The FCS championship matchup between No. 1 South Dakota State and No. 2 Montana is still more than a week away. It gives us media folks plenty of time to break down and predict what we think will happen.
But what do those in the coaching profession think about the final outcome?
I asked several FCS head coaches and assistant coaches across the country to share their anonymous predictions and reasoning. Here is what they said.
Related Articles
- FCS Championship Odds
- FCS Championship Tale of the Tape
- FCS Championship Host Site & Attendance History
Once again the FCS playoff system delivers the best 2 teams for the final game. Two well coached programs with playmakers on both sides of the ball. I think this is going to be an ultra competitive game with turnovers and QB play being the deciding factor. I’ll take SDSU in a nail biter!
South Dakota State is my pick. I think they have played at a different level than everyone else for the last two years. They’re senior laden and I don’t see them letting the rope go in the championship game this year.
I think that SDSU is going to win another one. I think across the board they have been dominant all year. The thing that impresses me the most about them is their ability to make their opponents one dimensional offensively. Just look at what they have done to their three opponents in the playoffs. I think Gronowski does an unbelievable job running the offense. Clifton McDowell is going to have to have a big game stretching the ball vertically and make plays with his feet in order for Montana to make it interesting.
This should be a really fun defensive game to watch, with Montana’s ability to bring pressure from everywhere & SDSU’s fast and physical style of play. Both teams have shown the ability to score on Special Teams in the playoffs. The Griz will need a score there to stay in this. In the end, I think SDSU’s offense will continue to make the plays they need & their experience on both sides of the ball will end up being the difference. Jackrabbits repeat as Champs.
SDSU easily. Too much experience, and NFL talent, and still look hungry like they never won a title. They want to become the next dynasty at the FCS level
South Dakota State will win. South Dakota State is big, physical, experienced, and well coached. Montana away from their home field is a completely different team. Their defense relies on crowd noise at home. If they had played the previous two playoff games away from their home stadium, they would not be in the Championship game. South Dakota State will roll!!
SDSU. Montana won’t be able to score enough. I don’t think their offense is good enough at QB or explosive enough. Probably close early. Montana will have to take chances in second half to keep it close
Coach Hauck and his staff have done an amazing job this year. Montana will win, and get their 3rd FCS Championship (1995, 2001, 2023).
Jacks by 21. They are experienced, talented and will be well rested. Montana needs to play near perfect to have a shot. SDSU is one of the most complete FCS teams I’ve seen.
While I think Coach Hauck returning to Montana and getting them to the championship game for the first time since 2009 is a great story. They won’t have their home field advantage in Frisco and they certainly won’t be favored. Vegas doesn’t have this wrong. Even in a championship game, this is a two score SDSU win. They have just destroyed everything in their path and the previous championship game experience only adds to their advantage. Southern Illinois gave them a game this year. But that was the only one. I have been super impressed with Montana in the playoffs but the Jackrabbits are in a class of their own. The army of Busch drinkers prevails again. Cheers!
I don’t see anyone stopping the ground game of SDSU. Those big guys up front are just too good. What they did to the best dline in the country last game (Albany) was impressive.
South Dakota State. Montana has a good offense, but Clifton McDowell is limited. He’s a run threat ball or throw the big play qb. But that isn’t going to be good enough to put up the points they need against a sdsu defense with the experience that they have.
SDSU has been consistently playing at a high level all season. They have no weaknesses in any phase. The maturity of their team has been evident throughout the entire season and that coupled with the experience of last season’s championship puts them over the top.
This one should be played halfway in Sturgis in August. Both fan bases would prefer to ride a Harley to the game instead of an airplane and a Uber. SDSU is talented and did everything they were supposed to do this year. Montana is talented and has done everything no one thought they could do this year. Championships are won with defense, and there are two great ones taking the field 7 January. SDSU’s front 4 on defense can control a game. UM’s linebacker’s can change a game. SDSU NIL and I’m guessing a little help from Kristi Noem pitched in and got the SDSU team Quarter horses and a NFR belt buckle after last years huge win. (Don’t fact check me on this one Sam). Montana is still eating beans and packing their elk out by foot. I am surprised the buzz is not giving the Griz a chance in hell. I see an even matchup of the two best teams in the country. Both staffs with this much time to prepare makes for an interesting first quarter to see what they cooked up for each other. Will be a key factor in this game in my opinion. Predict a great one Sam. Through special teams and defense I’m going with Montana.
