FCS College Football

The long wait is over, both for college football fans in general and, more specifically, for the Eastern Washington Eagles and their fans. The 2014 college football season kicked off with a matchup of two ranked FCS teams very familiar with one another: the Eastern Washington Eagles and the Sam Houston State Bearkats.

This game marked the third time in as many seasons that the two have faced each other. Both previous games were offensive showcases, with the two teams combining for 87 points and 1,026 yards in the semifinals of the 2012 FCS playoffs and then combining for 83 points and 1,052 yards in a regular-season meeting in 2013.

The other trend in those meetings the past two seasons was that Sam Houston State came away as the winner both times, with their 2013 win handing EWU their only blemish on their FCS regular-season record that year.

Which brings us to Saturday's glorious start to the 2014 college football season.

The Eagles started the season as the No. 2 ranked team in the FCS, while the Bearkats began ranked No. 14. Due to their previous history, the tensions surrounding this game were high.

Eastern Washington returned much of their offensive firepower from last season, including the 2013 Walter Payton Award runner-up, QB Vernon Adams, the 2013 FCS Freshman Player of the Year WR, Cooper Kupp, and 1,200-plus yard rusher Quincy Forte. Head coach Beau Baldwin, who won an FCS National Title in 2010 with the Eagles, was once again at the helm.

Sam Houston State, on the other hand, brought a markedly different looking team to Cheney, Washington than the one that EWU had faced in recent years. Gone were the cornerstones of Sam Houston State's offense the last three seasons, QB Brian Bell, RB Timothy Flanders and WRs Richard Sincere and Torrance Williams. The only returning offensive starter outside the O-line was TE Shane Young. Also gone was head coach Willie Fritz and his unique rushing system, as he left to become the head coach at former FCS power and current transitioning FBS team Georgia Southern.

SHSU instead came into the season under the leadership of former Delaware head coach K. C. Keeler, who won a national title with the Blue Hens in 2003. He traditionally runs a more passing-oriented offense, with current Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco being one of the QBs who thrived under his guidance. Which offensive style he would utilize was a big question coming into this game. Also in question for the Bearkats was how team chemistry would be, considering that they had 15 FBS transfers joining their roster after spring camp.

The game started off with Eastern Washington pushing out to a 7-0 lead after the first quarter on a three-yard touchdown pass from Adams to WR Blair Bomber. SHSU fought back to take a 14-7 lead on a 79-yard TD run by RB Keshawn Hill and a 55-yard pick-six by DB Trenier Orr.

EWU replied with a 13-yard TD pass from Adams to WR Kendrick Bourne that knotted the score at 14-14. The two teams then traded touchdowns to go into halftime tied at 21. SHSU got on the board first with a 53-yard TD run by QB Jared Johnson, before the Eagles answered with a 34-yard TD run by RB Jalen Moore.

The third quarter went to the Eagles, with Bomber making another three-yard TD reception on a pass from Adams to produce the quarter's only score and send EWU into the fourth quarter with a 28-21 lead. The Eagles also ended the third quarter with great field position after a short drive to the 1-yard line following an impressive interception by DB Tevin McDonald near the line of scrimmage.

The Eagles only needed one play at the start of the fourth quarter to reach the end zone, with TE Zach Wimberly taking on the role of fullback and punching it in on a one-yard TD rush. That gave EWU a 35-21 lead, but SHSU wasn't willing to back down yet. On their ensuing position, the Bearkats marched 77 yards and reached the end zone on a six-yard pass from Johnson to WR Derreck Edwards and closed the gap to 35-28.

Adams then led the Eagles on a drive down to the SHSU five-yard line, thanks in a large part to his electrifying 29-yard scramble that ended with a face-mask penalty against the Bearkats that tacked on 15 more yards to the play. Then things got really interesting.

The Eagles were forced to temporarily remove Adams from the game at the officials' request due to him wearing a tinted visor on his helmet, which violated NCAA equipment rules. Why it was never noticed or pointed out until partway through the fourth quarter is a mystery. EWU had to insert seldom-used backup QB Jordan West while Adams had the illegal visor removed from his helmet.

West made the very best of his rare opportunity, throwing a beautiful touch pass to the back corner of the end zone that Kupp caught for a five-yard TD reception that gave the Eagles a 42-28 lead.

SHSU then used a strong rushing attack to move the ball down to the one-yard line before Johnson threw a one-yard TD pass to Young. That pulled the Bearkats back to within one touchdown, with the score reading 42-35 with just a little over five minutes left in the game.

Any hopes the Bearkats had for a defensive stand and a quick regaining of possession were quickly dashed by Adams. He completed a 56-yard pass to WR Shaq Hill before finding Bourne on another 13-yard TD pass just three plays later. That gave the Eagles a 49-35 lead with 3:13 left on the clock.

SHSU found some life on the important ensuing drive on a 30-yard pass from Johnson to WR LaDarius Brown. However, the Bearkats' dream of a comeback ended after gaining only four yards on the next four plays.

The Eagles then attempted to run out the clock, but they instead found themselves in the end zone again after Moore rushed for a total of 48 yards on five successive carries and capped off the drive with a one- yard TD run. Although the decision to let Moore go for the end zone instead of taking a knee at the one-yard line with a little over 30 seconds left may raise a few eyebrows, there was nothing particularly unsportsmanlike about it, as Moore had earned the right to go for that glory with his solid rushing on the drive.

SHSU tried to respond to that minor indignity with a last-second drive of their own in order to save some face, but Johnson was picked off in the end zone by DB Isaiah Jenkins with a few seconds left. The Eagles then took a knee and sealed their convincing 56-35 win.

For EWU, Adams finished the game with 302 passing yards, four touchdowns, and interception and 61 rushing yards. RB Quincy Forte also had a strong game, rushing for 152 yards on 23 carries and making one reception for 16 yards.

For SHSU, Johnson finished with 317 yards, two touchdown passes, two interceptions, 79 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown. Hill was also big for the Bearkats, rushing for 133 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries while adding 10 receiving yards on two catches.

Eastern Washington's next game will be against Division II team Montana Western next Saturday, while Sam Houston State will host Alabama State in a week.

When Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead met with reporters at media day on August 11, he started off by thanking members of the press for coming out to cover his team.

That's what happens when you give the media one heck of a story to cover, Joe.

Because of Moorhead, Fordham football is once again relevant. He took over a team that went 1-10 in 2011, and he's won 18 games in his first two years.

This year, Fordham won't just be competing to win games. The Rams have a legitimate shot at the Football Championship Series (FCS) title.

"It feels great," Moorhead said about where the program is. "To come in in year one [and] kind of establish the foundation of our program from a philosophical and expectation standpoint, [and to] go 6-5 and have a winning season, it felt good to get the program headed in the right direction.

"To be able to go into year two and build off of that to a degree of success I don't think any of us were anticipating. [And] now to go into year three and have these expectations.

"It's great for the school, it's great for the athletic department, it's great for our program. Most of all, I'm happy for our players."

Moorhead is all about the process. Perhaps that explains why his program has gotten better each year. Goals are great, Moorhead will tell you, but ultimately, it's what you do on the way to getting to those goals that matters most.

"We want to remain a process-oriented team as opposed to a goal-oriented team," Moorhead said. "Our goals here haven't changed since day one when we stood in the locker room and addressed the team.

"We have a series of goals that we want to accomplish. If you're focused on the goals rather than what it takes to get there, I think sometimes you lose sight of the little things necessary to develop a championship team."

After going 6-5 in his first year, Moorhead led the Rams to a 12-2 record last season.

As a result of what they accomplished a year ago, and with 15 of their 17 All-Patriot League players returning this season, the accolades have poured in. In July, Fordham was picked to win the Patriot League, and 13 Rams picked up preseason awards at the league's media day.

Moorhead said his players have done a good job staying focused on what they need to do as individuals to help the team win games instead of getting caught up in all the preseason hype.

