led by the FCS' leading tackler Forrest Rhyne.
Montana State may have a hard time containing a type of rushing attack that it has barely seen this season.
South Dakota State may be unseeded, but it is as worthy of a national title contender as any team. It owns a win over the No. 2 seed North Dakota State Bison and suffered its three losses by a combined 13 points.
Montana State has an impressive rushing attack in its favor as well. The Bobcats ran for 190 yards in the quarterfinal upset of Sam Houston State.
Isaiah Ifanse has 281 rushing yards and two scores in his pair of postseason appearances. He entered the postseason with six 100-yard performances.
The showdown of strong rushing units is as even as it gets, and the two rushing defenses are separated by 1.6 yards allowed per game.
Saturday's difference-maker could be passing defense. Montana State ranks 12th in that category, while South Dakota State is 86th.
The Jackrabbits allowed 271 passing yards against Villanova, and they face a quarterback in Tommy Mellott who can hurt them in both facets of the game.
Mellott had two passing touchdowns in the quarterfinal round, and he has 256 rushing yards in two playoff games.
Montana State jumped out to double-digit first-half leads behind Mellott and Ifanse in its first two playoff contests, and that could be the formula to taking down South Dakota State.
The Jackrabbits need to dictate the pace through their ground game, and if they control that area of the matchup, they could be headed back to Frisco for the second time in nine months.
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The first of the two FCS semifinals to be played will have the feel of a championship game.
The James Madison Dukes and North Dakota State Bison met in two of the past four finals at that level of the sport.
North Dakota State is the dominant power at the FCS level. It has eight national titles since 2011, and it breezed through its two playoff games to reach the final.
James Madison also had an easy time with its first two postseason opponents, outscoring those foes 87-26.
The Dukes face the most unenviable task in all of FCS football by making a trip up to the Fargodome. North Dakota State is almost unbeatable inside its home stadium and is consequently favored to win Friday night.
James Madison vs. North Dakota State Info
Date: Friday, December 17
Start Time: 9:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app.
Game Odds
Spread: North Dakota State (-5.5)
Over/Under: 48
Moneyline: North Dakota State -210 (bet $210 to win $100); James Madison +170 (bet $100 to win $170)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Preview
There will be a national championship-style atmosphere in North Dakota on Friday night.
The winner of the semifinal contest will be viewed as the favorite to win the FCS national title on January 8 in Frisco, Texas.
North Dakota State claimed two of its past three titles over James Madison in tight, one-possession affairs.
The Bison will try to win the contest through a rushing attack that posted 278 yards on 49 carries in the quarterfinal victory over the East Tennessee State Buccaneers. Seven North Dakota State players earned at least one carry in the victory, and TaMerik Williams led the dominant effort on the interior with 91 yards and two scores off 15 carries
James Madison is ranked fourth in rushing yards allowed, so Williams and Co. may have trouble finding some seams on the interior.
The same could be said about the Dukes' ground attack, as it is set to face the third-best rushing defense in the FCS. North Dakota State gave up the fewest points per game on the FCS level. It allowed three opponents to score 20 or more points in 13 games.
The Bison will be tasked with slowing down JMU's passing combination of Cole Johnson and his two 1,000-yard receivers. Antwane Wells Jr. and Kris Thornton combined for 155 catches, 2,247 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns.
North Dakota State's top defensive aim should be to shut down at least one of those wideouts. James Madison does not have another player with more than 300 receiving yards.
If NDSU gets a few quick stops, it could flip the field in its favor and begin to control the clock through its ground unit.
It may take some time for either offense to get going since both defenses rank near or at the top of a handful of defensive categories. We should expect another tight affair between the Bison and Dukes, but it is hard to pick against NDSU's home-field advantage.
North Dakota State has seven double-digit victories inside the Fargodome this season, and until JMU proves it can beat the Bison, the home side has to be the pick to advance to the FCS National Championship.
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The top-seeded North Dakota State Bison defeated the No. 2 James Madison Dukes 28-20 on Saturday at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, to win the 2019-20 FCS National Championship Game.
