Quickie Predictions for the FCS and NCAA Division III National Championship Games 2024-2025

(The projected winners are marked in RED, followed by the projected final score, listed below. Additionally, the overall won-lost records of the participating teams are marked in parentheses.)

Sunday, January 5

Stagg Bowl-NCAA Division III National Championship Game at Shell Energy Stadium, Houston

North Central (14-0) 31, Mount Union (14-0) 30

Monday, January 6

FCS National Championship Game at Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

Montana State (15-0) 35, North Dakota State (13-2) 21

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1990 Liberty Bowl

(Video courtesy of ESPN.)

The latest "RFC Postseason's Greetings" post takes us back to Thursday, December 27, 1990. That was when the Air Force Academy Falcons faced Ohio State in the Liberty Bowl at Memphis, Tennessee. Before an announced crowd of 39,262 spectators, Air Force knocked off the then #24 Buckeyes 23-11 to finish the 1990 season at 7-5. 

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: Northwest Missouri State vs. Grand Valley State-2007 NCAA Division II National Semifinal

(Video courtesy of ESPN.)

The "RFC Postseason's Greetings series continues by taking a look back at an NCAA Division II national semifinal game that was played on Saturday, December 8, 2007, between the Grand Valley State University Lakers from Allendale, Michigan, and the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats from Maryville, Missouri.

The Bearcats advanced to the national championship with a 34-16 win over the Lakers, in a contest where GVSU held a 13-10 lead at halftime. But Northwest caught fire in the second half, outscoring the Lakers 24-3 over the final 60 minutes of playing time to end Grand Valley's 40-game winning streak.

However, Northwest Missouri State's quest to win another national championship ended in defeat. Valdosta State won only its second-ever title after the Blazers beat the Bearcats 25-20 in the national title game the following week. Northwest Missouri State ended its 2007 season at 12-2 overall.

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RFC Postseason's Greetings: 1968 Tangerine Bowl-Richmond vs. Ohio

 

(Video courtesy of the University of Richmond.)

Editor's Note: Welcome back to another season of memories on the "RFC Postseason's Greetings" series on the Real Football Central blog. From now until the FCS national championship game on January 6, 2025, there will be at least one video covering a postseason game, whether it's a playoff or bowl game, involving a current team from the FBS Group of Five Conferences, the FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, or the NAIA. So, without any further ado, here's the first post below.

Today's "RFC Postseason's Greetings " installment takes us back to December 27, 1968. That was when the Mid-American Conference champion Ohio University Bobcats faced the Southern Conference champion University of Richmond Spiders in the Tangerine Bowl at what is now Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. 

In a high-scoring contest, the Spiders handed the Bobcats their first and only loss of the 1968 season, pulling off the 49-42 upset win. Richmond finished its campaign at 8-3 overall with the win, while Ohio finished its season at 10-1 overall and #20 in the final Associated Press poll. 

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RFC Weekly Predictions: Week Of December 21, 2024-FCS/NCAA Division III Semifinal And Small College Championship Game Predictions

Last Week: 12-1 (.923)

This Year:  856-399 (.682)

KEY: Projected winners are marked in RED.

Editor's Note: All games listed will be played on Saturday, December 21, 2024.

FCS Semifinals

Interactive Bracket

South Dakota State (12-2) at North Dakota State (12-2)

South Dakota (12-2) at Montana State (14-0)

NCAA Division II Championship Game at McKinney, Texas

 

Ferris State (13-1) vs. Valdosta State (13-0)

NCAA Division III Semifinals

Johns Hopkins (12-1) at Mount Union (13-0)

Susquehanna (12-1) at North Central (13-0)

NAIA Championship Game at Durham, N.C.

Keiser (Fla.)-(12-0) vs. Grand View (13-0)

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RFC Weekly Predictions: Week Of December 14, 2024-Celebration Bowl, FCS, And Small College Football Playoff Predictions

Last Week: 20-12 (.625)

This Year: 844-398 (.674)

KEY: Projected winners are marked in RED.

FCS Quarterfinals

Interactive Bracket

Friday, December 13 (9 pm EST/8 pm CST/7 pm MST/6 pm PST on ESPN.)

Idaho (10-3) at Montana State (13-0)

Saturday, December 14

Incarnate Word (11-2) at South Dakota State (11-2)

UC Davis (11-2) at South Dakota (10-2)

Mercer (11-2) at North Dakota State (11-2)

NCAA Division II Semifinals

Saturday, December 14

Minnesota State (11-3) at Valdosta State (12-0)

Slippery Rock (12-1) at Ferris State (12-1)

NCAA Division III Quarterfinals

Saturday, December 14

Mount Union (12-0) at Salisbury (12-0)

Bethel (Minn.)-(11-2) at Susquehanna (11-1)

Mary Hardin-Baylor (9-3) at Johns Hopkins (11-1)

Springfield (12-0) at North Central (12-0)

NAIA Semifinals

Saturday, December 14

Benedictine (Kan.)-(11-2) at Keiser (11-0)

Morningside (12-1) at Grand View (12-0)

Celebration Bowl at Mercedes Benz Stadium-Atlanta

Saturday, December 14

Jackson State (11-2) vs. South Carolina State (9-2)

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RFC Group Of Five Bowl Predictions Special 2024

Editor's Note: Only the bowl games involving at least two teams from any two of the FBS Group Of Five Conferences (American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, and Sun Belt) are eligible for inclusion in this post. 

KEY: Projected winners are marked in RED.

Saturday, December 14

Salute to Veterans Bowl at Montgomery, Ala.

South Alabama (6-6) vs. Western Michigan (6-6)

Wednesday, December 18

Boca Raton Bowl at Boca Raton, Fla.

Western Kentucky (8-5) vs. James Madison (8-4)

Thursday, December 19

R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at New Orleans

Georgia Southern (8-4) vs. Sam Houston (9-3)

Friday, December 20

StaffDNA Cure Bowl at Orlando, Fla.

Ohio (10-3) vs. Jacksonville State (9-4)

Monday, December 23

Myrtle Beach Bowl at Myrtle Beach, S.C.

UTSA (6-6) vs. Coastal Carolina (6-6)

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Boise, Idaho

Northern Illinois (7-5) vs. Fresno State (6-6)

Tuesday, December 24 (CHRISTMAS EVE)

Hawai'i Bowl at Honolulu, Hawai'i

South Florida (6-6) at San Jose State (7-5)

Thursday, December 26

68 Ventures Bowl at Mobile, Ala.

Arkansas State (7-5) vs. Bowling Green (7-5)

Saturday, December 28

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl at Tucson, Ariz.

Miami (Ohio)-(8-5) vs. Colorado State (8-4)

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl at Shreveport, La.

Marshall (10-3) vs. Army (11-1)

Friday, January 3

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at Dallas, Texas

North Texas (6-6) vs. Texas State (7-5)

Saturday, January 4

Bahamas Bowl at Nassau, Bahamas

Buffalo (8-4) at Liberty (8-3)

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM REAL FOOTBALL CENTRAL!!!!!!

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