2024 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game

Last updated

2024 NCAA Division I Football Championship
FCS National Championship Game
2024 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game logo.png
1234Total
Montana03003
South Dakota State7016023
DateJanuary 7, 2024
Season 2023
Stadium Toyota Stadium
Location Frisco, Texas
MVP Mark Gronowski (QB, South Dakota State) [1]
Favorite South Dakota State by 12.5 [2]
Referee Gary Leeper
Attendance19,512
United States TV coverage
Network ABC, ESPN+
International TV coverage
Network Canada: TSN+
NCAA Division I Football Championship
 < 2023 2025 > 

The 2024 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a college football game played on January 7, 2024, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The game determined the national champion of NCAA Division I FCS for the 2023 season. The game featured the two finalists of the 24-team playoff bracket, which began on November 25, 2023. [3] The game began at approximately 1:00 p.m. CST and was broadcast on ABC and ESPN+. [4]

Contents

Defending champion South Dakota State repeated as FCS champions by defeating Montana, 23–3. [5] It was the Jackrabbits' 29th consecutive victory. [5]

Teams

South Dakota State

South Dakota State played to a 11–0 regular-season record; their narrowest victory was a 20–16 win over Montana State on September 9. Seeded No. 1 in the FCS playoffs, the Jackrabbits received a first-round bye, then defeated Mercer, Villanova, and Albany, by a combined score of 123–12, to advance to the championship game. [6]

South Dakota State previously appeared in two FCS championship games—they were champions of the 2022 season (2023 game) and runners-up of the 2020 season (2021 game).

Montana

Montana played to a 10–1 regular-season record; their only loss was to Northern Arizona in September. Seeded No. 2 in the FCS playoffs, the Grizzlies received a first-round bye, then defeated Delaware, Furman, and North Dakota State to advance to the championship game. Their latter two wins both went into overtime. [7]

Montana previously appeared in seven FCS championship games, winning two and losing five; their most recent appearance was in 2009 (December), and they last won in 2001.

Game summary

2024 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game
Quarter1234Total
No. 2 Montana03003
No. 1 South Dakota State7016023

at Toyota StadiumFrisco, Texas

  • Date: January 7, 2024
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 57 °F (14 °C) • Wind: 16 mph (26 km/h) SE
  • Game attendance: 19,512
  • Referee: Gary Leeper
  • TV: ABC, ESPN+
  • Box score

Statistics

Team statistical comparison
Statistic     Montana     South Dakota State
First downs1717
First downs rushing68
First downs passing108
First downs penalty11
Third down efficiency4/164/11
Fourth down efficiency2/50/0
Total plays–net yards76–25955–363
Rushing attempts–net yards30–4734–188
Yards per rush1.65.5
Yards passing212175
Pass completions–attempts
(percent)
28–46
(61%)
13–21
(62%)
Interceptions thrown11
Punt returns–total yards1–61–0
Kickoff returns–total yards5–1141–23
Punts–average yardage6–40.76–38.7
Fumbles–lost21
Penalties–yards6–346–35
Time of possession29:5030:10

Source: [8] [9]

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References

  1. @DomIzzoWDAY (January 7, 2024). "#NDSU AD Matt Larsen presents Mark Gronowski with his FCS Most Outstanding Performance trophy" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2024 via Twitter.
  2. McKinnell, Zach (January 5, 2024). "2024 FCS National Championship Preview & Prediction: South Dakota State vs. Montana". Sports Illustrated FCS Football News, Analysis and More. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  3. "Road to the Championship". ncaa.com. National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  4. "ABC to Broadcast 2024 FCS Championship Game from Frisco". bigskyconf.com. September 5, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "South Dakota State repeats as FCS champs with 29th consecutive win, 23-3 over Montana". apnews.com. AP. January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  6. "Gronowski, South Dakota State return to FCS title game after 59-0 rout of Albany in semifinals". MSN.com. AP. December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  7. "Frisco bound! Montana races into FCS title game with wild double-OT victory over North Dakota State". montanasports.com. December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  8. "South Dakota State 23-3 Montana | Game Stats". ESPN.com. January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  9. "MON 3, SDS 23 - FINAL". statbroadcast.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.