Dynasty Dethroned: Illinois State Stuns No. 1 North Dakota State in All-Time FCS Playoff Upset

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FARGO, N.D. — The impossible happened at the Fargodome on Saturday. In one of the most stunning upsets in FCS playoff history, the unseeded Illinois State Redbirds (10-4) scored 15 points in the final three minutes to eliminate the No. 1 North Dakota State Bison (12-1) with a thrilling 29-28 victory in the Second Round.

The loss ends NDSU’s previously perfect season and denies the 10-time FCS champions a chance to defend their title. It marks only the second time the Bison have ever lost a home playoff game at the Fargodome, breaking a 38-2 all-time playoff record in the venue.

The Final Minutes: Redbird Resurrection

The Bison led comfortably, 28-14, midway through the fourth quarter, seemingly cruising to the Quarterfinals. But the Redbirds, who had lost their last 14 meetings against NDSU, launched a monumental comeback:

Late Strike 1: Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, despite throwing five interceptions earlier in the game, connected with wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz for an 8-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 28-21 with 2:44 left.
The Turnover: On NDSU’s ensuing possession, defensive end Jake Anderson delivered a devastating strip-sack on Bison QB Cole Payton, recovering the fumble at the NDSU 23-yard line with just 1:51 remaining.
The Game-Winner: The Redbirds capitalized immediately. On 4th-and-goal from the 6, Rittenhouse found Sobkowicz again for the clutch touchdown. Head Coach Brock Spack opted to go for two, and Rittenhouse hit Scotty Presson Jr. for the successful conversion, putting Illinois State up 29-28 with 51 seconds left.

The Redbirds’ defense held firm on NDSU’s final desperate drive, sealing the colossal upset that immediately resets the entire FCS playoff picture.

🏈 FCS Second Round Scoreboard: December 6, 2025

The shocker in Fargo was just one of several intense battles and upsets that decided the Quarterfinal field. Two other seeds went down, including a Top 5 favorite.

Game Result	Score	Key Storyline
Illinois State over No. 1 North Dakota State	29-28	Colossal Upset. The Redbirds overcame 5 interceptions and a 14-point deficit in the final quarter to end the Bison’s perfect season.
No. 2 Montana State over Yale	21-13	Held On. Montana State forced four turnovers and scored a critical touchdown run by Adam Jones in the final quarter to hold off the resilient Yale Bulldogs, who kept the game surprisingly close after their comeback win last week.
No. 3 Montana over No. 14 South Dakota State	50-29	Big Sky Dominance. The Grizzlies demolished the heavily favored South Dakota State Jackrabbits, who were considered the toughest unseeded team in the bracket. Montana scored 50 points in a statement win for the Big Sky Conference.
No. 4 Tarleton State over North Dakota	31-13	Texans Cruise. Tarleton State proved its seeding was no fluke, winning its first-ever playoff home game comfortably to advance to the Quarterfinals.
No. 12 Villanova over No. 5 Lehigh	14-7	Defensive Upset. Villanova shut down the undefeated Lehigh Mountain Hawks, capitalizing on two late Lehigh fumbles. Lehigh’s undefeated season ends with a frustrating home playoff loss.
No. 11 South Dakota over No. 6 Mercer	47-0	Shutout Stunner. South Dakota delivered the most lopsided result of the day, shutting out the Mercer Bears and showcasing the deep strength of the MVFC.
No. 7 Stephen F. Austin over No. 10 Abilene Christian	41-34	Texas Shootout. The SFA Lumberjacks edged out their in-state rival in a high-scoring thriller, ensuring the WAC retains a spot in the Quarterfinals.
No. 8 UC Davis over No. 9 Rhode Island	47-26	Big Sky Control. UC Davis handled its business at home, using an explosive second half to pull away from Rhode Island and advance.

Updated Quarterfinal Matchups (December 12-13)

The upsets have created a completely new-look Quarterfinal bracket:

Matchup	Date/Time (CT)
Illinois State at No. 8 UC Davis	Dec. 13
No. 12 Villanova at No. 4 Tarleton State	Dec. 13 (11:00 AM)
No. 11 South Dakota at No. 3 Montana	Dec. 13 (2:30 PM)
No. 7 Stephen F. Austin at No. 2 Montana State	Dec. 12 (8:00 PM)