With the win, NDSU completed its second consecutive undefeated campaign and continued its dominance over the FCS by winning its eighth national title in the past nine seasons. Meanwhile, James Madison lost to North Dakota State in the National Championship Game for the second time in three years.
One day after NDSU quarterback Trey Lance became the first freshman to win the FCS equivalent to the Heisman Trophy—the Walter Payton Award—he led the Bison to victory thanks largely to his legs.
North Dakota State rushed for 281 yards as a team in the win, and it held the Dukes to 365 total yards.
The Bison defense made the pivotal play of the game as well with safety James Hendricks intercepting James Madison quarterback Ben DiNucci at the goal line in the closing seconds to secure the win.
Notable Stats
Trey Lance, QB, NDSU: 6-of-10 for 72 YDS; 30 CAR for 166 YDS and 1 TD
Adam Cofield, RB, NDSU: 7 CAR for 24 YDS and 1 TD
Phoenix Sproles, WR, NDSU: 1 CAR for 38 YDS and 1 TD; 1 REC for 13 YDS
Ben DiNucci, QB, JMU: 22-of-33 for 204 YDS, 2 TD and 1 INT
Percy Agyei-Obese, RB, JMU: 18 CAR for 73 YDS
Riley Stapleton, WR, JMU: 10 REC for 100 YDS and 2 TD
Lance Dazzles on National Stage as Bison Win 8th National Title
Despite NDSU's dominance for nearly a decade, James Madison entered Saturday's game as a slight favorite, and it was expected to be a tightly contested affair.
That is primarily because the Bison and Dukes boasted two of the best defenses in FCS this season, per ESPN Stats & Info:
The defensive excellence wasn't on full display in the early going, as JMU bled 7:33 off the clock on its first drive, which lasted 17 plays and 86 yards, and concluded with a five-yard touchdown pass from DiNucci to Riley Stapleton:
James Madison made a big-time statement on that drive, which meant the Bison needed to answer in impressive fashion.
They did precisely that, as Lance orchestrated a 70-yard drive in less than four minutes. After Lance set the Bison up on the 1-yard line with a 13-yard run, Adam Cofield punched it in from one yard out to tie the game:
North Dakota State struck again on its next drive after forcing James Madison to punt, and it didn't take the Bison long to assume the lead.
After a pass interference call and a 14-yard run by Lance set the Bison up in JMU territory, NDSU used some razzle dazzle, as wide receiver Phoenix Sproles scored on a 38-yard reverse that saw him fake the pitch:
James Madison did manage to answer with a field goal to cut the deficit to four, but it was the Bison who entered halftime with momentum on their side.
The Dukes thought they executed a huge third-down stop late in the half, but NDSU outsmarted James Madison again with a fake field goal that saw Hendricks rush for a 20-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 11:
While the total yardage numbers were comparable in the first half and the numbers didn't indicate that North Dakota State should have a two-score lead, first-year head coach Matt Entz's willingness to call some trick plays were the difference.
Lance's ability to do damage with his legs also played a big role in NDSU's early success, including this run, which saw him plow through the entire JMU defense and give his team a ton of energy:
As pointed out by Bob Grebe of WHSV, James Madison didn't have the defensive game plan it needed to keep Lance in check from a running perspective:
That seemingly began to change in the third quarter, as James Madison held North Dakota State scoreless and kicked a field goal to pull to within eight points.
Just when it looked like the Dukes were trending in the right direction, though, Lance made another highlight-reel play on a 44-yard touchdown run in the opening second of the fourth quarter to give NDSU a 15-point advantage:
It would have been easy for James Madison to pack it in against a top-flight defense at that point, but the Dukes continued to fight. They cut the lead back down to eight on another five-yard touchdown pass from DiNucci to Stapleton with 6:55 remaining.
The key play on that drive was conversion by DiNucci on a 4th-and-6 that saw him lower his head and bowl over a defender on a six-yard run:
North Dakota State had a chance to essentially put the game away on the ensuing drive, but the Dukes stopped the Bison on a 4th-and-2 and took control of the ball at their own 37 with 2:40 remaining.
