2018 FCS Playoffs Bracket & Commentary

This is the 2018 FCS playoffs bracket. Who will win the 2018 FCS national championship?

The North Dakota State Bison hope for a return to the promised land after taking the title in 2017. That, of course, extended a North Dakota State dynasty that has resulted in six championships in the last seven seasons. Will that reign of dominance continue for the Bison?

Let’s put it this way: many will be surprised if it does not.

2018 FCS Playoffs Bracket: Key Dates

November 24: FCS playoffs begin.

December 1: Second round begins.

December 15: Celebration Bowl between SWAC champion and MEAC champion.

January 5, 2019: FCS national championship game.

2018 FCS Playoffs Bracket: National Championship Bracket

Semifinal Round Scores

Maine 19 at Eastern Washington 50

South Dakota State 21 at North Dakota State 44

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: North Dakota State is playing for an FCS championship. No wonder Chris Klieman is getting another job. (Link: Wichita Eagle)

NDSU has won six out of the last seven championships, hoping now to make it seven out of eight. It is a dynasty in every conceivable sense of the word. Eastern Washington’s last, and only, championship was in 2010, and they beat North Dakota State to get there.

2018 FCS Playoffs Bracket: National Semifinals Bracket

Quarterfinal Round Scores

Maine 23 at Weber State 18

Colgate 0 at North Dakota State 35

South Dakota State 27 at Kennesaw State 17

UC-Davis 29 at Eastern Washington 34

Is North Dakota State Still The Team To Beat?

Of course they are. The Bison have played two games and annihilated the competition in both, winning by 42 and 35 points, respectively. Here’s the thing: they probably did not want to see South Dakota State come out of that KSU game intact. The Jackrabbits were in essence the only team this season to give them a run for their proverbial money. Their September meeting was a 21-17 win, and this one could be just as close.

2018 FCS Playoffs Bracket: Third Round/Quarterfinal Bracket

Second Round Scores

Jacksonville State 27 at Maine 55

James Madison 20 at Colgate 23

Wofford 10 at at Kennesaw State 13

Montana State 10 at North Dakota State 52

Duquesne 6 at South Dakota State 51

Southeast Missouri State 23 at Weber State 48

Nicholls State 21 at Eastern Washington 42

Northern Iowa 16 at UC-Davis 23

First Round Scores

Duquesne 31 at Towson 10

Elon 7 at Wofford 19

Stony Brook 14 at Southeast Missouri State 28

Incarnate Word 14 at Montana State 35

Delaware 6 at James Madison 20

San Diego 30 at Nicholls State 49

Lamar 13 at Northern Iowa 16

East Tennessee State 27 at Jacksonville State 34

2018 FCS Playoffs Bracket: The Field (Original Bracket)

2018 FCS Playoffs Bracket: The Bottom Line

North Dakota State is the number one team in the field for a reason. They are the kings of the FCS level like Alabama are tops in the FBS level. The Bison are the program to which everyone else aspires to be. Even James Madison, the top team last year, could not get it done. If you come at the kings, you best not miss, but these other programs have.

Should North Dakota State lose, however, this thing is wide open.