FCS Playoffs 2015: Quarterfinals Results, Semifinals Schedule and Bracket Update

The FCS playoffs are down to the final four.

The North Dakota State Bison kept their five-peat hopes alive by edging past a gritty Northern Iowa Panthers team, and the Sam Houston State Bearkats made easy work of the Colgate Raiders to set up a date with the No. 1-seeded Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the semifinals.

This wasn't the final four that was predicted, but it's still expected to be an exciting slate of football next weekend. Here's the updated bracket, as well as a recap of the day's quarterfinal action.

Saturday's Matchups	Semifinal Matchup	Time
Sam Houston State 48, Colgate 21	No. 1 Jacksonville State vs. Sam Houston State	TBD
North Dakota State 23, Northern Iowa 13	No. 3 North Dakota State vs. No. 7 Richmond	TBD

Sam Houston State 48, Colgate 21

Bearkats quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe threw for 358 yards and four touchdowns, as Sam Houston State jumped on Colgate early to advance to the FCS semifinals.

Sam Houston State pounced on the Raiders in the first half. Briscoe threw three of his touchdowns in the first two quarters, including an 18-yard score to LaDarius Brown to give the Bearkats a 28-7 lead with 5:57 remaining in the second quarter.

Briscoe's fourth touchdown came midway through the third quarter, a 32-yard strike to Gerald Thomas to give the Bearkats a 41-14 lead. He was pulled in the fourth quarter, and backup quarterback Jalen Overstreet finished the game off with a 25-yard touchdown to Brown in the fourth.

Bearkats running back Cory Avery ran for 197 yards and a touchdown.

Sam Houston State's win sets up a rematch with No. 1 Jacksonville State, whom the Bearkats beat in the second round of the playoffs last year.

Jacksonville State offensive lineman Kyron Samuels knows that revenge is on the mind:

The Gamecocks beat Charleston Southern on Friday night to advance to the FCS semifinals for the first time in program history.

North Dakota State 23, Northern Iowa 13

In a game dictated by defense, Brian Schaetz sacked Northern Iowa quarterback Aaron Bailey in the end zone for a safety with 3:02 remaining to give North Dakota State a 10-point win in the quarterfinals.

The Bison won their 18th straight FCS playoff game dating back to 2011, according to ESPN Stats & Info, but had to find other ways to win on this day. One of those came in the second half on the opening kickoff. Bruce Anderson returned the kick 97 yards to give North Dakota State a 14-10 lead, which would turn out to be the winning score.

ESPN provided a clip of the touchdown:

King Frazier ran for 107 yards and a fourth-quarter TD that put the game away. Easton Stick completed 13 of 17 passes for only 116 yards, but the NDSU quarterback did not turn the ball over. The Bison converted only three of their 11 third-down attempts, but their defense held Bailey to just 101 passing yards and a touchdown.

Northern Iowa also ran for 120 yards on 38 carries, good for only 3.16 yards per carry.

The Bison have won four straight FCS championships and will have the opportunity to make it to a fifth straight title game should they beat No. 7 Richmond next week. If Sam Houston State pulls off the upset over Jacksonville State, a Bison win would mean the Bearkats and Bison meet for the third time in five years for the FCS championship.