JMU got the ball all the way down to the NDSU 3-yard line, but DiNucci was intercepted by Hendricks, who scored a rushing touchdown earlier in the game, which sealed the win for the Bison.
Lance wasn't asked to do much through the air, but he carries the NDSU offense with his legs and finished the season with no interceptions in 16 games, while the Bison defense came through in the clutch as well.
The North Dakota State dynasty has an opportunity to extend its championship streak when it takes on James Madison in the 2020 FCS Championship Game on Saturday.
The Bison have won seven of the last eight national championships and are set to meet the only team to interrupt that streak in the Dukes.
NDSU's dominance has spanned the reigns of three head coaches. While former head coach Chris Klieman was having a successful debut with Kansas State, former defensive coordinator Matt Entz took over the position seamlessly and has the Bison in the championship game at 15-0.
James Madison will be the Bison's opponent for the third time in four years and also feature a first-year head coach. Curt Cignetti took over the program from Mike Houston, who also moved up to the FBS ranks, taking the East Carolina job after leading the Dukes to their past two national title appearances.
2019 FCS Championship Information
Date: Saturday, January 11
Time: Noon ET
TV: ABC
Odds: James Madison -1.5; O/U: 50
Odds via Caesars
Preview
There may have been a changing of the guard in the coaching staff for North Dakota State, but the DNA of the program remains the same. The Bison are looking to run you into the ground and play consistent defense to control the game.
Their run game is both prolific and diverse. They lead the FCS in yards per carry and rank fourth in rushing yards per game, yet they don't have a single rusher with more than 1,000 yards on the season. Instead, they will attack defenses with myriad runners, including quarterback Trey Lance.
The past two North Dakota State quarterbacks—Carson Wentz and Easton Stick—have been drafted in the NFL. Lance could be the next when he's done in Fargo.
The redshirt freshman has been dynamic through the air and on the ground. He has a perfect touchdown-to-interception ratio with 28 scores and no picks while throwing for 2,714 yards and completing 67 percent of his passes.
The quarterback isn't generally called on to do much, but he's coming off of one of his best games of the season in the semifinal against Montana State, against whom he threw for 223 yards on 15-of-21 passing and three touchdowns.
Cignetti knows that finding a way to stop Lance will be an important aspect of picking up the win for the Dukes, per NCAA.com:
"They are extremely multiple with a lot of different personnel groupings. They huddle. They'll bring big people out on the field yet shift to empty. So a lot of shifts, a lot of motions, a lot of different looks, a lot more quarterback run, quarterback-read type stuff probably than we do. More out-of-pocket passes, probably, than we do."
James Madison brings a little more experience at the quarterback position but is nearly identical in terms of their build as a team. Senior Ben DiNucci has thrown for 3,237 yards and 27 touchdowns. The Pitt transfer isn't the focal point of the offense, though.
The Dukes also look to primarily move the ball on the ground. DiNucci isn't as involved as Lance in the run game, but they use him as well as running backs Percy Agyei-Obese and Jawon Hamilton to grind down opposing defenses.
Cignetti's side also features some athleticism at the receiver position that can get the Bison out of the box if need be. Brandon Polk has become an explosive option for the Dukes with 72 receptions, 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.
Riley Stapleton can also cause problems with his 6'5" 230-pound frame. Entz described the issues of preparing for bigger-bodied receivers for NCAA.com:
"I think the main thing or the thing that's always difficult when you're talking about a scout team, doesn't matter if it's JMU or anyone, is the length that some of the receivers provide -- a Riley Stapleton, who is 6'4", 6'5", it's hard to emulate that length and the difference. He can go up and get 50/50 balls and they become a big concern. So that, of course, is always a concern."
With both teams possessing big-time rushing attacks, strong defenses and championship experience, this is as good a matchup as fans could hope for.
