FCS

Last Saturday's first loss of the season for North Dakota State dropped the Bison in the playoff rankings that were released Thursday night on ESPNU.

It seemed like a highlight reel of a first half for the South Dakota Coyotes that helped them jump out to a 31-0 lead on their way to a 45-7 victory over North Dakota.

Both STATS FCS Top 25 and FCS Coaches Polls were released Monday and North Dakota State finished the season ranked third in both of them.

The Bison ran into their toughest matchup along the way to their sixth straight FCS national championship, but it was not to be, as they fall to a stellar James Madison squad, 27-17.

Two offensive linemen for the Bison were named to the Associated Press FCS All-American first team, and one from the defensive line named to the third team.

Friday night can't come soon enough for either the top-seeded Bison (12-1) from North Dakota State or the 4-seeded Dukes (12-1) from James Madison.

North Dakota State (12-1) scored 36 unanswered points as they ran away from South Dakota State, 36-10, avenging their lone loss of the season, and advancing in the FCS Playoffs.

UND lost a 17-point second half lead and fell to rallying Richmond, 27-24.

North Dakota State showed their dominance early and often as they trounced the Toreros from San Diego, 45-7.

The University of North Dakota is playing in its first-ever FCS playoff game as they host the Richmond Spiders at Alerus Center in Grand Forks.