"It's not easy for those guys, particularly with the amount of postseason recognition that we had last year and the amount of accolades that we received heading into this year," he said.

"They're kids. That's our job as coaches to remind them on a daily basis of the things that it takes to be successful—hard work, discipline, accountability, attention to detail—all those intangible things. And then your preparation, effort, execution on a weekly basis.

"You try to go 1-0 every week," he added.

That was a motto that worked well for the Rams last year when they emerged as a top FCS team. This year, they won't be sneaking up on anyone.

"That ended last year with the Villanova win and the Temple win," Moorhead said. "People have their bull's-eye on our back, we've got our bull's-eye on their back. We'll find out who has the best aim and the best shot, and we'll go from there."

Fordham will open its season on Aug. 30 at home against Saint Francis. The Rams won't start preparing for that game until Aug. 22. Moorhead said there's still a lot they need to work on in camp.

"We talk about the season in different phases," he said. "Right now, we're in phase four, which is preseason camp. We need to worry about our camp goals: to improve our knowledge of our scheme and our fundamentals and technique, and then come out and compete on a daily basis.

"At this point we're concentrating on what we need to do to improve [individually and as a team]."

Moorhead said stopping the run has been a big focus of preseason camp.

The Rams have an explosive offense, one that last year averaged 37.6 points per game and scored more than 50 points in four contests.

Defensively, however, they allowed 25.4 points and 202.4 rushing yards per game.

"The biggest thing that I'd like to see an improvement on is rushing defense," Moorhead said. "At the end of the day, we need to do a better job stopping the run."

Moorhead said that they've been working on that in practice and that it has just as much to do with the mental approach as it does scheme.

"We were very opportunistic on defense [last year]," Moorhead said. "The biggest thing that I talk about defensively as a barometer for success is scoring defense and forced turnovers. We gave up a lot of yards, but we were able to keep people out of the end zone."

As Moorhead pointed out, Fordham accomplished a lot last year—12 wins, a victory over a Football Bowl Subdivision School (Temple), a home playoff triumph and two wins over top-10 teams at home for the first time.

Still, what players and coaches remember is what Moorhead called the "sinking feeling" following the loss to Towson in the second round of the playoffs.

"As much as those things are memorable and are great moments for our team and for our program, the thing that sticks out to a lot of these guys is the sour taste in our mouth after the Towson game," Moorhead said. 

"This year, I want us to be a team [that] thinks we can win a championship."

Quotations in this article were obtained firsthand.

Charles Costello covers the Fordham Rams for Bleacher Report. A full archive of his articles can be found here. Follow him on Twitter: @CFCostello

The past few seasons have not been kind to the Weber State Wildcats and their fans. In 2011, head coach Ron McBride announced that he would be retiring at the age of 72 after more than 50 years of Division I coaching experience. 

While replacing a respected and seasoned coach is no easy feat for any college football team, it can be especially difficult for a team like Weber State, a program historically on the lower end of the middle tier of FCS football. Not only do programs in that situation lack the luxury that major FBS programs have in being able to choose from a bevy of obviously qualified candidates, they also lack the luxury that historically upper-tier FCS teams such as Montana, Delaware and North Dakota State have in being able to choose from a pool of candidates with a proven level of skill at the FCS coaching level.

Such programs usually have to either take a chance on a completely unproven hire or get lucky and be able to find an older coach with a degree of previous success during his career but who is no longer in his coaching prime.

The latter situation was the case when the program hired McBride initially. He had taken the in-state Utah Utes and transformed them from a perennial loser for most of the '70s and '80s to a solid program to be reckoned with in the '90s and early 2000s. The rise of the Utes to a national powerhouse for a good portion of the 2000s and early 2010s was built mostly on the foundation that McBride built during his tenure, turning Utah from a "basketball school" into one with a fairly formidable football program as well.

Perhaps most importantly, he restored competitiveness with the archival BYU Cougars, who had basically had a monopoly on quality football and access to solid talent in the state of Utah for most of the previous two decades. It was McBride who led the Utes out from the shadow of the BYU program that had been smothering the growth of Utah's program.

However, McBride's teams started to falter a little toward the end of his tenure at Utah. Although not reverting back to their previous lopsidedly losing ways, the Utes now had higher expectations, leading to McBride being let go at the end of the 2002 season after alternating between moderately losing and moderately winning seasons in his final three years.

McBride then landed at Kentucky as a linebackers coach before Weber State was able to bring him on as head coach in 2004, confident that he would be able to provide at least moderate respectability for its program at the FCS level even if he was past his FBS prime of a decade earlier.

This proved to be the case, with McBride leading a Weber State program that had gone 32-46 during his predecessor's seven-year tenure to a 38-32 overall record during his own seven-year tenure. This included two playoff berths, which are a mark of success for teams historically in the category that Weber State is in.

With McBride's retirement, Weber State found itself in a precarious position. For teams that are historically in the lower end of the middle tier in the FCS, the line between going from a team with moderate recent success to becoming a perennial losing team near the bottom of the league is quite thin. It often hinges on a specific coaching hire or a key recruit or transfer.

The Wildcats were hoping to avoid the slide into ignominy by hiring another respected head coach with prior success who was now in the twilight of his coaching career.  This time, they looked to John L. Smith, who posted an overall record of 41-21 at Louisville from 1998 to 2002 while leading the Cardinals to five straight bowl appearances.

Being able to land Smith to replace McBride was realistically one of the best-case scenarios for Weber State. However, things unexpectedly and abruptly went wrong.

Former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino's dismissal following spring drills in 2012 due to a scandal that revealed a misuse of power on his part resulted in the Razorbacks finding themselves in sudden need of a head coach for that upcoming season long after the hiring season for college football coaches was over. So they turned to Smith, who had served as the Razorbacks special teams coach for the previous three season.

Unfortunately for Weber State, this resulted in the Wildcats losing their safe option for continued moderate success. Instead, they found themselves scrambling to pick up the pieces and completely changing course just months before the season started. The school tabbed Jody Sears, who had just been hired as the team's defensive coordinator, as interim head coach.

With the Wildcats' plans and offseason preparations thrown into chaos, the 2012 season quickly turned from best-case scenario to worst-case scenario. Although able to defeat budding in-state rival Southern Utah (who had just joined Weber State's Big Sky Conference), the team went 2-9, quickly falling off the pinnacle of moderate success it had been on and into its worst fear—the bottom of the league.

With the chaos and calamity that had marred their 2012 season, the Wildcats retained Sears as head coach, hoping that the stability would lead them back out of the basement.

Sadly, it didn't. Things actually got worse for the Wildcats last season. They posted a 2-10 record while regressing from the previous season in both offensive and defensive production and suffering the added setback of losing to SUU, who was quickly developing a successful program and establishing themselves as the top FCS program in the state. Both their offensive and defensive statistics were atrocious, scoring only 15.8 points per game while giving up 41.4 points per game.

The terrible season, in conjunction with SUU having a good season, was especially problematic. FCS competitiveness in the state of Utah is vital to both teams, as it grants better access to the transfers from successful in-state FBS programs BYU and Utah.

Due to both of those teams having complicated roster situations each season as a result of having a significant number of Latter-day Saint players either leaving to go on their LDS missions or returning from their LDS missions, there are abnormally large amounts of transfer players from those programs. This gives Weber State and SUU much more access than the average FCS program to players they could have never dreamed of landing during their recruiting processes.

Some of the transfers are higher in profile and in impact than others, and landing one or more of those can be a game-changer for SUU or Weber State. A prime example is former SUU quarterback Brad Sorensen, who was the Thunderbirds' starting QB from 2010-2012 after transferring from BYU in order to get playing time. He surpassed 3,000 yards passing in each of his three seasons at the school, something no previous SUU QB had done for even a single season. He also graduated as the school's all-time leader in both passing yards and passing touchdowns and then promptly became the first-ever SUU player taken in the NFL draft, as he's now residing on the San Diego Chargers' roster.

