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 top-seeded North Dakota 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 NDSU’s side of the bracket. There are also four second-round games on Montana 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 NDSU’s side of the bracket?
— Opta FCS Football (@OptaAnalystFCS) December 1, 2025No. 12 Seed Villanova (10-2) at No. 5 Seed Lehigh (12-0)
Kickoff – Noon (ESPN+) at Goodman Stadium in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Series – Villanova leads 14-5 (last meeting: Villanova won 38-10 win at Lehigh on Sept. 2, 2023)
Wins in 2025 FCS Playoffs – Villanova: Harvard (52-7); Lehigh: First game
Coaches – Villanova: Mark Ferrante (67-35, ninth season); Lehigh: Kevin Cahill (23-13, third season)
3 Players to Watch – Villanova: QB Pat McQuaide (2,536 pass yards, 22 TDs, 2 INTs), DT Obinna Nwobodo (24 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 fumble recoveries), LB Shane Hartzell (81 tackles, 14.0 TFL, 7.0 sacks); Lehigh: RB Luke Yoder (1,329 rush yards, 7.1 ypc, 15 TDs), LB Brycen Edwards (83 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 5.5 sacks), LB Tyler Ochojski (56 tackles, 12.0 TFL, 10 sacks)
Notable – Villanova’s five turnovers (three fumbles, two interceptions) are the fewest in the FCS. … The Wildcats are the only FCS team to have three players with 600+ rushing yards (Ja’briel Mace, 688; David Avit, 683; and Isaiah Ragland, 653). The backs work behind two All-CAA first-team offensive linemen, Temi Ajirotutu and Stephane Voltaire. … Hartzell’s 370 career tackles are the third most among FCS players who were active in the 2025 season (No. 1 among playoff teams). … Lehigh is allowing just 13.9 points per game, which ranks second in the FCS to North Dakota State, the only other unbeaten team. Additionally, the Patriot League champion is No. 1 against the run, allowing 73.7 yards per game. … QB Hayden Johnson is 15-1 as a starter, losing only in a 2024 national quarterfinal at Idaho. … Villanova will depart the CAA and join Lehigh as a PL member next year.
Up Next – The winner will play either North Dakota (8-5) or No. 4 seed Tarleton State (11-1) in a national quarterfinal on Dec. 12 or 13.
Prediction – Villanova 27, Lehigh 24
Illinois State (9-4) at No. 1 Seed North Dakota State (12-0)
Kickoff – 1 p.m. (ESPN+) at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota
Series – North Dakota State leads 16-2 (last meeting: NDSU won 33-16 at Illinois State on Oct. 4)
Wins in 2025 FCS Playoffs – Illinois State: at Southeastern Louisiana (21-6); North Dakota State: First game
Coaches – Illinois State: Brock Spack (119-78, 17th season); North Dakota State: Tim Polasek (26-2, second season)
3 Players to Watch – Illinois State: QB Tommy Rittenhouse (2,491 pass yards, 28 TDs, 5 INTs; 8 TDs scored), WR Daniel Sobkowicz (57 receptions, 775 yards, 11 TDs), LB Tye Niekamp (139 tackles, 13 TFL, 2 takeaways); North Dakota State: QB Cole Payton (2,618 yards, 74.1 completion%, 15 TDs; 791 rush yards, 13 TDs), WR Bryce Lance (50 receptions, 1,001 yards, 7 TDs), LB Donovan Woolen (76 tackles, 2 INTs, 8 pass breakups)
Notable – NDSU has a 38-1 record inside the Fargodome in FCS playoff games dating to its first appearance in 2010. …The Bison’s regular-season win over Illinois State was their 14th straight between the two MVFC programs. Payton rushed for a TD and two two-point conversions, with a TD pass. … NDSU has utilized the pass more under Polasek than with previous coaches, but its 225.4 rushing yards per game are up 32 on average over their 2024 national title season. Barika Kpeenu leads the team with 950 rushing yards as well as 20 overall TDs. … Illinois State intercepted four passes in the SLU win, giving the Redbirds 17 this season to rank third in the FCS. … The Redbirds spread out the touches, with RBs Victor Dawson and Wenkers Wright and Sobkowicz averaging between 69 and 71 all-purpose yards per game. … The Redbirds have been outscored 67-7 in the fourth quarter of losses, including 15-0 by NDSU.
Up Next – The winner will play either No. 9 seed Rhode Island (11-2) or No. 8 seed UC Davis (8-3) in a national quarterfinal on Dec. 12 or 13.
