JMU 27-17 NDSU
YSU 40-38 EWU
- Best Performance: (#4) James Madison 27, (#1) North Dakota St. 17 - Khalid Abdullah shreds the thought-to-be invulnerable Bison defense for 231 total yards and a receiving touchdown as the Dukes officially end the Dakota Dynasty.
Worst Performance: (#2) Eastern Washington 38, Youngstown St. 40 - The Eagle defense returns to its usual form as they allow 506 yards to a YSU team that was missing several starters.
Most Surprising Result: Youngstown St. 40, (#2) Eastern Washington 38 - The Penguins become just the second unseeded team to reach the championship since the playoffs expanded to 5 rounds in 2010 (Sam Houston '12), and the first to do so in the current 24-team format.
Celebration Bowl
GRAM 10-9 NCCEN (in Atlanta, GA)
- Best Performance: (#16) Grambling 10, (#20) NC Central 9 - Martez Carter runs for 109 yards and Grambling's only touchdown to offset a surprisingly pedestrian day for QB Devante Kincade.
Worst Performance: (#20) NC Central 9, (#16) Grambling 10 - A costly penalty causes a crucial extra point to be blocked with 2:14 remaining, effectively deciding the game.
Most Surprising Result: (#16) Grambling 10, (#20) NC Central 9 - The Tigers win despite putting up their lowest point total in more than 2 years.