Given that unique transfer dynamic, Weber State finds itself in desperate need of a turnaround in order to avoid being gradually phased out of the market by SUU for BYU and Utah transfers. The good news for Wildcats fans is that there is good reason to be optimistic this season instead of fearing falling deeper into FCS despair and irrelevancy.

For starters, new head coach Jay Hill is not an entirely unproven coaching commodity. While never having served as a head coach in collegiate football before, he has served in various assistant coaching positions for Utah. He is also young (39), which seems to be a growing trend in college football among head coaching hires. Perhaps most promisingly for Wildcats fans, Hill is known as a top-notch recruiter, being named to Rivals' top recruiters of 2009 list.

The other major reason for optimism about Weber State's upcoming season is because there are several big-impact players on this year's roster, most of whom were not there last season. Although threatened in the future if the program doesn't improve soon, Weber State's access to high-impact, in-state transfers from FBS teams is still very much intact currently.

At least seven transfers from Utah, Utah State and BYU joined the program this offseason. Included among those players are former BYU QB Billy Green, who could have a Sorensen-like impact on the program, and former Utah defensive back Tyron Morris-Edwards, who brings solid experience with him, including multiple starts for the Utes. In addition, the team returns two known offensive playmakers in workhorse running back Bo Bolen and receiver Shaydon Kehano, who led the entire state of Utah in both the FCS and FBS levels in both receiving yards and touchdown receptions in 2011, before injuries limited his production in the last two seasons.

Despite nearly hitting rock-bottom the past two seasons, the Weber State Wildcats do have the potential to have a turnaround season and put themselves back on track for consistent success. In less than two weeks, that quest begins.

Quarterback Mike Nebrich and the Fordham Rams have a chance to do something special this year. As if last year wasn't special enough.

The Rams won 12 games in 2013 and made it to the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. They got a taste of the postseason.

This year, they want the full meal.

The FCS national championship will take place on Jan. 10 in Frisco, Texas. There's no reason to believe that Fordham can't get there.

The Rams were the unanimous pick to win the Patriot League and are ranked in both major national polls—No. 11 in The Sports Network FCS Top 25 and No. 12 in the FCS Coaches Poll.

Nebrich, who put up eye-popping numbers a year ago, will be a key to it all.

"We're a very confident team, but we know that we're not going to sneak up on anybody this year," Nebrich, a senior, said at Fordham's media day on Monday. "We've gone into every practice with the mentality that we need to get better every single day or else we're not going to have the season that we know we're capable of."

Nebrich said that while the Rams' success last year may have surprised people on the outside, everyone inside the program knew they were a good football team. This season, they want to be even better.

"Last year, we had the mindset that we were going to sneak up on some teams," Nebrich said. "We knew how good we were going to be. That's why we came out of nowhere in a lot of people's minds.

"We've always believed in ourselves. We've always known that we're a good football team. All the preseason accolades and hype hasn't affected us. We've just been doing what we do each and every day. We've been doing the exact same thing with the exact same mindset every single day since Coach Moorhead got here."

Joe Moorhead took over the program prior to the 2012 season. In his first year, the Rams finished 6-5. Then last year happened, and as a result, the lights are shining a little brighter on Jack Coffey Field.

On a team of stars—13 Rams received preseason awards at the Patriot League's media day in July—Nebrich's shines brightest.

Maybe that's because he's the quarterback. More likely than that, it's because of what he did last year, when he threw for 4,380 yards and 35 touchdowns while completing 73.5 percent of his passes. Oh, and he also rushed for 513 yards and nine touchdowns.

Nebrich was named the 2014 Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and he's a candidate for the Walter Payton Award, given to the top player in the FCS.

What can he do to top what he's already accomplished? How about a national championship? That's the goal. Last year was just the beginning.

"It means more for the program and the school," Nebrich said about the team's success last season and the expectations for this year. "Three years ago, we were 1-10, and nobody had any respect for us as a football program.

"Coach Moorhead has turned the program around. He instilled some things in the players that we've used to go forward. Everything we've learned from him, we've put onto the field. People are really starting to respect us as a football team now. We have to respond to it and not get complacent. If we do that, we'll continue some good things here."

The Rams are a senior-laden team that will benefit from having so many players from last year's playoff team returning this season. All but two of the Rams' 17 All-Patriot League players from a year ago are back.

"It carries over a lot," Nebrich said. "With all the starters coming back, there's a lot of game experience there. When you have guys that have been in big games, that experience really helps you going forward into a season, teaching the young guys exactly what it takes to win football games.

"The biggest thing for us is having that experience. Getting later into the year, we know exactly what we need to do and why we fell short last year."

That may have been the most impressive takeaway from media day on Monday. Everyone who spoke was focused on the upcoming season. Last year was great and all, but this year could be special. This year could be the year that the Rams compete for the national championship. Preseason awards and prognostications are nice, but a national championship is the reason they play football in the first place.

"I don't think it adds any pressure," Nebrich said about the preseason talk. "Our ultimate goal is to make it into the playoffs and win the national championship. Whether that comes by an at-large bid or winning the Patriot League, we're going to be the best we can be week in and week out. Ultimately, the goal is being in Frisco, Texas, in January."

Nebrich's individual numbers last year were off-the-charts good, as were the numbers put up by the offense he led. Fordham averaged 37.6 points per game and scored more than 50 points on four different occasions en route to a 12-2 record.

Nebrich said it can be better.

"The numbers speak for themselves," he said. "We were a good offense last year, but we weren't the best. We have work to do there. We have work to do on defense, too.

"We weren't the best in anything last year. I think that's really propelled our guys to push each other on both sides of the ball to get that upper edge and hopefully be the best on both sides."

Adding to the excitement heading into this season is the fact that Fordham is once again eligible to compete for the Patriot League title. Because the Rams broke from league tradition and started awarding scholarships in 2010, they have been ineligible for the league title for the past four seasons.

"Last year, we went into the year knowing we weren't eligible for the title and knowing we had to be almost perfect to even have a chance to make it into the playoffs," Nebrich said. "Going into this year, knowing all we have to do is win the Patriot League to make it into the playoffs, it's not a safety net, but it puts a little less on our shoulders knowing we don't have to be perfect every single week. If we lose a game early, we know that's not the end of our season."

Of course, the goal is to win them all, something the Rams are capable of doing.

"It's a pretty special feeling," Nebrich said about the team's potential. "We certainly have the tools, we have the coaching staff, we have everything we need in place to make a deep run in the playoffs.

"The biggest thing is staying healthy and not getting complacent. This team has done a great job so far dealing with the preseason hype. If we play our best game every day, it's going to be tough to beat us."

Quotations in this article were obtained firsthand.

Charles Costello covers the Fordham Rams for Bleacher Report. A full archive of his articles can be found here. Follow him on Twitter: @CFCostello

Last year, North Dakota State head coach Craig Bohl did what Alabama's Nick Saban couldn't: He won his third straight national championship.  

The term "dynasty" gets thrown around at the slightest hint of a three-peat these days, and for good reason. Including Bohl, only a handful of coaches at any level of college football have accomplished that feat. Legendary Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne didn't get it done. Bear Bryant never did it, either, as a consensus champion. Saban came close, winning BCS titles with the Crimson Tide in 2010, 2012 and 2013, but the one in between eluded him.  

With his 2011-2013 FCS championship trifecta, Bohl, joined the ranks of Jerry Moore (Appalachian State), Bob Reade (Augustana), Lance Leipold (Wisconsin-Whitewater), Larry Kehres (Mount Union) and Mike Van Diest (Carroll), cementing himself among coaches in the modern era with at least three straight national titles. And Bohl went through the FCS playoffs to get it done. 

In 11 seasons as the Bison's head coach, Bohl won 104 games, highlighted by those three consecutive national titles.

Since the end of the 2013 regular season, two of the main architects of the Bison dynasty have departed. On Dec. 8, Wyoming named Bohl its new head coach. In June, former athletic director Gene Taylor announced he was taking a deputy AD job at Iowa.

