HARRISONBURG – James Madison will meet Youngstown State at the FCS National Championship game in Frisco, Texas on January 7.

The Penguins advanced Saturday with a 40-38 win at Eastern Washington in the semifinal round after JMU beat North Dakota State 27-17 on Friday.

Youngstown State (12-3) was unseeded at the start of the tournament and had to go through Samford, third-seeded Jacksonville State, Wofford and second-seeded Eastern Washington to earn the championship berth.

Coach Bo Pelini is in his second season at the school after spending seven seasons at Nebraska.

Fourth-seeded JMU (13-1), in its first year under coach Mike Houston defeated New Hampshire, fifth-seeded Sam Houston State and top-seeded North Dakota State to earn its berth.

The Dukes are 1-3 all-time against Youngstown State.