Expect another defensive battle like the one these two waged in 2017. The Bison edged out the Dukes 17-13 that year en route to another championship.
The North Dakota State Bison and James Madison Dukes are on a collision course to play in their second FCS football championship in three years.
Since 2011, North Dakota State has won seven titles and is the two-time reigning champion, while James Madison won the championship three seasons ago. The Weber State Wildcats and Montana State Bobcats face difficult road matchups against the top two seeds.
Montana State is the only program from outside the top four to advance to the semifinal, as its quarterfinal opponent, Austin Peay, knocked off No. 4 seed Sacramento State in the round of 16.
The two semifinal winners will square off January 11 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, which has been the championship site since 2010.
Quarterfinal Results
No. 2 James Madison 17, Northern Iowa 0
No. 3 Weber State 17, No. 6 Montana 10
No. 5 Montana State 24, Austin Peay 10
No. 1 North Dakota State 9, Illinois State 3
Semifinal Schedule
Saturday, December 21
No. 3 Weber State at No. 2 James Madison (Time TBD)
No. 5 Montana State at No. 1 North Dakota State (Time TBD)
Previews
No. 5 Montana State at No. 1 North Dakota State
Montana State, which is making its first semifinal appearance since 1984, scored the most points of any quarterfinal victor.
The Bobcats come into the Fargodome with six consecutive victories, but earning a seventh will be its most difficult challenge of the season.
Running back Isaiah Ifanse could put the Bison under duress if he produces at the same clip as Friday night. Ifanse carried the ball 26 times for 196 yards and a score for a Montana State offense that racked up 279 rushing yards on 49 touches. On Saturday, North Dakota State allowed 157 yards on the ground in its tight victory over Illinois State.
Even though the Redbirds discovered some success, the Bison were able to keep them in check by allowed just three of 12 third-down conversion attempts.
The 9-3 victory was a rare offensive struggle for the two-time reigning champions, who rank fourth in the FCS in scoring offense with 39.8 points per game.
The Bison defense could be the difference-maker in the semifinal, as it allows the fewest points per game in the FCS at 12.3.
In eight home contests, the top seed has held opponents to a combined 98 points, including just 16 in the first two playoff rounds.
If the defense continues to play at a high level, quarterback Trey Lance could lead the offense out of the rut that it unexpectedly slipped into Saturday.
Lance ranks third in the FCS in completion percentage, and he totaled 176 combined yards versus Illinois State. In the playoff opener, he racked up 257 total yards and three scores.
If the North Dakota State quarterback hurts the Bobcats in both aspects of the offense, the No. 1 seed could avoid a tight affair and move on to the championship.
No. 3 Weber State at No. 2 James Madison
James Madison started its quest for a third final appearance in four years by outscoring Monmouth and Northern Iowa 83-21.
The Dukes shut out Northern Iowa, which upset seventh-seeded South Dakota State, in one of Friday's three semifinals. In the 17-0 win, the No. 2 seed's defense was remarkable, as it allowed 114 total yards and did not allow the Panthers over midfield until the final drive.
Percy Agyei-Obese and Jawon Hamilton combined for 186 rushing yards on 54 carries and Ben Dinucci went 19-for-28 with 157 passing yards and a touchdown.
James Madison boasts a potent duo of the top-ranked FCS scoring offense and the third-best scoring defense. North Dakota State is the only other program that ranks in the top 10 of both categories, and that is one of the many reasons a final featuring the top two seeds would be so highly anticipated.
Weber State is making its first semifinal appearance, and it had five interceptions against Montana to earn the trip to Virginia next Saturday.
The Wildcats only had 113 total yards on 59 plays, which could be a concern going into the next round because of how explosive their opponents can be.
Jake Constantine, whose third-quarter touchdown pass put Weber State ahead for good, has to be wary of John Daka and Ron'Dell Carter, who both rank in the top 15 in sacks.
In eight home games, the Dukes have allowed two opponents over 20 points. One was against Monmouth in a blowout playoff win, and the other was versus Villanova, which put up 24 on October 12.