It's been a time of transition for North Dakota State ever since, but that doesn't mean fans are giving up on the "four-peat" just yet. 

"The pressure is to go out and find the next Nick Saban," said Taylor.

Little about North Dakota State gives the impression of a stepping-stone job—other than it doesn't compete at the highest level of college football. The program enjoys a passionate fanbase that ranked among the best in Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) attendance in 2013.

It has a stable administration that constantly supports its athletics program through funding and facility improvement. Above all, the Bison have had steady success with 11 national championships. 

Under new head coach Chris Klieman, the Bison are looking to maintain their success. From a stunning upset over Kansas State in 2013 to an appearance on ESPN's College GameDay, few football programs at the FCS level have received the kind of exposure in recent years that North Dakota State has. 

"When we talk about someone leaving, whether it’s me or Craig, it’s not about the individual," Taylor said. "Do you have a culture for winning and success? Do you have a culture that people want to support?

"That was in place long before I was at North Dakota State."

A Turnaround from Humble Beginnings

North Dakota State wasn't always a powerhouse. It's easy to imagine a small program from Fargo, North Dakota, offering little to college football. 

Before the first wave of championships began at the Division II level in the 1960s (1965, '68 and '69), North Dakota State hadn't had a coach with a winning record since before World War II. 

But then came head coach Darrell Mudra (went on to coach at Arizona and Florida State) who guided the Bison to their first Division II title. Ron Erhardt, who would later coach the NFL's New England Patriots, succeeded Mudra and won another two. Then came another four in the 1980s (1983, '85, '86 and '88) with Don Morton, Earle Solomonson and Rocky Hager. 

The program established itself as one of the consistent powers in Division II. Its next challenge was to conquer Division I. 

In 2004, early on in Taylor's tenure as AD, the university moved up to what was then known as Division I-AA. It was a risky move that not every program made successfully. There are more strenuous financial obligations, including more scholarships (36 to 63) to support.

Furthermore, NDSU wasn't sure what conference it would be joining. Keeping boosters, coaches and recruits confident in the future was difficult. 

"The NCAA had come up with a new set of rules because a lot of schools were moving up [to Division I], and they weren’t ready. Financially, they were struggling," Taylor said. "So the NCAA said you get a five-year probationary period. You don’t get to compete for championships, share in NCAA money, can’t win a conference championship. 

"There was a lot of anxiety during that time."

Not to mention a coaching change. The program was trending down under Bob Babich, so Taylor hired Bohl. Because of the NCAA restrictions, the Bison weren't able to compete in the Division I playoff despite winning 10 games in 2006 and 2007.

Year	Coach
1965	Darrell Mudra
1968	Ron Erhardt
1969	Ron Erhardt
1983	Don Morton
1985	Earle Solomonson
1986	Earle Solomonson
1988	Rocky Hager
1990	Rocky Hager
2011	Craig Bohl
2012	Craig Bohl
2013	Craig Bohl

Every program boasts about the team-oriented players it recruits. However, with no opportunity for a championship, the players who transitioned the Bison to Division I did so knowing they were only there to lay the groundwork.

They would not be able to hang championship banners next to the ones from the '60s and '80s.

"They didn’t get a chance to do that," Taylor lamented, "but they helped build us to where we are today."

That would soon change, however. By 2010, the Bison were competing in the Division I playoffs. The three-peat title run began the following year. 

Establishing the Attitude

Defense is a source of pride for North Dakota State, which, dating back to the Hager era, has exclusively hired defensive-minded head coaches. 

In 2011, Klieman joined Bohl's coaching staff as a defensive backs coach following a successful stint at another FCS power, Northern Iowa, where he was the defensive coordinator. In 2012, he took over the same responsibilities with the Bison. 

"You have to take chances. You have to continue to network. You have to continue to better yourself and challenge yourself as a coach," Klieman said. "It was time for a new challenge."

Klieman is an Iowa native and a Midwestern guy familiar with the Missouri Valley Football Conference, formerly the Gateway Conference. There's an attitude in the region, he says, that favors sound defense and good field position. 

Klieman, like so many coaches at North Dakota State before him, is rooted in that mantra. North Dakota State had a stout defense in 2013, allowing just 11.3 points per game.

In each of Klieman's three years in Fargo, the Bison have led the nation in scoring defense. 

Minor things change from coach to coach, like blitz or personnel packages. The overall model, however, remains the same. The Bison practice hard and play hard with the goal of wearing down their opponents. 

That starts with workouts. Of all the hires Klieman made, none were more important than keeping strength and conditioning coach Jim Kramer. 

"He was the No. 1 focal point," Klieman said. "I know Craig was trying to get him at Wyoming, and we were trying to keep him.

"Jim loves it here. He has a great bond with our players. They’re with the strength coach 12 months out of the year." 

It was Klieman's biggest recruiting victory. New Washington coach Chris Petersen echoed that sentiment, telling Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated about the importance of hiring good strength coaches: 

They're everything. Finally people are starting to figure out how valuable [strength and conditioning coaches] are. They're starting to get paid better. I mean, they probably spend, and I don't even think it's a probably, they do spend more time than myself or the assistants with these kids. That was my first hire, and probably my most important.

Kramer is one of the many people who have molded the program that has defeated a Football Bowl Subdivision team each of the last four years, including last year's stunning upset of Kansas State. 

24-21

At 74 years old, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder is still a living box score. 

"We had a good offensive line last year," he said at Big 12 media days. "We averaged about four or five yards per rush."

"Against North Dakota State," he continued, "we averaged about 1.8 yards per rush."

Look it up and he's dead on. The Wildcats averaged 4.5 yards per carry in 2013, according to cfbstats.com. In a 24-21 loss to the Bison in the '13 season opener? Sure enough, it was 1.8. 

North Dakota State's offense was just as impressive. The Bison had just one drive in the fourth quarter, but they made it count. An 18-play, 80-yard grinder that lasted 8:30 resulted in the go-ahead touchdown with 28 seconds left. 

On the very next play, linebacker Grant Olson intercepted Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters, sealing the upset. The Bison had toppled the reigning Big 12 champs. 

The Manhattan crowd, which just hours before watched an unveiling of Snyder's statue outside of the stadium named for the legendary coach, was blindsided.

How was it possible?

The Bison's fourth-quarter dominance revealed a universal truth about football, no matter the level: Good teams are excellent in the trenches since everything that happens on both sides of the ball before, during and after the snap begins right there. 

"Everyone would say we’re a running team. I would say we’re 50-50 balanced team when games are not in doubt," Klieman said. "Once the game is in hand, then we’re probably 80 percent run/quick passes to try and wear someone down." 

Recruiting has to match that philosophy. The Bison coaching staffs have historically tried to recruit the big Midwestern prospects you'd expect to find in places like Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. Even in-state recruiting is a priority.

"We have to win in the State of North Dakota," Klieman said. 

There are other places that Klieman calls auxiliary recruiting grounds: Kansas City, St. Louis, Florida and Arizona. The roster is sprinkled with players from those areas.

Almost all of the players were overlooked elsewhere, usually by Big Ten schools. They're an inch or two short, a hair slow in their 40 time, but they can play. And the coaching staff knows how and where to find them. 

"If you have a guy who comes in and says he wants to build his program with a bunch of D-I and JUCO transfers, that changes your culture," Taylor said. "If you quit recruiting your base, that changes your culture."

The Bison have no intention of changing that.  

Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss

Even through coaching and administrative changes, North Dakota has been able to remain largely the same. That's easier said than done.

Consider that Pitt once had three different head coaches in the span of a year: Dave Wannstedt, Mike Haywood and Todd Graham in 2010-11. 

Bohl declined to be interviewed, but Wyoming released a statement to Bleacher Report. "Craig had a great time while he was the head coach of the Bison and has so many great friends still there," it read. "But he feels it is best for NDSU that he let them move forward and build their program without him commenting on the program now that he has left."

