By: Holly Malkowski
Idaho at Montana State
The Montana State Bobcats are undefeated on the season still, standing at 13-0. Led by senior quarterback Tommy Mellott, the Bobcats offense averages over 41 points per game. Mellott has thrown for 26 touchdowns and 2256 yards, along with rushing for 11 more touchdowns. Idaho is 10-3 on the year, but losses are to notable teams like Oregon, UC Davis, and its most recent loss in October to Montana State. When the two met earlier this season in Bobcat Stadium, Montana State won 38-7, with Idaho only scoring at the very end of the contest. The Vandals had two turnovers that game and compiled 267 yards of offense compared to 485 yards for the Bobcats. Jack Layne is the Vandals starting quarterback, but suffered a broken collarbone earlier in the season. Since his return, Idaho is 3-0. The Vandals will go to Bobcat Stadium for the second time this season on Friday. The game is on ESPN at 9 PM ET.
Mercer at NDSU
The North Dakota State University Bison are 11-2 on the year, with a 5-point loss to the Colorado Buffaloes to kick off the season, and a recent 1-point loss, the week before the playoffs started, to South Dakota. The Mercer Bears are also 11-2 on the year, with losses to Samford and Alabama. Mercer has a solid defense, helped by senior cornerback TJ Moore. Moore has seven interceptions on the season. On offense, the Bears are led by Dwayne McGee, a senior running back with eight touchdowns and 1132 yards rushing. NDSU is led on offense by quarterback Cam Miller, who has thrown for 2416 yards and 26 touchdowns this season, and running back CharMar Brown with 14 touchdowns and 1023 yards. Mercer will take on the Bison on ABC on Saturday at 2:30 PM ET.
UC Davis at USD
The UC Davis Aggies are 11-2 on the season with an early loss to California to start the season and a recent 2-point loss to Montana State in November. The Aggies offense is led by senior quarterback Miles Hastings and running back Lan Larison. Hastings has thrown for 4148 yards and 31 touchdowns. Larison has caught six of those touchdown passes, and added 17 rushing touchdowns as well. South Dakota is 10-2, missing a contest due to Portland State having to cancel because of illness. The two losses are to Wisconsin and South Dakota State in a close overtime loss at the end of October. The Coyotes are led by the running back duo of Charles Pierre Jr. and Travis Theis. Theis has 16 rushing touchdowns on the season and Pierre Jr. has 15, also adding two receiving touchdowns each. These two dominant offenses will face off on Saturday on ESPN+ at 3 PM ET.
UIW at SDSU
The University of Incarnate Word Cardinals are 11-2 this season, having lost to Southern Illinois University the week after losing to South Dakota State earlier this season. The Jackrabbits are also 11-2, with a first week loss to Oklahoma State and a loss to NDSU. The last time these two teams met up the game was close until halftime, but South Dakota State pulled away in the second half and won 45-24. The Jackrabbits are led by senior quarterback Mark Gronowski, who has thrown 19 touchdowns this season. Also on offense is senior running back Amar Johnson, who has 13 touchdowns and 1013 rushing yards this season. The offense for the Cardinals is run by Zach Calzada. Calzada has thrown for 3533 yards and 34 touchdown passes, 26 of them going to receivers Jalen Walthall and Roy Alexander. The Cardinals will take on the Jackrabbits on ESPN on Saturday at 12 PM ET.
The Celebration Bowl
Jackson State and South Carolina State are meeting in this year's Celebration Bowl as a rematch from 2021. The teams are very different from then, though. Both have new head coaches and not very many returning players from 2021. Jackson State is led by quarterback Jacobian Morgan, who has thrown for 2003 yards and 19 touchdowns on the season, and helping the Tigers to an 11-2 record. South Carolina State is led by QB Eric Phoenix. He has 20 touchdowns and 2460 yards this season. The team has a 9-2 record. The Celebration Bowl will be on ABC at 12 PM ET on Saturday.
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