The 2022 FCS Playoffs are here! On Sunday, November 20th, the fields of all 24 teams were revealed. South Dakota took the top seed, followed by Sacramento and North Dakota in second and his third respectively.
With the full field released and the first round kicking off on Saturday, November 26th, there’s no better time to predict all the rounds and games of the 2022 tournament.
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Here are my 2022 FCS Championship predictions.
2022 FCS Playoff Predictions
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First Round | November 26
St. Francis, Delaware, Pennsylvania | 2:00 PM | ESPN +
Winner: Delaware
St. Francis, Pennsylvania went undefeated into the playoffs for a second conference title with NEC. Delaware, on the other hand, advanced to the playoffs after losing three of their last four games.
At one point in the season, Delaware were the top 10 teams in the country. Afterwards, players such as quarterback Nolan Henderson were injured. Even if Henderson has to fight with an injury, I think the Blue Hens are a better all-around team and will come out victorious.
play off: See the complete 2022 FCS Championship field
Fordham, New Hampshire | Foto 2pm Fordham, New Hampshire | ESPN+
Winner: Fordham
Co-CAA champion New Hampshire will host Fordham in the first round.New Hampshire’s CAA title win was impressive, but Fordham’s explosive attack is more impressive. Still, I think this game will end with him scoring 70+ across the two teams combined, thanks to Fordham’s leaky defense.
In the shootout, we believe Fordham quarterback and likely Walter Payton Award finalist Tim Demorat will get the job done.
Gardner Webb in Eastern Kentucky | 5pm | ESPN+
Winner: Eastern Kentucky
Gardner Webb had to end the season playing playoff-level football, beating North Carolina A&T in a winner-takes-all Big South game. Eastern Kentucky won his ASUN-WAC shared bid to make the playoffs.
Eastern Kentucky won the first round thanks to FCS top 10 quarterback Parker McKinney. I expect at least 4 touchdowns for him from the signaler to win.
Weber State University, North Dakota | 4pm | ESPN+
Winner: Weber State
Weber State’s only loss came to the second and third seeded teams in the playoffs. North Dakota also played a tough schedule, but Weber State looked like a top 10 team all season. I think Weber State is winning in what could be a low-scoring defensive fight.
bracket: Watch the complete 2022 FCS playoff bracket
Southeast Missouri, Montana | 10:15 PM | ESPN2
Winner: Montana
The first round nightcap might be the biggest upset of the first round. Maybe not.
Montana advanced to the playoffs with a 7-4 record, but Southeast Missouri needed a coin toss to qualify for the playoffs.
However
Both Southeastern Missouri State and Montana State could miss their starting quarterbacks (Paxton DeLaurent and Lucas Johnson, respectively) in this playoff matchup. If one team regains the starter and the other team doesn’t, I expect that team to win.
In these predictions, I’m operating as if both quarterbacks don’t play.
Idaho, Southeast Louisiana | 7pm | ESPN+
Winner: Idaho
Idaho did well, going 7-4. Southeast Louisiana won Southland’s automatic bid with a record of 8-3. Here, the win was given to Idaho led by the freshman quarterback.
Even if Jevani McCoy is back, I don’t think this is even close, thanks to McCoy’s connection with Hatten. I love.
Elon of Furman | 12pm | ESPN+
Winner: Elon
I think it will be the best game of the first round. Both Elon and Furman were guaranteed to be big teams heading into the final week of the season. This is a true toss-up his game, but gives an advantage to Elon who has a talented backfield. Quarterback Matthew McKay and running back Jalen Hampton lead Phoenix to victory.
Davidson, Richmond | 2pm | ESPN+
Winner: Richmond
Richmond was one game away from winning the CAA title. Davidson won Pioneer Football’s automatic bid for his league, but failed to win his conference championship. Richmond said he will be tested in more fights in 2022. Richmond’s experience against tough opponents will help them win the first round.
AQ: All Automatic Qualification Bids for the 2022 FCS Playoffs
Second Round | December 3 | ESPN+
Delaware #1 in South Dakota | 3pm
Winner: South Dakota
I was hesitant about this choice because a healthy Delaware team could beat South Dakota.Jackrabbits are not uncommon to disappoint in the playoffs. But Delaware hasn’t been healthy for a while, and you never know what bumps and bruises the blue chickens will walk away with after the first round.
No. 8 Fordham at Holy Cross | 12pm
Winner: Holy Cross
The Holy Cross needed a game-winning two-point conversion in overtime to beat Fordham during the regular season, and this game will be close again if the two sides meet in the second round.