Sure, playbooks will be modified, as they are every year. But, most importantly, the players who were a part of three national championships remained the same. 

"I told our guys, 'We’ve changed a lot of coaches, but we haven’t changed you players,'" Klieman said. "It's still your football team."

Retention rate is of the utmost importance. No matter how good North Dakota State has been, scholarship limitations mean less depth. Some players never receive full scholarships like they would in the Football Bowl Subdivision. 

There simply isn't as large a margin for error when it comes to attrition as there is at the highest division of college football. 

It takes leadership to keep the retention rate high. "We have great seniors. There just aren't as many," Klieman said. "But they were freshmen when we won our first national championship. They weren't the stars, but they've seen how a successful season goes."

Taylor and Klieman preached, almost verbatim, that buying into a culture is what breeds success. North Dakota State's culture has been about finding regional high school players who have a chip on their shoulder. "You have to understand who you are," Taylor said. 

It's paid dividends. The Bison have been picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference this season despite the coaching change. A season opener against Iowa State is another winnable game against an FBS opponent. A victory against the Cyclones would only boost recruiting for Klieman and his staff. 

As if North Dakota State needed more help. Summer camps are nearing 1,000 prospects per session. The brand of Bison football is as good as its ever been. The future is undeniably bright. 

Still, it's hard not to look back at what has been an unthinkable journey. Klieman let out a chuckle as though he was still in a state of disbelief.

"Last year was a special year." 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football at Bleacher Report. All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. 

Jimmy Garoppolo is still a virtually unknown prospect for the 2014 NFL Draft, but the Eastern Illinois quarterback has started building some real momentum over the past couple of weeks.

I'm not particularly surprised by Garoppolo's strong showing at both the Shrine Game and Senior Bowl. Back in December, I said this about him in an article:

The Dark Horse: Jimmy Garoppolo, Eastern Illinois: Garoppolo may not be a big name yet, but he's got a heck of an arm and great mechanics. I think there's a good chance that the best player in the FCS will shoot up boards and have a shot at being taken in the first 100 picks. 

I also ranked him as my No. 5 quarterback in the 2014 class a couple of weeks ago, and named him as a player who would improve their stock in the Senior Bowl.

Clearly, I really believe in this kid, and so far, he hasn't let me down.

This is the second installment of my small-school prospect scouting report series, which kicked off last week with Princeton defensive tackle Caraun Reid.

Now I'm shifting to Garoppolo and will try to provide some background, as well as just scouting material, because most people know nothing about him at this stage.

Background

Garoppolo didn't begin playing quarterback until high school, according to Chris Johnson of Sports Illustrated. In a way, this actually may have helped his development because he didn't have any bad habits to break.

The Rolling Meadows, Illinois native's progression as a passer was quick, and he put up big numbers in high school. His only scholarship offers, however, came from three FCS schools: Illinois State, Montana State and Eastern Illinois.

While he couldn't have known it at the time, picking Eastern Illinois did wonders for his career. That's because Dino Babers would sign on to become the Panthers head coach before Garoppolo's junior year.

Babers was previously the wide receivers coach at Baylor, where he worked with Robert Griffin III. He then brought over his offensive knowledge from Baylor to Eastern Illinois, which undoubtedly helped Garoppolo maximize his talent and catch the attention of the NFL. 

He had an extremely decorated career at Eastern Illinois, winning the Walter Payton Awardd as the best player in FCS this year. At the conclusion of his junior season, he was already third in Eastern Illinois' history in total offense (7,977 yards), touchdown passes (65) and passing yards (8,106).

Then in his senior year, he went and broke his own Ohio Valley Conference record for single-season passing yards, racking up an incredible 5,050 which was just shy of the FCS record.

With all of this in mind, it's time to dig deep into what the film says about Garoppolo's game.

Footwork and Mechanics

People will be heaping praise on Garoppolo's accuracy and lightning-quick release (I'll be doing that shortly), but they have to realize that none of that is possible without great footwork.

He is very light on his feet, maintains a relatively wide but comfortable stance and has the right instinct to always set himself before he throws.

This allows him to have a consistent motion, which is huge for quarterbacks. Many guys who have strong arms and get the "boom-or-bust" label are often given that because of their inconsistency, which starts with footwork.

His ability and willingness to take the time to reset his feet is really huge, and he'll do it even in a tight pocket or when facing pressure.

His throwing mechanics are extremely precise, and he leads to an unbelievably fast and compact throwing motion that allows him to get the ball out quickly with power.

Make sure you pay attention to Garoppolo's stance and windup before he releases the ball in the video clips throughout the article, because it's really a thing of beauty.

Garoppolo is smooth and quick while still remaining strong and powerful, which is difficult to do.

He stays balanced throughout the throw, wastes no motion, and stays within himself. He throws the ball from a 3/4 arm slot which seems natural and consistent, and his stride is just right.

His quickness and fantastic throwing motion are put prominently on display in Eastern Illinois offense. I tried to pinpoint a couple of videos here which showcase his extremely quick delivery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a2FcFVD3Qg,70

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88WMQGukB1A,392

On the second play, Garoppolo's quick release is on display despite getting pressure right in his face. It's nice to see him ignore that rusher and get the ball out around him.

One might also notice that neither play here comes off play action. But throwing off of play action may be Garoppolo's biggest strength, however, and it is something he did a lot in Babers' spread offense.

His ability to immediately reset himself and get the ball out after faking the handoff to his running back is a really big asset that is just another testimony to his outstanding release.

There are a ton of examples to choose from, but just a few should suffice for now. 

Take note of how quickly Garoppolo shuffles his feet, locates his target, squares his shoulders, and is already whipping his arm through to release the ball. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXNISUKn1NA,103

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXNISUKn1NA,207

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88WMQGukB1A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88WMQGukB1A,214

This kind of talent obviously can be improved with practice, but there's also a certain natural ability here that Garoppolo just seems to have.

While I will go into further detail now about his arm strength and accuracy along with his anticipation and knowledge of his offense, it's quite clear to me that, from a mechanical standpoint, Garoppolo is the best in this class.

There will be a lot made of his playing against weaker competition in the FCS, but his numbers against better teams are still very good, and his great mechanics can't be downplayed because of the quality of his opponent.

Now let's move on to take a look at the ball that Garoppolo throws, instead of just harping on how he throws it.

Arm Strength and Accuracy

Garoppolo isn't an overly powerful guy, and he doesn't often make any outrageous downfield throws that make highlight reels.

But he knows his limitations, can still throw a good deep ball, and has more than enough power and anticipation to squeeze balls into tight windows.

His biggest asset is his accuracy, and he really excels on short and intermediate throws where he's either throwing the ball out to the flat, up the middle, or hitting receivers on simple routes like slants and posts.

These two throws showcase his incredible ability to put the ball exactly where it needs to be, anywhere on the field.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTWi8kN8qnM,171

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7veWuK4OxTY

Make sure you look at the replays of the first throw, especially the second replay, which shows how Garoppolo seams the ball through three defensive players right into his receiver's hands.

The second throw is underrated in its difficulty, as well, and Garoppolo hits his man in stride perfectly so that he has the ability to turn upfield and get extra yardage.

While he isn't the biggest and most powerful quarterback, Garoppolo's arm strength is still very much above-average, and he showcases his ability to throw the deep ball here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTWi8kN8qnM,83

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88WMQGukB1A,373

It's encouraging to see that Garoppolo still uses the same compact motion even when airing the ball out a bit. He doesn't reach back farther or "heave" the ball down the field.

Despite what most people think, however, arm strength is not just about airing it out.

While it's nice to be able to throw the ball really far, the majority of throws in the NFL will be much shorter and there will be many times where a successful throw really comes down to strength to drive the ball into difficult areas.

One of the most telling examples of arm strength is the intermediate sideline throw. When a player runs a route that leads him towards the sideline, a quarterback needs a lot of strength to get the ball there, because even though it's not that far downfield, he's also throwing it pretty far to the side.

