FCS playoff attendance up over 10 percent

Published Jan. 9, 2018 7:53 p.m. ET

(STATS) - Attendance increased over 10 percent in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS playoffs, led by the two most successful teams, national champion North Dakota State and runner-up James Madison.

The 23 playoff games drew 222,424 fans, up from 199,945 last year.

After Saturday's championship game, the NCAA incorrectly announced a total that would have been an all-time record, but it was corrected on Tuesday. The record remains 258,066 in 2015.

The title game drew 19,090 to Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. North Dakota State won its sixth title in seven years with a 17-13 victory over James Madison, the 2016 champ.

All games except the championship were played at campus sites. The two finalists combined for seven of the eight largest crowds, including the campus high of 18,279 for North Dakota State's national semifinal against Sam Houston State at the Fargodome. NDSU's second-round win over San Diego drew 18,067, while Jacksonville State hosted the third-largest crowd - 17,412 - for its second-round loss to Kennesaw State.

This was the 40th year of the FCS playoffs, although just the fifth since the field was expanded to 24 teams in 2013.

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Attendance Game-by-Game

First Round (39,667)

South Dakota at Nicholls - 9,612

Western Illinois at Weber State - 6,876

Samford at Kennesaw State - 5,566

Lehigh at Stony Brook - 4,131

Monmouth at Northern Iowa - 4,095

San Diego at Northern Arizona - 4,068

Furman at Elon - 2,934

Central Connecticut State at New Hampshire - 2,385

Second Round (87,054)

San Diego at North Dakota State - 18,067

Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State - 17,412

Stony Brook at James Madison - 16,449

Weber State at Southern Utah - 11,811

Northern Iowa at South Dakota State - 7,518

New Hampshire at Central Arkansas - 6,243

Furman at Wofford - 5,153

South Dakota at Sam Houston State - 4,401

Quarterfinals (41,806)

Wofford at North Dakota State - 17,008

Weber State at James Madison - 13,490

Kennesaw State at Sam Houston State - 5,725

New Hampshire at South Dakota State - 5,583

Semifinals (34,807)

Sam Houston State at North Dakota State - 18,279

South Dakota State at James Madison - 16,528

Championship Game (19,090)

James Madison vs. North Dakota State at Frisco, Texas - 19,090