Holy Cross expects Fordham to win for the second time this year. The Crusaders proved they could score enough to catch up to Fordham in their final game. I think this will come full circle. The Holy Cross turns into a motivated defense to get a few more stops and the win.
seed: Explains the importance of the top seed in the FCS playoffs
Eastern Kentucky at William & Mary | 2pm
Winner: William & Mary
William & Mary have played solid and (almost) error-free football all season long. Giving head coach Mike London a week to prepare the team gave the tribe the confidence to handle business against Eastern Kentucky.
Weber State #4 in Montana | 3pm
Winner: Weber State
In the regular season, Montana State defeated Weber State, 43-38, by five points. In the loss, Weber State blew his 24-9 lead and allowed his record four safety from a long snap error on a punt. That’s the eight point swing.
I think Weber State fixed the snap issue and beat Montana State in the rematch.
MONTANA NO. 3 NORTH DAKOTA | 3:30 PM
Winner: North Dakota
Montana brings either a fragile quarterback or a backup quarterback to the Fargo Dome. That doesn’t bode well for North Dakota’s defense.
2022 HBCUs: Follow everything that happens in the 2022 HBCU football season
Idaho at Samford | 3pm
Winner: Samford
If Idaho faces Samford in the second round, it should be a good match. On offense, Samford wins the contest as quarterback Michael Hiers has consistently been one of the best players in the country. Combine that with a defense that has him three wins in ranked and one more win for his team in the playoffs, and it provides the balance the Bulldogs need to win.
Elon of No. 7 UIW | 2pm
Winner: UIW
UIW wins the opening playoff contest as Elon has no answers against quarterback Lindsay Scott Jr. and a high-scoring offense.
Richmond, Sacramento’s #2 | 5pm
Winner: Sacramento State
Given their recent playoff history, it wouldn’t be surprising if Sacramento State lost here. But I think his two-man system at quarterback will cause a Richmond fit and the Hornets will win by a narrow margin.
Championship History: All champions in FCS football history
Quarterfinals | December 9/10
No. 1 No. 8 Holy Cross in South Dakota
Winner: South Dakota
South Dakota State University beat Holy Cross in an undefeated team battle against FCS competition. Jackrabbit has a defense that slows down the dual-threat ability of Crusader quarterback Matthew Surka.
Weber State by No. 5 William & Mary
Winner: William & Mary
Weber State is popular here, and the Wildcats have only lost two games to Big Sky, but I think William and Mary are winning this game. The tribe has his duo of elite pass-rushing wreak havoc in the Weber State backfield.
No. 6 Samford, No. 3 North Dakota
Winner: North Dakota
North Dakota defeats Samford due to Bison’s performance in the trenches. North Dakota crushes Samford in the quarterfinals.
No. 2 No. 7 UIW in Sacramento
Winner: UIW
This game contains two of the top four highest scoring offenses in FCS. The numbers that go into the shootout come down to quarterbacks. UIW has perhaps the best quarterback in the country, Lindsey Scott Jr., but Sacramento State will be eyeing both Jake Dunnway and Asher O’Hara. A slight edge here went to his Scott Jr., with UIW taking an upset victory.
RING SZN: The school with the most FCS championships.
Semifinals | December 16/17
No. 5 William & Mary at No. 1 South Dakota
Winner: South Dakota
South Dakota State University is one of the most talented teams in the country. At every position on offense and most positions on defense, the Jackrabbits have good, if not elite, players. The talent overwhelms William & Mary and brings South Dakota his second championship in three years.
No. 3 No. 7 UIW in North Dakota
Winner: North Dakota
North Dakota has shown time and time again that it can stop high crime. The Cardinals will be the latest prolific offense to stop when UIW comes to the Fargodome, from which his Bison offense in physical by TaMerik Williams and Hunter Luepke gets the job done.
more: The best nicknames and mascots of FCS
2022 FCS Championship Games
No. 3 North Dakota vs. No. 1 South Dakota
2022 FCS Champions: South Dakota
The matchup between North Dakota and South Dakota in the FCS National Championship Game could be the most anticipated title game in FCS history. The game marks his fifth time that the two of FCS’s biggest rivals have met in the postseason, but the first time the title has been contested.
🏆: FCS Championship Game Information
South Dakota State was the most successful team in a dynasty run against the Bisons, with the Jackrabbits winning three straight games in the rivalry. South Dakota has already proven he can beat North Dakota once this season. Jackrabbits do the same thing again with all the marbles.
