No. 1 South Dakota State will look to defend its title Sunday when it faces No. 2 Montana within the Division I FCS nationwide championship. For these searching for any final little bit of school soccer earlier than Monday’s School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship, Sunday’s motion is the proper appetizer.
The Jackrabbits knocked off rival North Dakota State final season to seize their first nationwide championship in program historical past and might take the subsequent step in the direction of creating the subsequent FCS dynasty with a win this weekend. The street again to the title recreation has been clean crusing: The Jackrabbits outscored their earlier three opponents within the FCS playoffs 123-12 and are driving a 28-game successful streak that dates again to final fall. South Dakota State’s final loss got here within the 2022 season-opener to Iowa.
As for Montana, its path again to the title recreation has been drastically totally different. The Grizzlies knocked off Furman in extra time within the quarterfinals and used a 31-29 double-overtime win over North Dakota State within the following spherical to advance to their eighth nationwide championship look in program historical past. Montana is searching for its third FCS title total and first since 2001 this weekend.
South Dakota State vs. Montana: Must know
Jackrabbits eye potential dynasty: South Dakota State has been within the shadows of rival North Dakota State for the previous decade. The Bison have gained 9 FCS titles since 2011, however with coach Matt Entz departing for a job at USC the door may very well be open for the Jackrabbits to construct a dynasty of their very own. South Dakota State hasn’t misplaced to an FCS opponent since falling to Montana State within the FCS semifinals in 2021 nor proven indicators of slowing down since. A win over Montana would make it back-to-back championships and shift all of the momentum going ahead in favor of SDSU.
Montana’s lengthy journey again to title contender: One of many extra profitable applications within the FCS is again within the title recreation after a 14-year absence. After the Grizzlies misplaced consecutive FCS championships in 2008 and 2009, coach Bobby Hauck departed to take the UNLV job and spent a while away from his alma mater earlier than returning to educate in 2018. Montana had did not make it previous the FCS quarterfinals since shedding the title recreation in 2009, however now it finds itself one upset win away from claiming its first nationwide championship since 2001.
Isaiah Davis is a reputation to look at: The important thing to this recreation is South Dakota State star operating again Isaiah Davis. SDSU returned all 5 beginning offensive linemen from its championship workforce final season. That is actually benefited Davis, who recorded profession highs in yards dashing (1,491) and touchdowns (17) in 2023. SDSU has the highest scoring protection within the nation (9.7 factors per recreation), so controlling the clock on the bottom and getting stops on protection would be the good recipe to seize the title.
The best way to watch South Dakota State vs. Montana stay
Date: Sunday, Jan. 7 | Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Toyota Stadium — Frisco, Texas
TV: ESPN | Reside stream: fubo (Attempt without spending a dime)
South Dakota State vs. Montana prediction, picks
Odds through SportsLine consensus
At first look, chances are you’ll assume this line is absurdly excessive and you wouldn’t be incorrect. That is projected to be the third-largest unfold within the historical past of the FCS title recreation since 2010. South Dakota State has allowed 20-plus factors solely twice this season and already has a pair of shutouts recorded in these FCS playoffs. Montana has been an excellent story this season, however it’s arduous to not envision this recreation going south rapidly if it might’t get stops on protection. Choose: South Dakota State -12.5