In total, James Madison has outscored home foes 357-96. That dominance, combined with its experience at this stage of the season, should power the No. 2 seed into the title clash.
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Statistics obtained from NCAA.com.
North Dakota State will look for another FCS football championship after being named the No. 1 overall seed of the 2019 playoffs.
After winning the last two championships and seven of the last eight, the Bison are favored once again as the only undefeated team in the country with a 12-0 record. Meanwhile, top seeds like James Madison, Weber State and Sacramento State will do their best to ensure another team will come home with a title this season.
With a single-elimination tournament, however, any of the 24 teams have a chance to bring home a championship.
Here is a breakdown of the full FCS tournament.
Bracket
Interactive bracket available at NCAA.com.
Seeds
1. North Dakota State
2. James Madison
3. Weber State
4. Sacramento State
5. Montana State
6. Montana
7. South Dakota State
8. Central Arkansas
Tournament Schedule
First Round: Nov. 30
Second Round: Dec. 7
Quarterfinals: Dec. 14
Semifinals: Dec. 21
National Championship: Jan. 11
Preview
North Dakota State is the clear favorite after cruising through the schedule with 12 wins and zero losses, only one game decided by single digits. The team ranks first in FCS with just 12.3 points allowed per game while ranking sixth with 40 points scored per game.
Trey Lance has done everything for the Bison offensively, throwing 23 touchdown passes while rushing for 10 more scores this season.
With talent and depth across the board, it will take a lot to beat this team.
However, South Dakota State was close with a 23-16 loss in October, and several other teams could make things interesting this postseason.
James Madison could make a run behind Ben DiNucci and an offense that averages 42.3 points per game. The squad loves to run the ball with an average of 249 rushing yards per game, featuring five different players with at least 300 yards on the season.
Considering the team's only loss came against FBS squad West Virginia, only by one score, the Dukes will be dangerous.
Two Montana Big Sky squads could contend for a title as well, although Montana State has a lot more momentum after throttling Montana 48-14 the last time out. Still, both teams have the type of talent necessary to surprise some people with a strong showing over the next month.
All stats courtesy of NCAA.com and team sites.
The North Dakota State Bison won their second straight national title and completed an undefeated season with a 38-24 victory over the Eastern Washington Eagles in Saturday's FCS National Championship Game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
It's the sixth championship in the past seven years for NDSU and the school's seventh at FCS level, breaking a tie with Georgia Southern for the most in history. The only playoff defeat during its current dynasty came in 2016, when it lost to the eventual champion James Madison Dukes in the semifinals.
Eastern Washington was bidding to win its second national title (2010).
Senior quarterback Easton Stick led the way once again for the Bison by playing a role in all five of the team's touchdowns (three rushing and two passing). Both scoring throws were to senior wide receiver Darrius Shepherd, who finished the game with five catches for 125 yards.
The final score isn't indicative of the contest's level of competitiveness.
Eastern Washington fell behind by 14 midway through the second quarter but on three separate occasions fought back within a single score. The margin never exceeded two scores.
The Eagles provided the game's most memorable moment despite the loss with a fake field goal right before halftime:
Saturday's clash also featured three touchdowns in a 68-second span early in the third quarter as two Stick touchdown passes sandwiched a 75-yard run to paydirt for EWU's Sam McPherson.
Although North Dakota State appeared in firm control for most of the second half, Eastern Washington made one last push in the game's final minutes.
After a missed field goal by the Bison's Cam Pedersen, the Eagles covered 80 yards in just four plays and 62 seconds to get back within seven with 2:19 left in the final quarter.
The underdog's comeback efforts came up short, though. Stick converted a crucial third down by keeping the ball on an option and running 46 yards to the house to close out his collegiate career in fine fashion.
It also marked a perfect send-off for head coach Chris Klieman, who's making the jump to the FBS to lead the Big 12's Kansas State Wildcats starting next season.
What's Next?
The focus of the college football world now shifts to the FBS' CFP National Championship on Monday night between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers.
