FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 19, 2023) — The Big Sky Conference earned four FCS playoff berths on Sunday, as Montana, Idaho and Montana State were awarded national seeds, while Sacramento State received an at-large bid. The 24-team field was announced Sunday live on ESPNU.
FCS Playoff Bracket |
Ticket Info
Led by Montana's No. 2 overall seed, the Big Sky Conference topped all other leagues with three national seeds as Idaho secured the No. 4 seed and Montana State earned the No. 6 slot. The Missouri Valley Football Conference (2), CAA (2) and SoCon (1) earned the remaining five seeds up for grabs by other conferences on Sunday.
The No. 2 seed for Montana also marks just the fourth time since the playoff field expanded to 24 teams that the Big Sky has had the second overall spot. Sacramento State (2022), Weber State (2018) and Eastern Washington (2016) are the other three Big Sky schools to earn a No. 2 seed since 2013.
#2 Montana (10-1, 7-1 BSC)
2nd Round | vs. Lafayette/Delaware (Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. MT on ESPN+)
Montana is coming off a dominating 37-7 win over Montana State, as the Griz secured their first Big Sky title since 2009. The Griz will receive a first-round bye before welcoming the winner of Lafayette-Delaware on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. MT on ESPN+. Montana has never faced Lafayette and has not played Delaware since the first round of the 1993 playoffs.
#4 Idaho (8-3, 6-2 BSC)
2nd Round | vs. Nicholls/Southern Illinois (Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. MT on ESPN+)
Idaho finished the year with an impressive 63-21 win over Idaho State, which helped secure the first back-to-back playoff appearance for the Vandals since 1994-1995 and the No. 4 national seed. The Vandals will receive a first-round bye before hosting the winner of Nicholls-Southern Illinois on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. MT on ESPN+. The home game will mark the first time the Vandals have hosted a playoff game since its 1993 contest against Boston.
#6 Montana State (8-3, 6-2 BSC)
2nd Round | vs. Drake/NDSU (Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. MT on ESPN+)
Montana State finished the year 8-3 overall and 6-2 in league action, as the Bobcats locked in the No. 6 national seed. The Bobcats will receive a first-round bye and host the winner of Drake-North Dakota State on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. MT on ESPN+.
Sacramento State (7-4, 4-4 BSC)
1st Round | at North Dakota (Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. MT on ESPN+)
Sacramento State finished the season 7-4 overall and 4-4 in conference play, as the Hornets earned their fourth-straight postseason appearance overall. Sacramento State will play at North Dakota in the opening round of the playoffs this Saturday, Nov. 25, with kickoff slated for 11 a.m. MT on ESPN+.
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