The action moves quickly on the Road to Nashville – come Saturday night, only one-third of the original 24-team FCS playoffs will remain alive. Here are capsule previews of second-round games on No. 2-seeded Montana State’s side of the bracket.
The 2025 FCS playoffs don’t necessarily have to be the same old, same old.
In fact, the three road (upset) winners in the first round last Saturday matched the high for any round during the 12 seasons of the 24-team bracket era.
Of course, the last four national championship matchups have been comprised only by a mix of North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Montana State and Montana – and NDSU, Montana State and Montana are the top three seeds, respectively – but the second round appears ripe for more road teams to brush off some chalk.
Following are preview capsules of second-round games on Montana State’s side of the FCS playoffs bracket. There are also four games on North Dakota State’s side of the bracket. (All times are ET Saturday)
#FCSPlayoffs Road teams had more wins in Saturday’s first round (three) than in the second round of the last four postseasons combined (two).Which second-round road team will most likely go against the trend and post a win on Montana State's side of the bracket?
— Opta FCS Football (@OptaAnalystFCS) December 1, 2025No. 11 Seed South Dakota (9-4) at No. 6 Seed Mercer (9-2)
Kickoff – Noon (ESPN+) at Five Star Stadium in Macon, Georgia
Series – First meeting
Wins in 2025 FCS Playoffs – South Dakota: Drake (38-17); Mercer: First game
Coaches – South Dakota: Travis Johansen (9-4, first season); Mercer: Mike Jacobs (20-5, second season; 94-22 overall)
3 Players to Watch – South Dakota: QB Aidan Bouman (2,404 pass yards, 22 TDs), RB L.J. Phillips Jr. (1,688 rush yards, 18 TDs; 27 receptions), LB Nate Ewell (88 tackles, 2.5 TFL); Mercer: Braden Atkinson (3,448 pass yards, 34 TDs, 7 INTs), RB CJ Miller (852 rush yards, 14 TDs), DE Andrew Zock (20.0 TFL, 11.5 sacks, 22 QB hurries)
Notable – USD committed eight turnovers in a 2-3 start. It has just one while going 7-1 in its last eight games. … Bouman has made 44 consecutive starts behind center, with 31 wins. He’s second in USD history in passing yards (8,806) and touchdown passes (64). … Wide receiver Larenzo Fenner has caught three TDs in each of USD’s last two games, and at least one in four consecutive games. … The Coyotes from the MVFC epitomize a balanced offense with 2,407 rushing yards and 2,407 passing yards. … Mercer’s Atkinson leads FCS freshmen in passing yards, TD passes, yards per attempt (9.41), pass efficiency rating (173.7) and wins as a starter (nine) this season. … Incredibly, the Southern Conference champion has gained the most sacks (42) in the FCS and allowed the second fewest (four). … The Bears 28-5 at home during the 2020s.
Up Next – The winner will play either No. 14 seed South Dakota State (9-4) or No. 3 seed Montana (11-1) in a national quarterfinal on Dec. 12 or 13.
Prediction – Mercer 28, South Dakota 27
No. 10 Seed Abilene Christian (9-4) at No. 7 Seed Stephen F. Austin (10-2)
Kickoff – 1 p.m. (ESPN+) at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, Texas
Series – Tied 13-13 (last meeting: ACU won 28-20 at home on Sept. 6)
Wins in 2025 FCS Playoffs – Abilene Christian: Lamar (38-20); Stephen F. Austin: First game
Coaches – Abilene Christian: Keith Patterson (30-19, fourth season; 30-20 overall); Stephen F. Austin: Colby Carthel (43-37, seventh season; 102-55 overall)
3 Players to Watch – Abilene Christian: QB Stone Earle (3,079 yards, 22 TDs, 10 INTs; 11 rush TDs), WR Javon Gipson (58 receptions, 950 yards, 6 TDs), LB Will Shaffer (106 tackles, 6.0 TFL); Stephen F. Austin: QB Sam Vidlak (2,090 pass yards, 18 TDs), RB Jerrell Wimbley (888 rush yards, 7 TDs), LB Jaydon Southard (110 tackles, 10.5 TFL2 takeaways)
Notable – In ACU’s regular-season home win over SFA, the Wildcats forced three turnovers and Jordon Vaughn rushed for two touchdowns. SFA, however, has won eight of the previous 13 matchups in Nacogdoches. … Boosted by a plus-9 turnover margin, ACU’s average time of possession (32:05) ranks 13th out of 129 FCS teams. … The United Athletic Conference’s automatic qualifier has two linebackers over 100 tackles in Shaffer and Rashon Myles Jr. (105 with six takeaways). … SFA, the Southland champion, ranks second nationally in fewest rushing yards (77.5) and total yards (253.2) allowed per game, and they’re third in fewest points allowed per game (15.3). … Vidlak has passed for 45 TDs to just 10 INTs over the last two seasons. … Kylon Harris has 60+ receptions in three straight seasons. … Bugs Mortimer scored one of his FCS-high four punt return TDs in the Abilene Christian game (52 yards).
