In the original college football playoff, we have reached the quarterfinals on the quest to crown a national champion. In NCAA FCS, the playoffs have already been an exciting ride, and there is plenty more of that to come. With traditional powers, upstart programs and dangerous underdogs still in the mix, it will be an exciting Saturday, as we find out who the final four will be in the FCS Playoffs.

In what is poised to be the game of the day, the #4 seed Eastern Washington Eagles are squaring off with the #5 Illinois State Redbirds. Eastern Washington is a traditional power in FCS, having won the Big Sky Conference in four of the last five seasons (including this year), and they also took home the National Championship in 2010. Illinois State, on the other hand, has not been a power throughout their history, currently holding a losing record overall in program history and having only reached the playoffs five times ever (including this season; their last appearance was in 2010).

EWU cruised to a conference title this season, currently holding a record of 11-2. Illinois State lost just one game and finished in a virtual tie with North Dakota State in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, but they did not play the Bison during the season.

Against most team's this season, the Redbirds have won thanks to their high powered offense. They're offense is certainly stronger than their defense, which itself very solid (they are allowing 19.1 points per game this season). Eastern Washington's defense is allowing more per game at 29.2, but they are scoring at a higher clip, scoring an average of 44 points per game this season (as opposed to 39.4 for ISU).

Quarterback play will be huge for both of these teams. Illinois State's Tre Roberson, a transfer from Indiana, has had a strong season but will need to go toe to toe with Eastern Washington's Vernon Adams Jr. in order to keep the Redbirds in the game throughout. EWU will have home field advantage, and their red turf, as crazy as it sounds, could be a big advantage for the Eagles. It should be an exciting, high scoring game in Cheney, Washington. The winner of this game will face #1 seed New Hampshire in the semifinals.

North Dakota State, the #2 seed and the 3-time defending champions, will take on the #7 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the Fargodome on Saturday in a battle between two of the best teams in FCS over the past several seasons. The Bison finished in a virtual tie in first place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with the aforementioned Illinois State Redbirds, while the Chanticleers finished in a tie with Liberty for the Big South title this season, the fourth year in the last five in which they have scored at least a share of the conference championship.

In their short time as a team (the program began in 2003), CCU has become a formidable power in FCS. North Dakota State, however, has been the powerhouse in the Championship Subdivision, essentially since arriving in Division I in 2004, winning the last three national championships, while also defeating five consecutive FBS opponents, including Iowa State this season.

NDSU is coming off of a close contest versus South Dakota State, while CCU defeated Richmond comfortably in their last game. North Dakota State has a stellar defense, allowing a mere 12.5 points per game this season, while Coastal Carolina is scoring 37.7 per game. This should be a classic battle of great offense versus great defense, with each team have a good squad on the opposite side of the ball as well. The Bison are the favorites in this game, and with the stellar home field advantage inside the Fargodome and the general talent spread across the roster, it's well-deserved.

One thing they will have to be careful of against the Chanticleers is controlling the ball. North Dakota State is a much disciplined team that does not turn the ball over often, and they will need to stay with that trend on Saturday. Coastal Carolina's offense can quickly make you pay after taking the ball away, and forcing turnovers will be the key for them to pull off an upset against a team that, despite not having the top seed, is still the favorite to win it all.

The other quarterfinal game on Saturday is between unseeded Sam Houston State and Villanova, the #6 seed. Sam Houston State started off slowly this season, losing 3 of their first 4 games and eventually hitting a record of just 3-4 midway through the season. However, the Bearkats had a phenomenal second half, and they have won their last 7 games en route to the FCS quarterfinals (they also tied atop the Southland Conference with Southeastern Louisiana at the end of the season). Villanova has a record of 11-2 entering this weekend's game, only finishing behind #1 seed New Hampshire in the Colonial Athletic Conference this year.

The two teams enter this game with very similar offenses, however SHSU has allowed almost six points per game more than Villanova has. Quarterback play will need to be efficient for the Wildcats if they want to hold off the Bearkats. Villanova's John Robertson passed for 217 yards and a score last week against Liberty, but he only completed 8 of 19 passes. Sam Houston State's Jared Johnson, however, completed 13 of 19 passes for 161 yards and 3 touchdowns, and proved why he is such a dangerous dual-threat player as well, rushing for 85 yards and a score on 18 carries.

The defense for 'Nova is solid, but they will need to contain Johnson on the ground defensively in order to make the Bearkats into a one-dimensional attack. Offensively, they must win the battle for time of possession, and that will come with more accuracy and efficiency from John Robertson.

New Hampshire defeated Chattanooga on Friday night to clinch a berth in the FCS Playoffs semifinals. On Saturday we will find out who will join them and continue their dreams of a national championship.

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About the author
Brendan Dzwierzynski
Originally from just outside of Chicago, IL, USA, Brendan is a at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS, USA. Brendan has a great deal of experience in broadcasting and journalism. He has won several awards for radio work, including the Best Sports Play-by-Play at the Columbia College Chicago High School Radio Awards, won during his senior year of high school. He currently serves as the FM Sports Director at KJHK-FM. In terms of writing, he currently writes for several publications, including VAVEL, RockChalkTalk.com (an SB Nation website), thewrestlinggame.com, as well as two personal blogs, titled Per audacia ad astra and Press Box Opinions (sports-only). Brendan is a fan of the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs and White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks and all teams at the University of Kansas.