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 begin 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
Period1234Total
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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division I Football Championship</span> Annual post-season college football game

The NCAA Division I Football Championship is an annual post-season college football game, played since 2006, used to determine a national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). From 1978 to 2005, the game was known as the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Dakota State Bison football</span> College Football team of North Dakota State University

The North Dakota State Bison football program represents North Dakota State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level and competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Bison play in the 19,000-seat Fargodome located in Fargo. The Bison have won 17 national championships and 37 conference championships. They have won nine NCAA Division I AA FCS National Championships between 2011 and 2021. The Bison hold the record for most overall NCAA national championships and the record for the most consecutive championships with five titles between 2011 and 2015 for Division I FCS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Dakota State Jackrabbits football</span> College football team of South Dakota State University

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represents South Dakota State University in college football. The program competes at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The Jackrabbits play their home games at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium on South Dakota State's campus in Brookings, South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Madison Dukes football</span> Virginian college American football team

The James Madison Dukes football program represents James Madison University in the sport of American football. The Dukes compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of the Sun Belt Conference (SBC), beginning play within the conference for the 2022 season. The university first fielded a football team in 1972, and the Dukes play at the on-campus Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Dukes are currently coached by Bob Chesney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team</span> American college football season

The 2014 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2014 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 18th-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 9–5 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing fourth in the MVFC. South Dakota State received an at–large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Jackrabbits defeated Montana State in the first round before falling to fellow MVFC member and eventual national champion, North Dakota State, in the second round. The team played home games at Coughlin–Alumni Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team</span> American college football season

The 2017 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by 21st-year head coach John Stiegelmeier, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 11–3 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the MVFC. South Dakota State received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where, after a first-round bye, the Jackrabbits defeated Northern Iowa in the second round and New Hampshire in the quarterfinals before losing to James Madison in the semifinals. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game</span> Postseason college football game

The 2019 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game that determined a national champion in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision for the 2018 season. It was played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on January 5, 2019, with kickoff at 12:00 noon EST, and was the culminating game of the 2018 FCS Playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game</span> Postseason college football game

The 2018 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game that determined a national champion in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision for the 2017 season. It was played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on January 6, 2018, with kickoff at 12:00 noon EST, and was the culminating game of the 2017 FCS Playoffs. With sponsorship from Northwestern Mutual, the game was officially known as the NCAA FCS Football Championship Presented by Northwestern Mutual.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game</span> Postseason college football game

The 2017 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game that determined a national champion in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision for the 2016 season. It was played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on January 7, 2017, with kickoff at 12:00 noon EST, and was the culminating game of the 2016 FCS Playoffs. With sponsorship from Northwestern Mutual, the game was officially known as the NCAA FCS Football Championship Presented by Northwestern Mutual.

The 2016 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game that determined a national champion in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision for the 2015 season. It was played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on January 9, 2016, with kickoff at 12:00 noon EST, and was the culminating game of the 2015 FCS Playoffs. With sponsorship from Northwestern Mutual, the game was officially known as the NCAA FCS Football Championship Presented by Northwestern Mutual.

The 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game that determined a national champion in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision for the 2014 season. It was played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on January 10, 2015, with kickoff at 1:00 p.m. EST, and was the culminating game of the 2014 FCS Playoffs. With sponsorship by Northwestern Mutual, the game was officially known as the NCAA FCS Championship presented by Northwestern Mutual.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game</span> Postseason college football game

The 2020 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game that determined a national champion in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision for the 2019 season. It was played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on January 11, 2020, with kickoff at 12:00 p.m. EST, and television coverage on ABC. It was the culminating game of the 2019 FCS Playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Bearkats were led by seventh-year head coach K. C. Keeler and played their home games at Bowers Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game</span> Postseason college football game

The 2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game played to determine a national champion in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision for the 2020–21 season. It was played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on May 16, 2021. It was the culminating game of the 2020–21 FCS Playoffs. The Sam Houston State Bearkats defeated the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, 23–21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game</span> Postseason college football game

The 2022 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game played to determine a national champion in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) for the 2021 FCS season. It was contested at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on January 8, 2022, with kickoff at 12:00 p.m. EST and televised on ESPN2. It was the culminating game of the 2021 FCS Playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led John Stiegelmeier in his 26th and final season as head coach, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 14–1 with a mark of 8–0 in conference play, winning the MVFC title. South Dakota State received the MVFC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where after a first-round bye, the Jackrabbits defeated Delaware in the second round, Holy Cross in the quarterfinals, Montana State in the semifinals, and fellow MVFC member North Dakota State in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game to win program's first national title. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Gronowski</span> American football quarterback

Mark Gronowski is an American football quarterback for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game</span> Postseason college football game

The 2023 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a college football game played on January 8, 2023, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The game determined the national champion of NCAA Division I FCS for the 2022 season, featuring the finalists of the 24-team playoff bracket, which began on November 26, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team</span> American college football season

The 2023 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team represented the South Dakota State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Jimmy Rogers, the Jackrabbits compiled an overall record of 15–0 with a mark of 8–0 in conference play, winning the MVFC title for the second straight season. South Dakota State received the MVFC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where after a first-round bye, the Jackrabbits defeated Mercer in the second round, Villanova in the quarterfinals, Albany in the semifinals, and Montana in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game to win program's second consecutive national title. South Dakota State outscored opponents 146-15 in the four playoff games, completed a wire-to-wire season as the No. 1 ranked team in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and extended the team's winning streak to 29 games. The team played home games on campus at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota.

The 2023 Missouri Valley Football Conference football season was the 38th season of college football play for the Missouri Valley Football Conference and part of the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. This was the MVFC's first season with 12 teams, as the conference added Murray State over the offseason. It was also the last season with 12 teams for now, as it was announced in May 2023 that Western Illinois would be leaving the MVFC after the 2023 season for the Ohio Valley Conference.

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.