Up Next – The winner will play either Yale (9-2) or No. 2 seed Montana State (10-2) in a national quarterfinal on Dec. 12 or 13.
Prediction – Abilene Christian 28, Stephen F. Austin 24
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1 week ago Craig HaleyYale (9-2) at No. 2 Seed Montana State (10-2)
Kickoff – 2 p.m. (ESPN+) at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Montana
Series – First meeting
Wins in 2025 FCS Playoffs – Yale: at Youngstown State (43-42); Montana State: No game
Coaches – Yale: Tony Reno (83-48, 13th season); Montana State: Brent Vigen (57-12, fifth season)
3 Players to Watch – Yale: QB Dante Reno (2,300 yards, 20 TDs, 8 INTs), RB Josh Pitsenberger (287 carries, 1,447 yards, 18 TDs), S Abu Kamara (70 tackles, 2 INTs, 4 fumble recoveries); Montana State: QB Justin Lamson (2,345 pass yards, 20 TDs, 2 INTs; 589 rush yards, 11 TDs), DE Kenneth Eiden IV (39 tackles, 10.0 TFL, 5.5 sacks), S Caden Dowler (78 tackles, 4 INTs, 2 forced fumbles)
Notable – In its first-ever playoff appearance, Yale scored the final 29 points of a 43-42 win at Youngstown State. … Pitsenberger had a career-high 209 rushing yards in the Ivy League squad’s comeback win, giving him 100+ rushing yards in nine of the 11 games this season. … The Bulldogs also had two 100-yard receivers (Lucius Anderson, 138, and Jaxton Santiago, 104) despite leading receiver Nico Brown (60 receptions, 978 yards, 10 TDs) missing the game. … The Bulldogs’ 78.0 penalty yards per game are the most among the 16 remaining playoff teams. … MSU has won 41 of its last 43 home games. The Bobcats, national runners-up in both 2021 and ’24, have the third-most FCS wins (57) during Vigen’s five seasons behind North Dakota State (63) and South Dakota State (61). … The Big Sky champion averages 233.5 rushing yards per game (No. 5 in FCS), led by RBs Julius Davis (73.8 per game) and Adam Jones (57.9) and Lamson (49.1). … Taco Dowler has four punt return TDs in his career.
Up Next – The winner will play either No. 10 seed Abilene Christian (9-4) or No. 7 seed Stephen F. Austin (10-2) in a national quarterfinal on Dec. 12 or 13.
Prediction – Montana State 38, Yale 17
No. 14 Seed South Dakota State (9-4) at No. 3 Seed Montana (11-1)
Kickoff – 2 p.m. (ESPN+) at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula, Montana
Series – Montana leads 8-2 (last meeting: South Dakota State won 35-18 in 2024 playoff second round)
Wins in 2025 FCS Playoffs – South Dakota State: New Hampshire (41-3); Montana: First game
Coaches – South Dakota State: Dan Jackson (9-4, first season); Montana: Bobby Hauck (149-42, 15th season; 164-91 overall)
3 Players to Watch – South Dakota State: QB Chase Mason (1,649 pass yards, 14 TDs, 2 INTs; 4 rush TDs), RB Julius Loughridge (1,016 rush yards, 7 TDs), LB Joe Ollman (86 tackles, 3, forced fumbles, 2 takeaways); Montana: QB Kealli’I Ah Yat (3,154 pass yards, 25 TDs, 8 INTs), RB Eli Gillman (1,261 rush yards, 17 TDs; 26 receptions, 2 TDs), WR/KOR Michael Wortham (58 receptions, 825 yards, 13 total TDs)
Notable – Marking a playoff meeting for the third straight season, SDSU defeated UM 23-3 in the 2023 FCS championship game in addition to last year’s second round. The Jackrabbits from the MVFC have reached at least the national semifinals in seven of the last eight seasons. … Mason played for the first time since Oct. 18 in SDSU’s win over New Hampshire, going 16 for 20 with 230 yards, three TDs and an interception. … Loughridge’s 4,138 career rushing yards (three seasons at Fordham) are the most among FCS players who were active in 2025. … Big Sky power Montana is making its 29th playoff appearance, the FCS all-time high. In a 2009 playoff meeting against SDSU, the Grizzlies overcame a 27-point, third-quarter deficit by scoring the final 40 points of a 61-48 win. … UM’s 40.8-point average ranks fourth in the FCS. … On a defense that replaced every 2024 starter, UM has seven players between 45 and 65 tackles (LB Elijawah Tolbert is No. 1). … Hauck seeks his 150th victory with the Griz.
Up Next – The winner will play either No. 11 seed South Dakota (9-4) or No. 6 seed Mercer (9-2) in a national quarterfinal on Dec. 12 or 13.
Prediction – South Dakota State 27, Montana 23
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FCS Playoffs: Second-Round Preview & Predictions (Montana State Side of Bracket) Opta Analyst.
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