This article is about the FCS (Division I-AA) championship game. For the FBS (Division I-A) championship game, see
2012 BCS National Championship Game.
With sponsorship by
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the game was officially known as the NCAA FCS Championship presented by Enterprise Rent-A-Car.[4] This was the final day that the name of the venue was officially Pizza Hut Park,[5] although
ESPN2 referred to it as FC Dallas Stadium during its broadcast.[4]
Teams
The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the
2011 FCS Playoffs, which began with a 20-team
bracket.
North Dakota State finished their regular season with a 10–1 record (7–1 in conference), including a win over
Minnesota of the FBS. As the second-seed in the tournament, the Bison defeated
James Madison,
Lehigh, and third-seed
Georgia Southern to reach the final. This was North Dakota State's first appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA title game.
Sam Houston State finished their regular season with an 11–0 record (7–0 in conference), including a win over
New Mexico of the FBS. As the first-seed in the tournament, the Bearkats defeated
Stony Brook,
Montana State, and fourth-seed
Montana to reach the final. This was also Sam Houston State's first appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA championship game.
Game summary
First-half scoring was limited to three
field goals, with the Bearkats holding a 6–3 lead at halftime. The only second-half scoring was a pair of touchdowns by the Bison; the first setup by a
fake punt that gained 27 yards, and the second following a 63-yard interception return by the game's MVP,
linebacker Travis Beck. The Bison won their first FCS championship via the 17–6 final score.[6]
This article is about the FCS (Division I-AA) championship game. For the FBS (Division I-A) championship game, see
2012 BCS National Championship Game.
With sponsorship by
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the game was officially known as the NCAA FCS Championship presented by Enterprise Rent-A-Car.[4] This was the final day that the name of the venue was officially Pizza Hut Park,[5] although
ESPN2 referred to it as FC Dallas Stadium during its broadcast.[4]
Teams
The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the
2011 FCS Playoffs, which began with a 20-team
bracket.
North Dakota State finished their regular season with a 10–1 record (7–1 in conference), including a win over
Minnesota of the FBS. As the second-seed in the tournament, the Bison defeated
James Madison,
Lehigh, and third-seed
Georgia Southern to reach the final. This was North Dakota State's first appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA title game.
Sam Houston State finished their regular season with an 11–0 record (7–0 in conference), including a win over
New Mexico of the FBS. As the first-seed in the tournament, the Bearkats defeated
Stony Brook,
Montana State, and fourth-seed
Montana to reach the final. This was also Sam Houston State's first appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA championship game.
Game summary
First-half scoring was limited to three
field goals, with the Bearkats holding a 6–3 lead at halftime. The only second-half scoring was a pair of touchdowns by the Bison; the first setup by a
fake punt that gained 27 yards, and the second following a 63-yard interception return by the game's MVP,
linebacker Travis Beck. The Bison won their first FCS championship via the 17–6 final score.[6]