9-0: A look at North Dakota State football's history in the FCS championship
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North Dakota State has won 17 football national championships, more than any program in NCAA college football.
They won three ‘college division’ titles in the ‘60s (an earlier form of Division II), five Division II championships between 1983 and 1990, and have now won nine titles in the Division I-AA/FCS era. The first of those came in 2011 and would become eight championships in nine seasons as they won in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019, then won their ninth title last year when they routed Montana State at Toyota Stadium.
That facility became the home of the FCS championship game in 2010, so the people of Frisco are deeply familiar with the green and gold. When the Bison earn a trip to Toyota Stadium, they win. They’re 9-0 in Frisco, or ‘Fargo South’ as the Bison faithful like to call it.
More:South Dakota State football playoff central: Here's the latest on the team's big season
Eastern Washington beat Delaware 20-19 in 2010, the first year the championship was held in Frisco, and the Bison began their dynasty the next season. The only two seasons since 2011 that they did not win it all they were knocked out in the earlier rounds. South Dakota State has shown they can win in Fargo. Now the Jackrabbits will be tasked on Sunday with being the first team to ever defeat North Dakota State at ‘Fargo South’.
Here’s a look back at the Bison’s history in Frisco.
2011: NDSU 17, Sam Houston State 6
Few could have guessed what was just getting started when the Bison won this one, outlasting the Bearkats behind a Travis Beck pick-six and a Brock Jensen to DJ McNorton touchdown pass.
2012: NDSU 39, Sam Houston State 13
A rematch of the previous year’s title game demonstrated that the Bison were still on the upswing, as they took a 10-10 tie at halftime and turned it into a rout. NDSU outscored the Bearkats 29-3 after the break, with the Bison rushing for 300 yards and five touchdowns while the defense intercepted four passes.
2013: NDSU 35, Towson 7
The Tigers were overmatched against the Bison dynasty, which was playing its final game under that dynasty’s architect, Craig Bohl. NDSU rolled over Towson for their 15th straight win, completing a 15-0 season for their third straight title.
2014: NDSU 29, Illinois State 27
The first championship between conference rivals is still remembered by many as the greatest of the Frisco era. The Redbirds went toe-to-toe with NDSU, scoring first and, after falling behind 23-14, rallying with consecutive touchdowns to take a 27-23 lead with just 98 seconds to play. That was enough for Carson Wentz, however, as he guided the Redbirds 78 yards in just 61 seconds, scoring the game-winning touchdown on a five-yard run and extending the streak to four in a row.
2015: NDSU 37, Jacksonville State 10
Make it five in a row, as the Bison became the first college football team ever to win five straight championships by dominating the Gamecocks. It was 24-0 at halftime, and after JSU briefly made it a game with 10 straight points, NDSU scored the final 13 to put it away. Wentz ran for two scores and threw for another.
2017: NDSU 17, James Madison 13
After the Bison had their streak snapped in the semifinals by James Madison in 2016 (the Dukes would go on to win it all that year), they wanted revenge in 2017 and got their chance in the title game. JMU proved a worthy defending champion, but NDSU, having won their three playoff games 38-3, 42-10 and 55-14, were clearly a team on a mission. Neither team surpassed 300 yards of offense, and NDSU didn’t score in the second half. But their defense made sure that Easton Stick’s 50-yard touchdown pass to Darrius Shepherd in the second quarter stood up.
2018: NDSU 38, Eastern Washington 24
Once again playing their final game for a coach on the move up to FBS, the Bison cruised past EWU to send Chris Klieman to Kansas State as a champion. The Stick-to-Shepherd connection was on again, striking for two passing scores among Stick’s five total touchdowns in the win.
2019: NDSU 28, James Madison 20
Another slugfest between these two FCS powers, the Bison were riding behind freshman phenom quarterback Trey Lance, who was electric in what would be his only national championship appearance. The future No. 1 draft pick rushed for 166 yards in outdueling future Dallas Cowboys quarterback Ben DiNucci, and Lance’s 44-yard touchdown run to give the Bison a two-score lead would prove to be the decisive blow.
2021: NDSU 38, Montana State 10
After one last battle with departing-for-FBS James Madison in the semifinals, the Bison obliterated the Bobcats, using a pair of Hunter Luepke touchdown runs to jump out in front, and eventually going up 35-0 as Montana State floundered after losing quarterback Tommy Mellott to an injury. NDSU rushed for 378 yards to pick up their 9th championship.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: 9-0: A look at North Dakota State's history in the FCS championship
