It's an even numbered year, which means North Dakota State and South Dakota State must play in the playoffs.

It's happened in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022 and now this year. You can set your watch to it.

NDSU has hosted all but one of those games, which was the national championship game in Frisco. The Jackrabbits have accomplished nearly everything in FCS football, except beating the Bison in Fargo in the postseason.

SDSU quarterback Mark Gronowski can break the FCS all-time wins record with a victory Saturday, taking the spot of former Bison great Easton Stick. Gronowski tied Stick's record with SDSU's win over Incarnate Word last week.

NDSU enters at 12-2, with wins over Mercer and Abilene Christian to reach its 13th semifinal in the last 14 years. The Bison enter as an underdog, much like they were in the regular season matchup in October, which was a 13-9 NDSU win.

It is the final game inside the Fargodome for Bison quarterback Cam Miller, who is trying to lead NDSU to its third trip to Frisco in his four years as the starting quarterback.

The Forum's Jeff Kolpack and WDAY's Dom Izzo preview the matchup and who has the inside track to win the game Saturday.