FCS Playoffs 2024: Quarterfinals Results, Semifinals Schedule and Bracket Update

The top four seeds in the FCS playoff bracket made it through to the semifinals.

All of the four semifinalists have a long pedigree of playing at this stage of the postseason.

The North Dakota State Bison and South Dakota State Jackrabbits won 11 combined titles dating back to 2011.

South Dakota State, the two-time reigning champion, will have to go on the road to face the nine-time champion North Dakota State in the semifinals.

The top-seeded Montana State Bobcats take on the No. 4 seed South Dakota Coyotes in the other semifinal. Montana State is looking to get back to the final for the second time in four years.

FCS Quarterfinals Scores

No. 1 Montana State 52, No. 8 Idaho 19

No. 2 North Dakota State 31, No. 7 Mercer 7

No. 3 South Dakota State 55, No. 6 UIW 14

No. 4 South Dakota 35, No. 5 UC Davis 21

Semifinal Schedule

No. 3 South Dakota State at No. 2 North Dakota State (December 21, Noon ET)

No. 4 South Dakota at No. 1 Montana State (December 21, 3:30 p.m. ET)

All four semifinalists won their respective quarterfinals in blowout fashion.

Montana State and South Dakota State were the most dominant teams, as each squad eclipsed the 50-point mark and held their foes under 20 points.

Montana State outscored its two postseason opponents 101-36 and it will be favored to win on home soil against South Dakota.

The No. 4 seed owns a pair of double-digit postseason wins as well, but neither were as dominant as Montana State's pair of triumphs.

Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott has been near flawless all season long. He threw for 28 touchdowns and was only intercepted twice.

Mellott is also a threat on the ground. He ran for at least 690 yards in each of his four seasons.

The expectation is that Mellott and the Bobcats will head to Frisco, Texas on January 6 to take one of the sport's perennial powers.

North Dakota State and South Dakota State met in the championship game two years ago and have combined to win the last three FCS titles.

NDSU won the October meeting between the rivals, but SDSU has had the upper hand in most recent clashes. The Jackrabbits had a five-game winning streak in the rivalry before the October 19 defeat.

NDSU holds the home-field advantage and the edge over SDSU this season, but the game could go either way.

Whichever team emerges from the No. 2-versus-No. 3 clash will at least hold the edge in championship-winning experience over Montana State or South Dakota.