(STATS) – Disappointing attendance in the second round of the FCS playoffs suggests this year’s final total will drop from last season.
Second-round attendance on Saturday was down nearly 33 percent as the eight games drew a combined 58,521 fans, compared to 87,054 in 2017.
Defending national champion North Dakota State attracted the second-round high with 17,007 for its game against Montana State at the Fargodome, almost doubling the second-biggest attendance (8,838, Weber State hosting Southeast Missouri).
Inclement weather was a factor with some games. South Dakota State, which ranks 19th in the FCS attendance, had a second-round low of 3,042 for a snowy game against Duquesne, while rain at Kennesaw State contributed to the second-smallest crowd (3,515) attending the game with Wofford.
Last year’s second-round home teams included some of the better-drawing fan bases with North Dakota State, Jacksonville State and James Madison, plus there was a rivalry matchup with Weber State at Southern Utah.
The disappointing second-round attendance was in stark contrast to last weekend, when the first round was up over 22 percent from a year ago. The two-round total is 109,452.
This is the sixth season since the playoffs expanded to 24 teams in 2013. Last year’s 23 playoff games drew 222,424 fans and the all-time record for attendance is 258,066 in 2015.
The second-round attendance:
Montana State at North Dakota State: 17,007
Southeast Missouri at Weber State: 8,838
UNI at UC Davis: 8,306
James Madison at Colgate: 6,418
Jacksonville State at Maine: 6,145
Nicholls at Eastern Washington: 5,250
Wofford at Kennesaw State: 3,515
Duquesne at South Dakota State: 3,042
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