If ever there was doubt about the
Missouri Valley Football Conference being the top conference in the
FCS, Illinois State provided a reminder on Saturday.
The Redbirds rallied past top-seeded New Hampshire, 21-18, with two
fourth- quarter touchdowns in the FCS semifinals and gave the
Missouri Valley both national finalists - a first for the division.
The Jan. 10 title game in Frisco, Texas, will be a fitting and
ironic end to the 24-team playoffs as it matches fifth-seeded
Illinois State (13-1) against second-seeded North Dakota State
(14-1), which will try to win an unprecedented fourth straight FCS
title. The two teams were crowned Missouri Valley co- champions
this season after not facing each other in the conference's
unbalanced scheduling.
Illinois State qualified for the championship game for the first
time with a clutch fourth-quarter performance after being limited
by UNH to only two field goals in the first three quarters.
The Championship Game will be broadcast on Newstalk 1060 on January 10th.