SDSU: The #1 team stays number 1…and here’s why…They are battle tested and are very good at all phases of the game…but what makes them so difficult to handle is their ability to keep coming at you with player after player…
As much as I like an underdog, it’s hard to predict a Montana win. They have been able to win some close games down the stretch, and it would be a great story, but it would take some heroics by the Grizz and mistakes by the Jackrabbits. The SDSU defense has been very consistent and they have a strong run game along with a highly efficient quarterback. Back to back for the defending champs.
It appears that this year’s FCS Championship game between SDSU – Montana is very evenly matched when looking at each team’s yearly stats. However, it comes usually comes down to which team makes the fewest mistakes on game day, and SDSU doesn’t make many mistakes. If SDSU can control Montana’s excellent special teams play, I believe SDSU will control the LOS and win their 2nd FCS Championship!
Big Sky vs Missouri Valley, the debate for 2023 will be settled January 7th at 1pm in Frisco, TX. It will be just over 3 weeks since both teams last played, and it will be interesting to see how that factors into play. SDSU is the reigning National champ and knows how to manage the schedule, while Montana hasn’t played in the national championship since 2009. Vegas opened with SDSU at -14, which has now moved to -12.5. South Dakota State leads Montana in every statistical category imaginable and impressively they are the top Offense and Defense according to PFF in FCS football. They do have an advantage in all three phases. I think Montana will find ways to compete and hang around for the first half, however SDSU’s talent will prevail and they will pull away in the second half. Montana 13 – SDSU 27
Two great teams battling it out for a championship, but SDSU and their 28 game winning streak will be too much for the Griz to handle as the game gets into the 2nd half. All-American QB, All-American RB, and multiple All-Americans in the trenches. Too experienced and too much fire power. Montana battles tough but Jackrabbits win 28-14.
SDSU will win, they are just too physical in both the OL and DL, it will be close early but towards the end of the game SDSU will pull away.
Having coached against SDSU a couple times now, I have a firm grasp on how much this program has grown and how the school supports its football program. A lot of the names you’re hearing from the PA announcer on game day have been called for a long time. SDSU doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses and they’re well coached. Montana on the other hand I’ve gotten to see in cross-over film. They’re big, aggressive and physical. They play and call their schemes fearlessly and College Football is better holistically when cornerstone programs like Montana are having success. I think it will be close early but SDSU – 38 MONT – 21
Both teams have such a great home field advantage, especially Montana. So I think it’s going to come down to who can play at a neutral site and handle the moment better. It’s hard not to say SDSU’s experience won’t take over down the stretch.
South Dakota State is the more complete team, Montana has benefitted tremendously by playing at home throughout the playoffs, not sure they would be in this game if they would have had to go on the road the previous two games. South Dakota State by 10.
Both teams are extremely physical. What SDSt did last week was really impressive against a quality defense. In big games situational football usually makes the difference. SDst is near the top in 3rd Down and Red Zone. SDst program has a lot of momentum right now. In a tough game I think they keep it going. I’m taking SDst
I would take SDSU in what you think would be a great defensive battle! A more experienced team but Bergen keeps Montana in it if they kick it to him!
I think sdsu will be hard to beat if they just play a clean game. The only way I see Montana winning is if sdsu uncharacteristically turns it over and Montana has a couple game changing plays on special teams.
SDSU by three scores. With Montana’s wide offensive line splits I think the SDSU front 7 will win a lot of those one on one matchups. Montana will have to hit some deep shots to get points on the board. SDSU’s offense will be ready and will scheme up some shot plays then grind away with the run game
