For the second time ever, the OVC has gotten three teams in the FCS playoffs, with SEMO getting the automatic qualifier, and both UT Martin and Tennessee State getting at-large bids.
For the MVFC, SDSU is the automatic qualifier, with NDSU, USD, and Illinois State getting at-large bids. NDSU received the #2 seed, SDSU the #3 seed, USD the #4 seed, and Illinois State the #12 seed.
In the first round, Illinois State will play at Southeast Missouri State despite ISU being seeded due to Illinois State's home stadium hosting the IHSA Football Championship games on Friday and Saturday.
Games on 11/30 and on ESPN+ unless otherwise stated
11 AM - #12 Illinois State at Southeast Missouri State
12 PM - UT Martin at #16 New Hampshire
9:15 PM - Tennessee State at #14 Montana (ESPN2)
More info and the full bracket are available here: https://fbschedules.com/fcs-playoffs-20 ... -released/
If you're wondering if there could be another NDSU/SDSU championship game, they're on the same side of the bracket, so the best they could do is a SDSU@NDSU Semifinal game, although USD is on the other side of the bracket, so they could potentially play either of the XDSUs if they all make it that far.
2024 FCS Playoffs

Western Illinois University Alum/Fan/Employee
Member of the Marching Leathernecks - 1996-2000
- sealhall74
- Posts: 5982
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Not unusual for academic faculty positions to be "endowed", but i have never heard of endowed coaching position titles until now:
https://goyotes.com/news/2024/7/24/gene ... etics.aspx
Ex-Jack pass coordinator Josh Davis is the inaugural and current recipient. Move seems to be paying big dividends this year.
https://goyotes.com/news/2024/7/24/gene ... etics.aspx
Ex-Jack pass coordinator Josh Davis is the inaugural and current recipient. Move seems to be paying big dividends this year.
Embrace the pace of the race.
- sealhall74
- Posts: 5982
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:18 pm
- Location: Wherever, Windblows
SEMO might get to double figures in turnovers before this one is done.
I think UT Martin was the best team we played. They are doing OK in their game so far.
I think UT Martin was the best team we played. They are doing OK in their game so far.
Embrace the pace of the race.
The SEMO score was not that big of a surprise with the direction both teams were headed. Since the last weekend of October, SEMO barely beat Gardner-Webb, lost to Lindenwood, struggled against us, and lost to Tennessee State.sealhall74 wrote:SEMO might get to double figures in turnovers before this one is done.
I think UT Martin was the best team we played. They are doing OK in their game so far.
Meanwhile Illinois State hasn’t lost since October 12. This season they lost to Iowa, NDSU, and a Missouri State team that’s transitioning to FBS.
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Western Illinois University Alum/Fan/Employee
Member of the Marching Leathernecks - 1996-2000
Tennessee-Martin beat #16 New Hampshire 41-10. Attendance at New Hampshire = 1,573
#12 Illinois State beat Southeast Missouri State 35-27.
SEMO had 602 Total Yards while Illinois State had 322. Turnovers were the key in this game. Southeast Missouri (9-4) turned the ball over eight times and #12 Illinois State (10-3) scored 28 points off those miscues. Tied 7-7, things got out of hand quickly when the Redbirds recorded a takeaway on four-straight SEMO possessions.
#12 Illinois State beat Southeast Missouri State 35-27.
SEMO had 602 Total Yards while Illinois State had 322. Turnovers were the key in this game. Southeast Missouri (9-4) turned the ball over eight times and #12 Illinois State (10-3) scored 28 points off those miscues. Tied 7-7, things got out of hand quickly when the Redbirds recorded a takeaway on four-straight SEMO possessions.
Montana just went up 41-27 over Tennessee State with just under 2 minutes left in the game, so I'm going to go ahead and assume they're going to win this one.
Second Round Games among OVC and MVFC teams (all games on 12/7)
1 PM - #14 Montana at #3 South Dakota State
2 PM - UT Martin at #1 Montana State
2 PM - #13 Tarleton State at #4 South Dakota
2 PM - #15 Abilene Christian at #2 North Dakota State
3 PM - #12 Illinois State at #5 UC Davis
Second Round Games among OVC and MVFC teams (all games on 12/7)
1 PM - #14 Montana at #3 South Dakota State
2 PM - UT Martin at #1 Montana State
2 PM - #13 Tarleton State at #4 South Dakota
2 PM - #15 Abilene Christian at #2 North Dakota State
3 PM - #12 Illinois State at #5 UC Davis

Western Illinois University Alum/Fan/Employee
Member of the Marching Leathernecks - 1996-2000
I've seen "big" schools do it, but this is the first I can remember seeing it at a FCS school.sealhall74 wrote: Wed Nov 27, 2024 9:25 am Not unusual for academic faculty positions to be "endowed", but i have never heard of endowed coaching position titles until now:
https://goyotes.com/news/2024/7/24/gene ... etics.aspx
Ex-Jack pass coordinator Josh Davis is the inaugural and current recipient. Move seems to be paying big dividends this year.

Western Illinois University Alum/Fan/Employee
Member of the Marching Leathernecks - 1996-2000