FARGO, N.D. — Bryce Lance caught three touchdown passes from Cam Miller, including a one-handed game winner, to give North Dakota State a 28-21 win over two-time defending national champion South Dakota State on Saturday and a berth in the FCS title game.

The second-seeded Bison (13-2) will take on the winner of top-seeded Montana State and No. 4 seed South Dakota, played later Saturday, for the championship on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas. NDSU, winner of nine FCS titles with its last coming in 2021, won its 20th straight home playoff game and beat the Jackrabbits for the second time this season. Those two teams and South Dakota tied for the Missouri Valley Football Conference title.

After the third-seeded Jackrabbits (12-3) tied the game at 21-all, the Bison drove 75 yards and scored with 4:18 remaining when Lance snagged a pass with his right hand and managed to get control and a foot down in the right corner of the end zone. The play was initially ruled as incomplete but overturned on review.

On South Dakota State’s final possession, Mark Gronowski was sacked on fourth-and-17 at the Jackrabbits’ 31.

The teams traded touchdowns in each of the first two quarters before both punting three times in the third quarter.

Miller found Lance deep for a 47-yard score early in the fourth and the Jackrabbits tied it midway through the period on Gronowski’s 14-yard pass to Grahm Goering.

Lance, brother of NFL quarterback Trey Lance, made six catches for 125 yards, his other TD coming on a 21-yarder. Miller was 13-of-19 for 179 yards and also rushed for 93 yards and a TD.

Gronowski was 14-of-25 passing for 204 yards and he also ran for a score. Amar Johnson rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown.

FARGO, North Dakota – The second-seeded North Dakota State Bison will battle the third-seeded South Dakota State Jackrabbits today – Saturday, Dec. 21– at the Fargo Dome in Fargo, North Dakota. This game is available on multiple streaming services for free.

This game will broadcast live on ABC at 12 p.m. Eastern. (11 a.m. Central). Fans without cable can catch the game at no cost via FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, which both offer free trials. Another option is SlingTV, which has promotional offers for new customers.

This game will also stream on ESPN Plus. You can get a subscription to ESPN Plus for $11.99 per month. Another option is to sign up for an annual subscription for $119.99, which saves about 17% off compared to the monthly route.

Watch North Dakota State vs. South Dakota State on FuboTV for free

Watch North Dakota State vs. South Dakota State for free on DirecTV Stream

Who is announcing North Dakota State vs. South Dakota State?

Roy Philpott (play-by-play) and Sam Acho (analyst) will be the announcers while Taylor Davis reports from the sidelines.

What are the latest odds for North Dakota State vs. South Dakota State?

Spread: NDSU: (+3.5), SDSU: (-3.5)

Moneyline: NDSU: (+136), SDSU: (-162)

Point total: 48.5

Odds from DraftKings

Here’s more information on how to watch this game on TV and streaming services.

What: College football FBS national semifinal: North Dakota State vs. South Dakota State

When: Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024

Time: 12 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m. Central)

Where: Fargo Dome | Fargo, North Dakota

Channel: ABC

Best streaming options: FuboTV (free trial and $30 off first month), DirecTV Stream (free trial), Sling TV (half off first month and ESPN Plus

Cable Channel Finder: AT&T U-Verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios

Here is more information on North Dakota State’s performance in the quarterfinals from the AP:

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Cam Miller threw three touchdown passes, ran for another and second-seeded North Dakota State blew past a 14-point deficit to beat 15th-seeded Abilene Christian 51-31 on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs.

The Bison (11-2), in the FCS playoffs for a 15th straight season and winner of nine FCS titles, will host seventh-seeded Mercer in the quarterfinals.

Abilene Christian (9-5) took a 17-3 lead on a 13-yard TD pass from Maverick McIvor to J.J. Henry, a 90-yard run by Sam Hicks and a Ritse Vaes 29-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

The Bison then took over, starting with Jackson Williams’ 100-yard kickoff return to start a run of 31 consecutive points, 17 coming in the second quarter for a 20-17 halftime lead.

The scoring streak ended when Nehemiah Martinez’s 53-yard return helped set up Hicks’ 3-yard score to get the Wildcats within 34-24. But the Bison matched that TD on their ensuing drive on Miller’s 36-yard connection with Bryce Lance to cap their 21-point third quarter.

Again, the Wildcats got within 10 early in the fourth quarter on Rovaughn Banks Jr.’s 2-yard TD run. But NDSU’s Marcus Gulley returned an interception 37 yards to the ACU 9 and the Crosa kicked a field goal and Logan Kopp followed with a 31-yard pick-6.

Miller was 20 of 29 for 274 yards passing.

McIvor threw for 153 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Hicks ran for 153 yards on 16 carries.

ACU, champion of the United Athletic Conference, was in its first FCS playoffs since joining the classification in 2013, and beat Northern Arizona in its first-round game.

Crosa has made his 262nd career PAT to pass NDSU’s Cam Pederson (2015-18) and set an FCS record.

