Can No. 7 Richmond dethrone four-time defending national champions and No. 3 seed North Dakota State? A spot in the FCS National Championship Game will depend on it.
Richmond vs. North Dakota State, FCS playoffs 2015: Time, live stream, TV schedule and 3 things to know
Richmond is a huge underdog against a North Dakota State team that has never lost a playoff game in the Fargodome.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Spiders will travel up to one of college football’s most intimidating venues when they take the field at the Fargodome on Friday night. The Bison have never lost an FCS Playoff game on their home turf and have won 15 straight games there dating back to 2010. They’ll be counting on a raucous home crowd to help them power through the FCS final four and towards a fifth straight date with destiny in Frisco, Texas.
However, NDSU may be more vulnerable for a home upset than ever before. The Bison are playing without quarterback and potential first-round NFL Draft pick Carson Wentz, whose return from a broken wrist suffered in October was ruled as "unlikely," according to coach Chris Klieman. Redshirt freshman Easton Stick has been solid in his absence and threw 11 touchdown passes (and only two interceptions) in seven starts, but he isn't the kind of big play producer that Wentz was for the Bison.
Stick does have one thing going for him that Wentz did not; a perfect record. NDSU is undefeated with its second-string passer under center, and Stick has helped the team shake off early losses to Montana and South Dakota. That latter letdown could be the key to Richmond’s upset bid. It was the first time that the Bison had lost in the Fargodome since 2012. The Spiders have to capture USD’s magic to advance to the second national title game in school history.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Radio: North Dakota State, Richmond
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: North Dakota State is favored by 14 points.
Three big things to know
1. Only one quarterback in the FCS has thrown for more yards than Richmond’s Kyle Lauletta. He’s gained 3,427 yards through the air, but his carelessness with the ball (18 touchdowns, 13 interceptions) could cost the Spiders against NDSU. A four-interception day dropped them to a 30-25 regular season loss against New Hampshire. A similar performance against the Bison will almost certainly end Richmond’s season.
2. North Dakota State has bolstered a conservative passing attack with a handful of different runners who can create chaos. Four Bison, including quarterback Easton Stick, have more than 400 rushing yards and a per-carry average of more than 5 yards. That could spell trouble for a Richmond team that ranked only 39th in rushing defense this fall.
3. The Spiders will counter with 2015 Dudley Award finalist Jacobi Green. Green ranked fifth in the FBS with 1,576 rushing yards and second with 21 touchdowns. He’s the engine behind an offense that gains more than 470 yards per contest, and stopping him will be a top priority for the Bison. He found the end zone four times in the national quarterfinal against Illinois State and has seven touchdowns so far this postseason.
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