The Best Moments from the 2023 FCS Playoffs

The 2024 FCS playoffs were certainly one to remember after being capped off by North Dakota winning its tenth national championship title.

Montana State had its perfect season come to an end against the Bison in the national title game.

From historic campaigns to high-scoring thrillers and everything in between, below are the best moments from the FCS playoffs.

From Division II to FCS playoffs: Texans’ steep climb.

Tarleton State moved up from Division II in the 2020-21 season to become a member of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

From fall 2021 to fall 2023, the Texans went 20-13 in their playoff ineligible seasons, tying for second place in the UAC last season.

In their first eligible season, Tarleton State went 10-4, beating Drake in their first-ever FCS playoff game before falling to South Dakota by 42-31 in the second round.

Mountain Hawks soar to an unlikely upset.

Lehigh had not had a winning season since 2016 and had a 19-51 record in the years leading up to (but not including) 2024.

After their best season in many years, the Mountain Hawks were not done as they clawed to a 20-16 victory over Richmond on the road in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

Lehigh’s miracle season ended with a thud the following week as they fell to No. 8 Idaho in the second round by a score of 34-13 on the road.

Junior Bergen scores two punt return touchdowns in a game.

Montana wide receiver Junior Bergen helped propel the Grizzlies to a big victory over Tennessee State with the help of some special teams antics.

Bergen returned two punts for touchdowns, with one going for 52 and another for 54.

His second return touchdown widened the Montana lead to 14.

Hastings puts on a clinic against Illinois State.

UC Davis quarterback Miles Hastings threw for 403 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 42-10 win over Illinois State.

His favorite target was wide receiver CJ Hutton, whom he found seven times for 104 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Hastings’ 403 passing yards was his second-most of the season, behind his 458-yard passing day over Cal Poly in October.

Mercer surges late to advance to quarterfinals.

A back-and-forth, low-scoring battle kicked off with Mercer scoring a pick-six thanks to safety Myles Redding to make it a 7-0 game.

Rhode Island reeled off 10 unanswered points thanks to a field goal before halftime, followed by a 56-yard receiving touchdown from wide receiver Marquis Buchanan.

The go-ahead score for Mercer in the fourth quarter was a four-yard passing touchdown from Whitt Newbauer to Adjatay Dabbs as the Bears won 17-10.

Bobcats’ historic run ends in Frisco

Montana State had its first undefeated regular season in program history and was rewarded with the first overall seed.

With a win over FBS New Mexico and a Big Sky regular season conference title, quarterback Tommy Mellott led the Bobcats with 31 passing touchdowns and two interceptions this season.

Its miracle run ended disappointingly, however, as the clock rolled down to zero on a game-winning punt for North Dakota State in the FCS Championship:

Bryan Portney is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email bep5295@psu.edu.