(STATS) – All but one of FCS championships have been won by the two 2018 finalists since the title game moved to Frisco, Texas, in the 2010 campaign.
Eastern Washington rallied to win the 2010 championship, while North Dakota State has won six of the last seven titles to match Georgia Southern for the most in FCS history.
Eastern Washington (12-2) and North Dakota State (14-0) will square off Saturday at Toyota Stadium to decide the 2018 national title.
Here’s a quick look back at how the two programs won their previous titles in Frisco:
EASTERN WASHINGTON
Eastern Washington 20, Delaware 19 (Jan. 7, 2011) – Eastern Washington (13-2) overcame a 19-0 deficit in the final 17 minutes, capped by quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell’s third touchdown pass – an 11-yarder to Brandon Kaufman – and Mike Jarrett’s extra point with 2:47 left. The Blue Hens disputed the spotting of the ball on a 4th-and-1 run that kept the Eagles’ game-winning drive alive. Mitchell completed 29 of 43 passes for 302 yards, while Buck Buchanan Award winner J.C. Sherritt had 18 tackles.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE
North Dakota State 17, Sam Houston State 6 (Jan. 7, 2012) – The Bison used big plays on special teams and defense to set up two second-half touchdowns. D.J. McNorton scored on a 39-yard screen pass shortly after a fake punt and quarterback Brock Jensen added a 1-yard TD run after linebacker Travis Beck’s 63-yard interception return. The Bison (14-1) limited the FCS’ highest-scoring offense to two field goals in the second quarter.
North Dakota State 39, Sam Houston State 13 (Jan. 5, 2013) – The Bison (14-1) outscored Sam Houston State 29-3 in the second half to break open a game that was tied 10-10 at halftime. Jensen finished with three rushing touchdowns and the Bison defense intercepted four passes, including cornerback Marcus Williams with a pair.
North Dakota State 35, Towson 7 (Jan. 4, 2014) – In Craig Bohl’s final game as NDSU’s coach, five different Bison players scored touchdowns, with Jensen both throwing and running for a score. In Jensen’s FCS quarterback-record 48th and final win (since tied by NDSU’s Easton Stick), the Bison (15-0) became the first undefeated FCS champion since Marshall in 1996.
North Dakota State 29, Illinois State 27 (Jan. 10, 2015) – Junior quarterback Carson Wentz’s 5-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds left lifted the Bison (15-1), who had fallen behind 27-23 on Illinois State quarterback Tre Roberson’s 58-yard scoring run with 1:38 to go. The all-Missouri Valley matchup was the first in the FCS championship game between two teams from the same conference.
North Dakota State 37, Jacksonville State 10 (Jan. 9, 2016) – After missing eight games with a broken wrist, Wentz returned to rush for two touchdowns and throw for another in capping his NDSU career with a second straight most outstanding player award in the title game. In winning their fifth straight national title, the Bison (13-2) held Jacksonville State to 202 offensive yards – 327 below its average.
North Dakota State 17, James Madison 13 (Jan. 6, 2018) – In one of the more anticipated championship games, NDSU (14-1) held off a late drive by James Madison to complete a strong defensive effort: only 241 yards allowed, three takeaways in Bison territory and four sacks. Stick (165 total yards, 50-yard touchdown pass) was named the game’s most outstanding player award, directing an offense that controlled the ball for 37 minutes, 41 seconds.
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