Here’s how to watch the 2024 FCS semifinal game between South Dakota and Montana State:

Here are some of the key storylines and players to watch in this year’s FCS semifinal game between South Dakota and Montana State.

Storylines

• How they got here
  • South Dakota ended the regular season with a lot of momentum after defeating North Dakota State in a top-five matchup. When the postseason began, the Coyotes swept Tarleton State with an explosive second-round win before defeating UC Davis without ever falling behind in the quarterfinals.
  • Montana State dominated competition all season as the only undefeated team in the FCS. The Bobcats haven’t played a close game in the playoffs, having averaged 50.5 points and a 32.5 win margin in two games.
• Past encounters
  • Montana State and South Dakota have met only once in the history of the two programs. The Bobcats won their only matchup in 2008, 37-18.
• Coaching
  • Two coaches of the year will meet in the semifinals. Big Sky Coach of the Year Brent Vigen meets MVFC Coach of the Year Bob Nielson. Vigen also received the Eddie Robinson Award as FCS Coach of the Year.
• What is at stake
  • South Dakota is breaking new ground with its first semifinal appearance. This is only the fourth FCS playoff season in Coyote history. Meanwhile, Montana State is still in the hunt for the 1984 FCS championship. The Bobcats have returned to the title game just once since (2021), the first year of the Brent Vigen-Tommy Mellott era.

Players to keep an eye on

Here are some South Dakota players to keep an eye on

• MVFC Offensive Player of the Year: DL Mi’Quise Grace

South Dakota All-MVFC player

• 1st team | RB Charles Pierre Jr.
• 1st team | FB Travis Theis
• 1st team | OL Joey Lombard
• 1st team | TE JJ Galbreath
• 1st team | DL Nick Gaes
• 1st team | DL Mi’Quise Grace
• 1st team | DB Dennis Shorter
• 2nd team | OL Joe Cotton
• 2nd team | OL Bryce Henderson
• 2nd team | DL Blake Holden
• 2nd team | LB Gary Bryant III
• 2nd team | DB Mike Reid

Here are some Montana State players to keep an eye on

• Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year: QB Tommy Mellott
• Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year: DL Brody Grebe
• Big Sky Freshman of the Year: RB Adam Jones

Montana State All-Big Sky player

• 1st team | QB Tommy Mellott
• 1st team | RB Scottre Humphrey
• 1st team | FB Rohan Jones
• 1st team | OL Marcus Wehr (unanimous)
• 1st team | OL Conner Moore
• 1st team | DL Brody Grebe (unanimous)
• 1st team | LB McCade O’Reilly
• 1st team | DB Rylan Ortt
• 1st team | PR Taco Dowler
• 2nd team | OL Titan Fleischmann
• 2nd team | OL Cole Sain
• 2nd team | DL Paul Brott
• 2nd team | LB Danny Uluilakep
• 2nd team | DB Andrew Powdrell
• 2nd team | P Brendan Hall

South Dakota was ranked No. 3 and Montana State was No. 1 FCS Coaches Poll and the Coyotes finished No. 4 and the Bobcats No. 1 in the STATISTICS Conduct a survey to end the regular season. Here’s a look at how the programs are performing based on this season’s results.