That's an example of when people say "making NFL throws," which is otherwise just pretty useless scouting jargon. But jargon or not, Garoppolo can certainly make all the throws necessary.

As the following plays show, Garoppolo has more than enough strength to hit players on any kind of route.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXNISUKn1NA,48

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTWi8kN8qnM,252

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXNISUKn1NA,603

Those first two throws to the outside are impressive, but it's also very easy to see the velocity and RPMs he gets on that third one.

But what about the opposite kind of throw, when there needs to be some touch on the ball?

Garoppolo still has some room to grow there, but also shows the ability to take something off and float the ball to his receiver.

He can be a bit inconsistent on very short fade routes in the end zone, and here he overthrows his receiver in the end zone on two consecutive plays and then a third shortly after (skip ahead to 4:00 for the third overthrow).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88WMQGukB1A,168

Nothing really breaks down here, as Garoppolo's motion stays consistent and his feet are set. He may have rushed the throws a bit, and the overthrows may have something to do with his arm slot.

This is a point that Garoppolo will have to work on and fix, because if he gets some big receivers or tight ends in the NFL, then he'll be relied on to make this throw once in a while.

But he's also shown plenty of ability to put some touch on the ball and is especially good at it when he's not necessarily "lofting" the ball, like on those previous misses, but is actually throwing the ball a little further downfield and dropping it in the middle of coverage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXNISUKn1NA,740

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7veWuK4OxTY,42

These throws are both different, as the first one shows both accuracy and a really keen sense of how to throw a fade in a tight window.

The second one is exactly what I meant by "dropping it in," as Garoppolo gets it over the initial line of coverage with enough power while having the accuracy to fit it right in.

Summing up a player's talent in one throw is pointless and meaningless, but I'm going to do it here anyway.

This last throw shows everything Garoppolo is capable of. He's patient but then still anticipates exactly when the window will be open, has the strength to get it all the way to the sideline, but puts enough touch on it to make it catchable, and places the ball literally exactly where it needs to go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTWi8kN8qnM,402

As impressive as they look, these throws have all come from a standstill when Garoppolo has at least a little bit of time in the pocket.

How does he fare when he's forced to roll out and make plays on the move? 

Athleticism

Garoppolo won't be mistaken for Johnny Manziel, but he's still a reasonably athletic quarterback who won't get stuck taking bad sacks in the pocket because he's stuck in mud.

He isn't necessarily a fluid or graceful athlete, but he's pretty light on his feet and is also well-built and strong throughout his body.

Garoppolo can extend some plays, but defenses will not fear him taking off and trying to get yards with his feet.

With that in mind, one thing he definitely needs to improve on is his ability to throw the ball on the move.

On these two plays, Garoppolo tries to heave the ball on the run and simply doesn't have the power or fluidity to deliver a good accurate ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a2FcFVD3Qg,304

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88WMQGukB1A,314

I know, on the second play it ends up being a touchdown—but take a look at the replay to get a better view of the ball in the air.

It's upright, wobbling, and under-thrown. The defensive back completely just whiffs on the play (he actually may have gotten a piece of it), and even an average play by the defensive back would've ended up with an interception.

In both of those plays, Garoppolo is moving to his right, which is the more natural direction for a right-handed thrower. But as comfortable as he looks inside the pocket, he looks that uncomfortable outside of it.

When he gets hurried and moves, he still looks to throw first, which is good—but he still needs to try and stay calm and use those great mechanics to deliver a ball.

He also had time on both of those plays to pull up, reset his feet a little, and make a better throw. On this play, Garoppolo does just that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88WMQGukB1A,58

Granted it's a designed roll-out, but the difference is evident. The ball is powerful, accurate, has a tight spiral, and arrives right on the money.

If Garoppolo can get that done more often, it'll improve his all-around game and help him in the fast-paced NFL.

The term "functional mobility" has been a buzzword for quarterbacks recently, and I think it fits Garoppolo perfectly.

Even though he's not an elite athlete, let's see how Garoppolo measures out physically and mentally.

Measurables and Intangibles

One of, if not the biggest knock on Garoppolo will be his size. I'm not a big stickler about the numbers, because I think that if a kid can play, then he can play. Period.

People will point out Drew Brees and Russell Wilson as successful short quarterbacks, but the fact is that they are the exception, not the rule.

Garoppolo measured in at the Senior Bowl at 6'2" 1/4, 219 pounds with 9-inch hands. These are not bad numbers by any means, but they will cause a little hesitancy among some scouts.

The smaller hand size is probably the biggest concern, because it makes him more prone to fumbling and can make it harder to palm the ball and make good throws on the move.

Overall, I'm not overly concerned about his size at all. One thing he'll have to adjust to is playing with a bigger offensive line than he had at Eastern Illinois.

By all reports, Garoppolo is a really good leader and team player. OptimumScouting's Eric Galko interviewed him and came away impressed, noting that he seems to be well-liked by all his teammates.

Other articles, including Chris Johnson's that I referenced at the beginning of the article, call Garoppolo a humble and hard working player who just goes about his business.

This interview on YouTube with Panther Sports Talk lets you get a little bit of an idea what Garoppolo is like off the field, and I personally came away impressed after watching it.

Projection

Quarterback is such a tough position to project for the draft, because different teams like certain players to fit into their specific offenses.

Some teams will be hesitant about Garoppolo because it's hard to predict how he'll adjust to the faster speed of defenses in the NFL.

His play in the past two weeks at both all-star games is extremely encouraging, however, and I remain confident after looking at his film that he'll be a productive NFL starter.

He's solidly a top-five quarterback for me, and he'll push to get into my top-50 overall prospects. Right now, he's locked in as a second-round pick in my book.

The North Dakota State Bison came into this year's FCS college football season as two-time defending national champions. They now finish the season as three-time defending national champions, thanks to a 35-7 blowout of Towson in the FCS National Championship Game in Frisco, Texas.

The Bison kicked off the scoring with a five-play, 54-yard drive on their second possession of the game, which culminated in a two-yard touchdown run by John Crockett with a little more than five minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Tigers responded with a 12-play, 77-yard drive that took up the remainder of the first quarter and was punctuated by a three-yard Terrance West touchdown run as the quarter ended.

For most of the second quarter, the game stayed deadlocked at 7-7, and it appeared that Towson may be able to hang with the powerhouse Bison.

That all changed with about five minutes remaining in the half, when Bison safety Colten Heagle blocked a 41-yard field-goal attempt and teammate Kyle Emanuel picked up the block and ran it back to the Towson 5-yard line.

On the very next play, a sweep handoff to wide receiver Ryan Smith resulted in a five-yard touchdown run to put the Bison on top once again.

NDSU wouldn't relinquish that lead, as Towson's next possession ended when quarterback Peter Athens got picked off by cornerback CJ Smith, who had an impressive winding return that netted NDSU 32 yards and gave them the ball in Towson territory.

The Bison needed only five plays to find the end zone, with QB Brock Jensen hitting star WR Zach Vraa for a 12-yard touchdown pass to send NDSU into halftime up 21-7.

The third quarter was all Bison, as Towson gained only 33 yards total, while NDSU racked up 161 and got on the scoreboard again, courtesy of a nine-yard touchdown run by Jensen.

The fourth quarter opened on another positive note for NDSU, as Sam Ojuri broke into the end zone on a one-yard run to give the Bison a 35-7 lead.

Towson's players had two long drives left in them but couldn't find the end zone, giving the Bison the 35-7 win and their third consecutive national championship.

The Tigers actually outgained the Bison, 373 yards to 345, but most of that came on the two meaningless drives near the end of the game. On the ground, NDSU outrushed the Tigers, 210 yards to 106. The Bison defense kept vaunted Towson running back Terrance West mostly in check, as he failed to eclipse 100 yards on the ground and was held to only an average of 4.5 yards per carry, which is well below his season average of 6.3.