No. 4 South Dakota travels to No. 1 Montana State in the semifinals of the 2024 FCS Playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for Dec. 21 at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.

The winner will advance to the FCS National Championship game, where they will face the winner of No. 3 South Dakota State at No. 2 North Dakota State.

2024 FCS Playoff Bracket

2024 Prediction Record: 174-45
2022-23 Record: 207-75

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CT (ABC)
Line: Montana State (-8)
Series History: Montana State leads 2-0

Key Players: Montana State

Tommy Mellott (QB): 182-for-259 (70.3%), 2,430 Passing Yards, 28 Passing TDs, 2 INTs, 790 Rushing Yards, 12 Rushing TDs

Scottre Humphrey (RB): 177 Carries, 1,325 Rushing Yards, 7.5 YPC, 14 Rushing TDs

Adam Jones (RB): 155 Carries, 1,068 Rushing Yards, 6.9 YPC, 14 Rushing TDs

Brody Grebe (DL): 34 Total Tackles, 9 TFLs, 7.5 Sacks, 5 PBUs, 8 QBHs, 1 FF

McCade O’Reilly (LB): 64 Total Tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 3 Sacks, 3 PBUs, 6 QBHs, 1 FF

Key Players: South Dakota

Aidan Bouman (QB): 194-for-283 (68.5%), 2,723 Passing Yards, 19 Passing TDs, 4 INTs

Charles Pierre Jr. (RB): 163 Carries, 1,187 Rushing Yards, 7.3 YPC, 15 Rushing TDs

Travis Theis (RB): 173 Carries, 1,062 Rushing Yards, 6.1 YPC, 18 Rushing TDs, 305 Receiving Yards

Mi’Quise Grace (DL): 59 Total Tackles, 18 TFLs, 9.5 Sacks, 9 QBHs, 2 FFs, 2 FRs

Gary Bryant III (LB): 101 Total Tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 INTs, 3 PBUs, 1 FF

After exceeding expectations all season, South Dakota has a chance to shake up the national title race with an upset over Montana State, who enters the game as the only undefeated FCS program in the nation. The Coyotes are looking to make their first national title appearance at the FCS level, while the Bobcats have not won the title since 1984.

Everything starts with South Dakota’s ability to limit explosive plays from a dangerous Montana State offense. The Bobcats lead the nation in total offense and yards per play, averaging almost 500 yards per game this season. South Dakota has done an excellent job against the run, ranking No. 10 nationally in rushing defense. However, the Coyotes have not seen a rushing attack this talented. The Bobcats average over 300 yards per game, led by Scottre Humphrey with 1,325 yards and Adam Jones with 1,068 yards.

The Coyotes have held their first two postseason opponents under 100 rushing yards. Mi’Quise Grace and Nick Gaes can create havoc off the edge, combining for 29 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks. Montana State’s offensive line has been dominant this season, featuring three players that earned All-American honors. The Bobcats allow a negative play on only 4.2% of all offensive snaps and have the lowest pressure rate in the postseason. The Coyotes will have to create some chaos at the line of scrimmage, which no other team has been able to do this season against the Bobcats.

Montana State’s offense may start with the rushing attack, but quarterback Tommy Mellott remains the biggest x-factor this weekend. He’s having the best season of his career, completing over 70% of his passes for 2,430 passing yards, 790 rushing yards, and 40 total touchdowns. South Dakota’s linebackers are extremely athletic and must contain Mellott in this game. Linebackers Gary Bryant III and Nate Ewell have combined for 175 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and one sack.

South Dakota will also lean on an explosive rushing attack, which ranks third nationally in yards per carry. Charles Pierre Jr. and Travis Theis have combined for over 2,220 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns. Montana State has held its past five opponents under 150 rushing yards, which should make this an interesting matchup in Saturday’s game. South Dakota’s offensive line is one of the best in the nation and has the size to challenge Montana State’s front seven.

Montana State has had a championship-level offense for multiple seasons, but the defense has failed to meet those expectations until this season. The Bobcats rank No. 10 nationally in total defense, holding opponents to 293.9 yards per game. This unit does an excellent job of generating pressure and creating negative plays. Brody Grebe and Kenneth Eiden IV are dangerous off the edge, combining for 17.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. This will be the ultimate test for the Bobcats as South Dakota’s offense presents a unique challenge.

Despite not losing an FCS game in regulation, South Dakota has continued to be doubted all season. The Coyotes have the talent to pull off the upset in Bozeman, but I have yet to see any major flaws in this Montana State team. The Bobcats have too many weapons and are led by arguably the most dynamic player in the nation. All this will be too much for the Coyotes to overcome as Montana State advances to Frisco.

Prediction: Montana State (31-21)

Behind The Numbers: 2024 FCS Playoffs Semifinals Preview
2025 FBS-To-FCS Football Transfer Tracker
2025 FCS-To-FCS Football Transfer Tracker
2025 FCS-To-FBS Football Transfer Tracker
2024 FCS Playoffs: Official Bracket, Schedule, Scores

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