FCS Quarterfinals: Big Sky Looks to Loosen MVFC Stranglehold

@ Samantha Laurey/Argus Leader/USA TODAY NETWORK

When the FCS championship game is contested on Jan. 6, 2025, in Toyota Stadium at Frisco, Texas, could the crown go to a team from the Big Sky Conference for the first time since the Eastern Washington Eagles took home the prize in the 2010 season? After the Eagles' title, the FCS playoffs have been dominated by teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Indeed, MVFC teams have claimed 11 of the last 13 FCS championships, and the other two titles were won by teams now in the FBS—the James Madison Dukes and the Sam Houston Bearkats. With three Big Sky teams in the quarterfinals, this could be the year the conference ascends again to the FCS mountaintop.

Quarterfinal Bracket

The Big Sky and the MVFC are both represented by three teams in the FCS quarterfinals, and the other two contenders are from the Southern Conference and Southland Conference. Here's a look at the upcoming schedule and broadcast information for the FCS quarterfinal matchups:

• No. 8 Idaho Vandals (10-3, 6-2 Big Sky) at No. 1 Montana State Bobcats (13-0, 8-0 Big Sky) at 9:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 13 in Bobcat Stadium at Bozeman, Mont., on ESPN.

• No. 6 Incarnate Word Cardinals (11-2, 7-0 Southland) at No. 3 South Dakota State Jackrabbits (10-2, 7-1 MVFC) at noon EST on Dec. 14 in Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium at Brookings, S.D., on ESPN

• No. 5 UC Davis Aggies (11-2, 7-1 Big Sky) at No. 4 South Dakota Coyotes (10-2, 7-1 MVFC) at 3:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 14 in the DakotaDome at Vermillion, S.D., on ESPN+

• No. 7 Mercer Bears (11-2, 7-1 Southern) at No. 2 North Dakota State Bison (11-2, 7-1) at 3:30 p.m. EST on Dec. 14 in the Fargodome at Fargo, N.D., on ABC

Big Sky Prospects

With the Nos. 1, 5 and 8 seeds in the field, the Big Sky Conference has a distinct possibility of one of its teams winning the FCS ultimate prize. The most likely candidate is Montana State. In their season opener, the undefeated Bobcats prevailed over an FBS opponent, the New Mexico Lobos (5-7, 3-4 Mountain West Conference), then ran the table in their next 12 games, including a convincing in-conference 38-7 victory over their quarterfinal opponent, the Vandals.

Led by senior dual-threat quarterback Tommy Mellott, the Bobcats are favored by 12.5 points in this rematch. Mellott has put up incredible numbers this year, earning FCS offensive MVP honors after completing slightly over 70 percent of his passes for 2,256 yards and 26 touchdowns with only 1 interception and rushing for 722 yards and 11 TDs.

Coach Brent Vigen took the reins of the Montana State program in 2021 and has delivered consistently excellent results—a 45-9 record overall and a 29-3 record in conference play, leading the team to the playoffs every year.

The Bobcats' top seeding is attributable to their dominance of opponents this year, reflected by the average margin, more than 24 points per game, by which they have outscored teams. However, they will need to avoid looking past the Vandals in their quarterfinal contest. Idaho pushed the FBS No. 1 Oregon Ducks (13-0, 9-0 Big Ten Conference) to the limit in Week 1, trailing the Ducks by only three points with less than six minutes remaining in the game.

UC Davis is also a serious contender for the FCS crown. The only two blemishes on the Aggies' impressive 2024 résumé are a season-opening loss to the Cal Golden Bears (6-6, 2-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) and a narrow 30-28 defeat at the hands of the Bobcats. Coming off an impressive 42-10 playoff game victory over the Illinois State Redbirds (10-4, 6-2 MVFC), UC Davis looks to move on to the semifinals with an upset win over the Coyotes, who are favored by 6.5 points.

While the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State are seeking their third consecutive FCS championship and are favored to beat Incarnate Word to advance to the semifinals, they will likely have to get past one or more tough Big Sky competitors to secure a three-peat.