What a championship would mean for each FCS semifinal team

Four teams remain in the 2024 FCS championship chase: Montana State, South Dakota, South Dakota State and North Dakota State. All four teams have the same goal — a title — but winning means something different for each one. Let's look at what a championship would mean for each FCS semifinal team.

Montana State — The drought is over

Montana State hasn't won a championship since 1984 but has made 13 postseason appearances since the title. The Bobcats have been competitive across the last 40 years, but they haven't tasted the sweetness of victory during that time. Bringing back a title to Bozeman will end the title drought and boost Montana State's resume amongst FCS powers.

South Dakota — It no longer can be viewed as the little brother in the Dakotas

North Dakota State and South Dakota State have won 11 of the last 13 FCS titles since 2011, since that time, South Dakota only made the playoffs four times, counting this season. That's a large disparity between the Coyotes and the two state schools, even with a four-year delay in joining the FCS.

However, all that can change with a title run in 2024. First, South Dakota will have to defeat the No. 1 team in the FCS, Montana State, in the semifinals and then they'll face either North Dakota State or South Dakota State for a title. Beating one of those programs for an FCS Championship will only further South Dakota's claim to a seat at the table with the rest of the Dakota schools with a title backing them up.

SEMIFINAL UPDATES: South Dakota vs. Montana State | South Dakota State vs. North Dakota State

South Dakota State — The Jackrabbits are the premier FCS program

If South Dakota State wins the 2024 title, it'll have only the fourth three-peat in FCS history. To do it, they will have beaten the team it played last year for a title, Montana, and one of the rising FCS programs, UIW. Then the Jackrabbits will have defeated the only FCS team to beat them this year, North Dakota State, while also preventing a rival from adding a trophy. Whichever team, South Dakota State would play in the FCS title would also hold weight — whether it be the last remaining undefeated team Montana State, or an in-state rival South Dakota. 

If South Dakota State is the last team standing, it would have beaten all of the top dogs to do it, cementing itself in a status above.

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North Dakota State — It's inevitable

In Thanos-esque fashion, North Dakota State is the team you love or hate in the FCS. You either see the Bison and their title dominance as one of the greatest dynasties in sports history or you see their winning ways as bad for the FCS, indicating a lack of parity. Some might see a bit of both perspectives. Nonetheless, North Dakota State being an FCS title contender is inevitable.

If the Bison win this year, it will have ended the three-peat hopes of South Dakota State and also kept Montana State or South Dakota from adding a title to its resume. Title No. 10 will have some saying the only guarantees in life are death, taxes and the Bison standing atop the podium in Frisco.