HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- Eric Schmid threw for 227 yards and a touchdown, and his 6-yard touchdown run with 3:39 left helped send second-seeded Sam Houston State past defending FCS champion North Dakota State 24-20 on Sunday.
The Bearkats (8-0) advance to face the winner between No. 3-seed James Madison and North Dakota in the semifinals. Sam Houston State's win gives it a 15-0 all-time playoff record in home games as it searches for its first-ever championship.
The loss snapped North Dakota State's (7-3) FCS string of nine straight semifinals' appearances.
Three days after former Bison quarterback Trey Lance was selected No.