Prediction – North Dakota State 37, Illinois State 21
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1 week ago Craig HaleyNorth Dakota (8-5) at No. 4 Seed Tarleton State (11-1)
Kickoff – 1 p.m. (ESPN+) at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas
Series – First meeting
Wins in 2025 FCS Playoffs – North Dakota: at Tennessee Tech (31-6); Tarleton State: First game
Coaches – North Dakota: Eric Schmidt (8-5, first season); Tarleton State: Todd Whitten (125-58, 16th season over two stints; 150-86 overall)
3 Players to Watch – North Dakota: Jerry Kaminski (2,458 pass yards, 26 TDs, 10 INTs; 544 rush yards, 8 TDs), RB/KOR Sawyer Seidl (879 rush yards, 16 total TDs), LB Malachi McNeal (84 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2 takeaways); Tarleton State: QB Victor Gabalis (2,395 pass yards, 25 TDs, 4 INTs), LB AJ Owens (81 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 3 pass breakups), LB Yasir Holmes (45 tackles, 13.0 TFL, 8.0 sacks)
Notable – UND’s six forced turnovers in the TTU playoff win tied for the high of its Division I era (since 2008). Linebacker Lance Rucker had three strip sacks. … Kaminski has been in concussion protocol after being knocked out of the MVFC squad’s first-round win. He was replaced by 2024 starter Simon Romfo. … The Fighting Hawks have kept seven opponents under 100 rushing yards and to 99.5 on average (No. 6 ranking in the FCS). … Tarleton State has a winning record in each of its six D-I seasons, with this year’s 11 marking the high since having 11 in its final D-II season of 2019. … Running back injuries have impacted the United Athletic Conference co-champion, but Tylan Hines returned from an opening-game injury to total 31 carries, 295 yards and three TDs in their final two regular-season games. … The Texans are the only FCS team to have three players with 650+ receiving yards (Peyton Kramer, 837; Cody Jackson, 755; and Trevon West, 693).
Up Next – The winner will play either No. 12 seed Villanova (10-2) or No. 5 seed Lehigh (12-0) in a national quarterfinal on Dec. 12 or 13.
Prediction – Tarleton State 33, North Dakota 24
No. 9 Seed Rhode Island (11-2) at No. 8 Seed UC Davis (8-3)
Kickoff – 10 p.m. (ESPN2) at UC Davis Health Stadium in Davis, California
Series – First meeting
Wins in 2025 FCS Playoffs – Rhode Island: Central Connecticut State (27-19); UC Davis: First game
Coaches – URI: Jim Fleming (59-72, 12th season; 80-73 overall); UC Davis: Tim Plough (19-6, second season)
3 Players to Watch – Rhode Island: QB Devin Farrell (3,452 pass yards, 22 TDs, 8 INTs), WR Marquis Buchanan (73 receptions, 1,224 yards, 7 TDs), LB A.J. Pena (67 tackles, 19.0 TFL, 10.0 sacks), UC Davis: QB Caden Pinnick (2,527 pass yards, 70.5 completion%, 24 TDs; 312 rush yards, 3 TDs), WR Sam Gbatu Jr. (60 receptions, 949 yards, 10 TDs), DE Jacob Psyk (46 tackles, 15.0 TFL, 9.0 sacks, 3 forced fumbles)
Notable – Just shy of 3,000 miles from one stadium to the other, CAA champion URI will be making the longest trip of the 2025 FCS playoffs. … Buchanan is five receiving yards shy of being URI’s third player with 3,000 in a career. He has 18 career TD catches, but with more than one in a game only once. … Transfer Garth White hadn’t appeared in a college game since 2021, but the URI senior is 7 of 9 on field goal attempts of at least 40 yards, making 54- and 52-yarders. … UCD RB Jordan Fisher is averaging 106.0 scrimmage yards on carries and catches, and he’s scored eight TDs. … The Aggies are converting a healthy 42.5% of third-down attempts, but also allowing a 44.0% rate. … The Big Sky squad’s top two returning tacklers were lost to injuries this season, but the UCD defense has balance, with DB Khalani Riddick first with 63 stops and LB Nate Rutchena and DB Jayden Stanley right behind with 62 each.
Up Next – The winner will play either Illinois State (9-4) or No. 1 seed North Dakota State (12-0) in a national quarterfinal on Dec. 12 or 13.
Prediction – UC Davis 27, Rhode Island 21
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FCS Playoffs: Second-Round Preview & Predictions (NDSU Side of Bracket) Opta Analyst.
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