In the FCS Championship game on Sunday afternoon, No. 1 South Dakota State will be looking to win its second straight FCS title after defeating Montana to cap off an unbeaten season.
Riding a 28-game winning streak, the Jackrabbits want to make FCS history by becoming just the fifth repeat champion. They defeated North Dakota State 45–21 in the final game of the previous year.
The No. 2 seed, Montana, comes into the match at 13-1 following two exciting postseason wins. In the quarterfinals, the Grizzlies defeated Furman in overtime. In the semifinals, they defeated North Dakota State in a legendary double-overtime match. For the win, Montana stopped a possible two-point convert that would have tied the game.
SDSU vs Montana live stream info
Time: 2 p.m. ET | 11 a.m. PT
Venue: Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas
TV channel: ABC
Live stream: PremiumTV
How to watch FCS Championship: SDSU football Montana in Canada
South Dakota State vs. Montana will be televised nationwide on ABC. Additionally, PremiumTV allows viewers to watch Montana vs. South Dakota State from any location. No subscription is required.
South Dakota State vs. Montana: Need to know
For the last ten years, rival North Dakota State has eclipsed South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits may be able to create their own dynasty now that coach Matt Entz is leaving to take a position at USC. The Bison have won nine FCS titles since 2011. Since losing to Montana State in the FCS semifinals in 2021, South Dakota State has not lost to an FCS opponent and has not indicated any signs of slowing down. With a victory over Montana, SDSU would have won back-to-back titles and would have all the momentum going forward.
After a 14-year break, one of the FCS’s most successful schools is back in the championship game. Coach Bobby Hauck left the Grizzlies in 2008 and 2009 after the team lost back-to-back FCS titles. He took a job at UNLV and took a break from his home mater before coming back to lead in 2018. After losing the 2009 title game, Montana had not advanced past the FCS quarterfinals. However, it is now one upset victory away from winning its first national championship since 2001.
Isaiah Davis, the great running back for South Dakota State, is the key to this game. The five starting offensive lineman from SDSU’s championship squad the previous year were all back. Davis undoubtedly profited from that, setting career highs in 2023 for touchdowns (17) and running yards (1,491). With the best scoring defense in the nation (9.7 points per game), SDSU will have no trouble winning if they can control the clock on the ground and force defensive stops.