One factor that affected both teams was the terrible field condition, as the grassy turf was left in chunks all over the field, and footing was an obvious issue for both the Bison and the Tigers. Large groups of workers and volunteers came on during each stop in play to try to patch the field back together.

The dominating win put NDSU in elite company, making them only the second team to ever win three straight FCS titles in football. NDSU joins Appalachian State, which did it from 2005 to 2007.

There is no doubt that this NDSU squad is to be considered a dynasty.  During their three-year run, the Bison have gone 43-2, which included a perfect 15-0 record this season.  That makes them the first FCS team to go undefeated since Harvard in 2004, which didn't participate in the playoffs.

Bison QB Brock Jensen finishes his career as the winningest quarterback in FCS history, going out with a final record of 48-5 as a starter.

The Bison will lose most of their starters and coaching staff after this season, so it remains to be seen whether they will be able to extend their dynasty next season. 

For the time being though, the North Dakota State Bison are the most dominant football program in the country.

Make it three in a row for North Dakota State.

The Bison capped a perfect season by winning their third straight FCS national championship, beating Towson 35-7. From SportsCenter on Twitter:

Behind a strong rushing attack, an excellent defensive effort against a dangerous Towson offense and a timely blocked field goal and interception in the second quarter, the Bison continued their domination of the FCS ranks. They held Towson running back Terrance West—who came into the game with 2,468 rushing yards and 41 total touchdowns—to just 91 yards and a score on 22 carries. 

North Dakota State struck first, as you might expect. A 33-yard run from John Crockett brought the ball to Towson's 21-yard line, and five plays later, he plunged two yards into the end zone to give the Bison the lead.

The Tigers had an answer, however. Five plays after converting a 4th-and-1 from their own 32, Peter Athens found Brian Dowling on a 37-yard pass and North Dakota State was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty to set up Towson at the 11-yard line. Two plays later, West burst in the end zone for his 42nd touchdown of the year.

But momentum swung the Bison's way in the second quarter. Kyle Emanuel returned a blocked D.J. Soven field-goal attempt to the Towson 5-yard line, and Ryan Smith rushed for a touchdown on the next play. On the next series, Athens was intercepted by CJ Smith, leading to a five-play, 43-yard drive capped by Brock Jensen's 12-yard touchdown pass to Zach Vraa.

North Dakota State went into the half leading 21-7.

And the Bison started the second half just as strongly. After holding Towson to a three-and-out on the first possession of the second half, North Dakota State marched down the field, going 88 yards in just eight plays, with Jensen running it in from eight yards out to extend the lead to 28-7.

North Dakota State nearly made the game 35-7 on its next drive, but it was stuffed on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Towson couldn't turn that key stop into any type of momentum, however, going three-and-out and punting the ball away. But Connor Frazier shanked the punt, setting up the Bison at the Towson 31-yard-line.

Seven plays later, Sam Ojuri plunged into the end zone from a yard out, and North Dakota State was well on its way to winning a third straight FCS championship.

All in all, it was a pretty clinical performance from North Dakota State, though all wasn't lost for Towson, as West managed to make history in the game. From Towson Athletics on Twitter:

A small consolation for Towson, surely, but a reminder of just how memorable its 2013 season truly was. The Tigers ran into a powerhouse in North Dakota State, but the they had quite the run to get to the FCS championship in the first place.

Player	Team	Position	Grade
Offensive Line	North Dakota State	OL	A+
Terrance West	Towson	RB	B
Defensive Line	North Dakota State	DL	A
Peter Athens	Towson	QB	B-
John Crockett	North Dakota State	RB	A-
Peter Athens	Towson	QB	C+
Sam Ojuri	North Dakota State	RB	A-
Zach Vraa	North Dakota State	WR	B+

Player of the Game: The Entire Bison Team

It may seem like a cop-out, but this was truly a team effort. While no one player stuck out with a particularly huge performance, there wasn't a single player that stood out for playing poorly, either.

The Bison didn't give up a turnover on the game. Their top two running backs eclipsed 80 yards. Six different players caught passes. Five different players were given a carry. They held the best running back in the FCS to 99 rushing yards on 22 carries. They won the special teams battle. They controlled time of possession. 

It was the definition of a team victory. Every player executed his role and consistently handled his assignments. Slowly but surely, the Bison took the will to win away from the Tigers with smart, physical football. 

It isn't hard to see how this team has now won 24 straight games.

The North Dakota State Bison have dominated FCS football even more than the Alabama Crimson Tide have in the FBS. The Bison came into the season as two-time defending champions. Unlike the Crimson Tide, North Dakota State has reached the doorstep of a three-peat.

Only the Towson Tigers stand in their way, and Rob Ambrose’s team won’t go quietly. 

Towson and North Dakota State will battle for the FCS national championship in a David vs. Goliath matchup. Can the Tigers slay the mighty Bison and win an improbable national championship?

The champions figure to be an inspired bunch. Head coach Craig Bohl is leaving the program he helped steer to an elite level after the season. The FBS has come calling and Bohl has accepted the head-coaching position with Wyoming.

Chances are, his players will want to send their coach out on a high note.

Here’s how you can watch the action.

When: Saturday, January 4, 2 p.m. ET

Where: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

TV: ESPN 2

How Will Craig Bohl’s Departure Impact His Team’s Performance?

There could be some question as to whether Bohl will be totally plugged in for his final game, but that seems highly unlikely. The 55-year-old has shown himself to be a consummate professional and hard worker. It seems doubtful that he'd leave his kids hanging by giving less than 100 percent effort.

Bohl told Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun, he and his team are hungry for a third-straight title. Here he talks about the opportunity to make history and his motivation.

Our coaches and players and myself are very hungry. It’s unique to have an opportunity to be in this three times in a row. But I can tell you this: each time you’re here, you just want to give it another time to return. So we’re really excited.

Is the Moment Too Big For the Tigers?

While this is old hat for the Bison, it represents entirely new territory for Towson. The Tigers aren't just competing for the program's first championship; a win would also bring the school its first Division I title. To say this is a big deal in Baltimore is an understatement.

Per Gigi Barnett of CBS Baltimore, more than 3,000 fans will make the trip to greet the Tigers in Texas.

Even Ambrose can be caught absorbing the magnitude of the moment. He told Matthew Hamilton of the Towerlight: “Seriously, this is kind of cool. We’re practicing more than a [Division 1-A] bowl team. How weird is this; that it’s [the New Year] and we’re still playing football?”

The excitement is understandable as the Tigers came into the FCS 24-team playoff as just a seventh seed.

That said, by the time the ball is kicked off, they better be more than just happy to be there if they plan to win.

Paths to Title Game

Steamrolling the Competition

The Bison have lived up to their moniker as a juggernaut in the playoffs. They have annihilated Furman, Coastal Carolina and New Hampshire en route to the championship game.

They'll come into Friday's game 14-0, having smashed their playoff opponents by a combined score of 138-35.

The closest any team has been is 31 points. 

Thrilling Wins and Clutch Play

Towson hasn't been nearly as dominant, but their games have been long on excitement. It beat Fordham by 20, Eastern Illinois by 10 and survived a four-point close call with Eastern Washington to reach the title game.

 

Impact Players

Sam Ojuri and John Crockett

The Bison run game is so dominant, either Ojuri or Crockett could prove to be the most effective rusher in any given game. In the semifinal game against New Hampshire, Crockett exploded for 195 yards on just 13 carries.

Ojuri was the man against Coastal Carolina in the quarterfinals. He had 162 yards and scored two touchdowns. Through the year, the rushing offense is ranked seventh in the FCS and these two men are a big reason why.

Terrance West

As good as Ojuri and Crockett are, no player in the FCS has rushed for more yards than West this season, as he has already tallied 2,421 yards and 40 touchdowns on the ground. 

How good is West? The 5'11", 223-pound junior has already decided to turn pro after the season, per CampusSportsNet.com. Brian Shawn, the play-by-play announcer for the Tigers confirms West's intentions.

