FARGO, N.D. (WREX) — An Illinois school beat the defending national champion in football to advance in the playoffs.

On Saturday, Illinois State beat the number-one-seeded North Dakota State, 29 to 28, to move on to the next round in the NCAA FCS football playoffs.

The NDSU Bison jumped out of the gate early, scoring on their first play from scrimmage to make it 7-0 in the first quarter. They then doubled their lead, making it 14-0 with over 4 minutes still to go in the first.

ISU would get on the board in the second quarter, as running back Victor Dawson ran 69 yards for the score to make it 14-7.

NDSU hit back to go up 14 points at 21-7, as linebacker Nathaniel Staehling intercepted ISU and ran it back for a pick-six. There were about 8 minutes until halftime.

ISU quarterback Tomm

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