The 8 best potential FCS championship game matchups

Only six games remain before the 2024-25 FCS championship game is played in Frisco, Texas on Jan. 6. Before the quarterfinals kick off, it's time to rank the most intriguing possibilities for a national championship matchup — and why.

1. South Dakota State vs. Montana State

South Dakota State could go for a three-peat against the lone undefeated team in the FCS this season Montana State. Sign me up!

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2. North Dakota State vs. Montana State

The matchup would be between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams. It would be between the No. 1 and No. 2 vote-getters for the Jerry Rice Award in NDSU running back CharMar Brown and MSU running back Adam Jones. It could also be a game between the top two finishers for the Walter Payton Award in quarterbacks Tommy Mellott (MSU) and Cam Miller (NDSU) — which would be publicly revealed two nights before the title game.

ROOKIE: The top 5 plays from North Dakota State RB CharMar Brown’s Jerry Rice Award season

3. South Dakota State vs. South Dakota

The Interstate series could be the national title game. Bringing the South Dakota State-South Dakota rivalry to the biggest stage in the sport with a title on the line will be a game that lives forever in the history of the rivalry.

4. Mercer vs. Montana State

This matchup would feature the top team in the country and blueblood of the FCS Montana State against a Mercer program making only its second-ever playoff run. This game would be a true underdog story.

5. North Dakota State vs. South Dakota

29-28. That was the score when South Dakota beat North Dakota State in a thrilling season-ending game this year. A rematch of that game would be fun.

6. UIW vs. Idaho

98 points. That's the FCS Championship Game record for total points set by UMass and Georgia Southern in 1998. That record will be on watch if UIW and Idaho meet in the championship game. The two teams combine for the worst possible matchup of scoring defense, while both teams average more than 28 points per game. The scoreboard operator could be busy in a potential shootout.

BRACKET: See the official 2024 FCS playoff bracket

7. Mercer vs. South Dakota

If you're a fan of defense, you'll be a fan of this matchup as Mercer and South Dakota have two of the best defenses in the country. This game could be a beautiful old-school bash where the defenses steal the show.

8. South Dakota State vs. UC Davis

South Dakota State and UC Davis have two of the top 10 scoring offenses in the FCS. They also have two of the biggest stars in the playoff: the reigning Walter Payton Award winner, Mark Gronowski of South Dakota State, and the electrifying Lan Larison of UC Davis. Each has shown the ability to turn normal plays into spectacular ones, and in a championship game setting, we could see more magic on display.