The Tigers star had an FCS-playoff-record 354 rushing yards and five touchdowns against Eastern Illinois in the quarterfinals. That game was on national television and really served to heighten the awareness of the NFL hopeful.

West followed that up with 115 yards and two scores against Eastern Washington. Shane Hallam of DraftTV is already tabbing West as a player to watch in the draft.

Can he make one more statement and guide his team to an improbable win?

Peter Athens

West is clearly the man for Towson, but if the Bison can slow him down, the Tigers must be able to depend on Athens to make plays in the passing game. 

He left the semifinal game with a shoulder injury and didn't play in the second half. Despite the injury, Athens told Hamilton he'd be ready for the title game. When asked if he'd play against North Dakota State, Athens said:

Absolutely, no doubt [the extra week] helped to be able to get more treatment with our trainers. You don’t get a lot of opportunities to play for a national championship and I don’t want to miss it. I expect to be full go.

He'll have to be at his best.

Brock Jensen

Jensen feels AJ McCarron's pain. As the quarterback of a run-dominant team with superior athletes at many of the key positions, Jensen may not get all of the credit he deserves.

Even with the successful Bison rushing attack, Jensen has tossed 33 touchdown passes this season. The Tigers will be gunning to slow North Dakota's ground game on Friday. Like Athens, Jensen will need to step up if the team's Plan A doesn't produce immediate benefits.

Prediction

The Tigers' tale is a cool one to root for, but North Dakota's experience, desire to send Bohl out a winner and overall talent will be too much for Towson to overcome. 

Barring a bevy of turnovers from the Bison and a sparkling day from Athens and West, North Dakota will win its third straight FCS title.

Follow me. Sports is what I do.

 

Before Auburn and Florida State face off in Pasadena on January 6 to determine the BCS national champion, the FCS level of college football will crown its champion.

On the Saturday before the BCS National Championship Game, North Dakota State and Towson will battle it out to determine the national champion at the second-highest level of college football.

Unlike their FBS counterparts, these two title hopefuls have earned their way into the championship game by making it through a 24-team playoff.

Let's take a look at the biggest game of the year in FCS football.

When: Saturday, January 4, 2 p.m. ET

Where: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

Who: North Dakota State University Bison, Towson University Tigers

How Towson Got Here

The Tigers are 13-2 so far this season, with both losses coming in conference play. That led them to a second-place finish in the CAA, behind only Maine. Towson's first game of the season hinted at the greatness to come, as the Tigers took down FBS team UConn 33-18. 

In the playoffs, the Tigers got their first playoff win in 29 years by beating Fordham 48-28 in the second round after receiving a first-round bye. That was followed up with an impressive 49-39 quarterfinals victory on the road over Eastern Illinois and Walter Payton Award winner Jimmy Garoppolo.

That set up a semifinals matchup on the red turf of the Eastern Washington Eagles. Despite jumping out to a 21-0 lead in the first half, the Tigers found themselves trailing with less than a minute left in the game and their starting QB Peter Athens out with an injury sustained earlier in the game. WR/RB/QB Connor Frazier stepped in and led the Tigers on a 71-yard drive that culminated in his 1-yard touchdown run with 17 seconds to give Towson the 35-31 win and trip to the championship game.

How North Dakota State Got Here

By being the most dominant team in all of college football, quite frankly. The two-time defending champion Bison are riding a 23-game winning streak and are a perfect 14-0 on the season so far. NDSU has an otherworldly record of 42-2 over the last three seasons. 

Head coach Craig Bohl will be leaving to become the head coach at Wyoming, but not before leading the Bison in their quest for a third-straight national championship.

NDSU started off the season with a 24-21 victory over Big XII team Kansas State, which can't really be considered an upset due to NDSU's recent dominance as a football team. The only other team to stay within single digits of the Bison on the season was Northern Iowa, who took NDSU to the wire before the Bison pulled out a 24-23 win.

The Bison have practically cruised through the playoffs, winning all three games by at least 30 points each. Furman, Coastal Carolina and New Hampshire were all no match for NDSU, and it remains to be seen if any FCS team can compete with the Bison currently.

Players to Watch

Terrance West, Towson RB

As impressive as North Dakota State has been, the single most dominant player on the field in Frisco will be wearing a Towson jersey. Terrance West had the best season of any running back in all of Division I football, putting up video game numbers.

The workhorse back has carried an absurd 391 times for 2,410 yards and 40 touchdowns. West broke the FCS single-season record for both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, and has a chance to add to his record-setting season even more.

In the quarterfinals matchup against Eastern Illinois, West broke an FCS record with 356 yards rushing.

West is a strong, physical runner and could be a worthy adversary for even the vaunted NDSU defense. He finished third in the Walter Payton Award voting, although there is a strong case to be made that he deserved to win the award.

In addition to his running abilities, West is also a capable pass-catcher out of the backfield. He has hauled in 21 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown.

Marcus Williams, NDSU CB

The three-time first-team All-American is the top shutdown corner in the FCS and should force the Tigers to rely even more heavily on West than usual. Thanks to Williams' cover abilities, the Bison can afford to stack the box against the run. Williams could very well be the key to shutting down Towson's offense.

Brock Jensen, NDSU QB

Jensen is the FCS equivalent of Alabama's AJ McCarron. He is the longtime, always-reliable QB of a rushing-oriented team with multiple national championships. Jensen is now the FCS record holder for most career wins, with a 47-5 record during his time as a Bison.

The Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year also finished fourth in the Walter Payton Award voting, by displaying the same consistency he has throughout his career.

Jensen has thrown for 2,658 yards and 33 touchdowns so far this season, while tossing only seven picks. He also used his legs to help lead the offense, amassing 459 yards and nine touchdowns on 96 carries.

With Jensen under center, it will be very difficult for the Towson defense to force mistakes by NDSU's deceptively powerful offense.

Major Storylines for the Game

Will NDSU's Rushing Defense or Towson's Rushing Attack Win Out?

In the battle of the unstoppable force versus the immovable object, the nation's leading rusher takes on the top-ranked rushing defense in the country. Towson is averaging 177 yards per game on the ground, 160 of which belong to West. NDSU, meanwhile, is allowing only 68 yards rushing per game. Something has to give, which will it be?

Can Towson Stop NDSU's Rushing Attack?

It's easy to get distracted by the dominant NDSU defense and lose sight of the fact that the Bison have a pretty potent rushing attack themselves. NDSU averages 180 yards rushing per game, even better than Towson. The backfield tandem of Sam Ojuri and John Crockett has combined for 2,563 yards and 19 touchdowns. Both Ojuri and Crockett have rushed for over 1,200 yards apiece.

Towson's rushing defense, meanwhile, hasn't exactly been dominant. The Tigers are allowing 120 yards per game and have faced few rushing attacks nearly as powerful as NDSU's. If the Tigers can't figure out a way to slow down the Bison backs, Ojuri and Crockett can quickly put a game out of reach while eating up the clock.

Is Bohls' Head in the Game, or Is He Looking Ahead?

NDSU head coach Craig Bohls has put together a Hall of Fame-worthy 12 years in Fargo. He took the Bison from a Division II powerhouse to an FCS juggernaut that regularly takes down FBS foes. There's no denying that his NDSU program is to be considered a dynasty. 

The downside to his dominance at the helm of the Bison is that there is nothing left for Bohls to prove.  The outcome of this game will have little bearing on his legacy.

That begs the question: Is Bohls looking ahead to his impending tenure at Wyoming? He is expected to take most of his coaching staff along with him to Laramie, and it would be easy for him and his staff to put forth less than a full effort in preparing for this game. If Bohls turns down the effort for this game, he could go out on a sour note.

Prediction: North Dakota State 42, Towson 21

While Terrance West is the best running back a coach could ask for, he simply isn't enough to counter how truly dominant NDSU is as a whole. The Tigers may be able to hang close for a quarter or two, but look for the Bison to eventually wear down their foe and pull away.