Cats earn top seed, Griz host in 1st round

The road to Frisco runs through Bozeman.

Montana State earned the No. 1 seed in the FCS Playoffs Sunday, while Montana picked up the No. 14 seed and a home game against Tennessee State in the first round on Nov. 30. 

The Bobcats received the top seed after defeating the Grizzlies 34-11 Saturday in the 123rd Brawl of the Wild, while then-FCS No. 1 and No. 2 seed North Dakota State dropped its season finale to South Dakota. Montana State finished the regular season 12-0 — the only unbeaten team in the FCS. 

The Bobcats will host the winner of Saturday’s first round matchup between No. 16 seed New Hampshire and Tennessee-Martin (11 a.m., ESPN+). 

Montana takes on a Tigers program that earned its way into the playoffs with a 28-21 win over Southeast Missouri State Saturday. 

Tennessee State is coached by former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George, who took over the program in 2021. 

The Tigers also feature some ties to Montana in the coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Brandon Fisher is a UM alum and the son of former NFL head coach Jeff Fisher. Brandon Fisher joined the Tennessee State staff in 2021, after spending a season as defensive coordinator for the then-Big Sky Southern Utah Thunderbirds. 

Montana and Tennessee State are scheduled for an 8:15 p.m. kickoff on ESPN2. The winner travels to Brookings to take on No. 3 seed South Dakota State. 

The defending champion Jackrabbits have a potential rematch with rival North Dakota State looming in the semifinals — the Bison won the first matchup 13-9 in Fargo. 

South Dakota picks up the No. 4 seed with a 9-2 record, including a 29-28 win over NDSU Saturday to close out the regular season. The Coyotes missed out on a 10-win season — and a potentially higher seed — after a Sept. 14 game against Portland State was cancelled due to the Vikings team having an outbreak of whooping cough. 

UC Davis earned the No. 5 seed, while Idaho made it three Big Sky teams with byes by picking up the No. 8 seed. 

Incarnate Word (No. 6 seed) and Mercer (No. 7 seed) rounded out those earning byes. 

Northern Arizona squeaked into the field as the final announced team with an 8-4 record, the Lumberjacks will travel to play Abilene Christian in the first round Saturday. NAU defeated Eastern Washington 30-18 to finish the regular season 8-4. 

Illinois State earned the No. 12 seed but is unable to host its first-round game due to the Illinois State high school football playoffs using the field. The Redbirds will travel to Cape Girardeau, Mo. to play Southeast Missouri State. 

The Big Sky placed five teams in the bracket — the most of any conference — while the Missouri Valley and CAA each placed four. 

FCS Playoffs 

First round 

Nov. 30 

UT-Martin (8-4) at No. 16 New Hampshire (8-4), 11 a.m. 

Lehigh (8-3) at No. 9 Richmond (10-2), 12 p.m. 

No. 12 Illinois State (9-3) at Southeast Missouri State (9-3), 10 a.m. 

Drake (8-2) at No. 13 Tarleton State (9-3), 1 p.m. 

Tennessee State (9-3) at No. 14 Montana (8-4), 8:15 p.m. 

Eastern Kentucky (8-4) at No. 11 Villanova (9-3), 12 p.m. 

Central Connecticut State (7-5) at No. 10 Rhode Island (10-2), 10 a.m. 

Northern Arizona (8-4) at No. 15 Abilene Christian (8-4), 1 p.m.