This article is about the FCS (Division I-AA) championship game. For the FBS (Division I-A) championship game, see
2014 BCS National Championship Game.
With sponsorship by
Northwestern Mutual, the game was officially known as the NCAA FCS Championship presented by Northwestern Mutual.[5] This was the third consecutive championship for North Dakota State.
Teams
The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the
2013 FCS Playoffs, which began with a 24-team
bracket. This was the first tournament with 24 teams in the field; it had been 20 teams for the prior three postseasons.
North Dakota State finished their regular season with an 11–0 record (8–0 in conference), including a season-opening win over
Kansas State of the FBS. As the first-seed in the tournament, the Bison defeated
Furman,
Coastal Carolina, and
New Hampshire to reach the final. This was North Dakota State's third appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA title game, having won the prior two title games. This was the final game for
Craig Bohl as head coach of the Bison, as he had accepted on offer to take the same role with
Wyoming.[6]
Towson finished their regular season with a 10–2 record (6–2 in conference), including a season-opening win over
Connecticut of the FBS. As the seventh-seed in the tournament, the Tigers defeated
Fordham, second-seed
Eastern Illinois, and third-seed
Eastern Washington to reach the final. This was Towson's first appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA championship game.
Game summary
The teams traded
touchdowns in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Bison returned a blocked
field goal 59 yards, then scored on the next play to go ahead, 14–7. The Tigers were held scoreless for the remainder of the game, as the Bison won by a 35–7 final score. The Bison became the second team in FCS/Division I-AA history to win three consecutive titles, joining
Appalachian State (2005–2007).[6]
This article is about the FCS (Division I-AA) championship game. For the FBS (Division I-A) championship game, see
2014 BCS National Championship Game.
With sponsorship by
Northwestern Mutual, the game was officially known as the NCAA FCS Championship presented by Northwestern Mutual.[5] This was the third consecutive championship for North Dakota State.
Teams
The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the
2013 FCS Playoffs, which began with a 24-team
bracket. This was the first tournament with 24 teams in the field; it had been 20 teams for the prior three postseasons.
North Dakota State finished their regular season with an 11–0 record (8–0 in conference), including a season-opening win over
Kansas State of the FBS. As the first-seed in the tournament, the Bison defeated
Furman,
Coastal Carolina, and
New Hampshire to reach the final. This was North Dakota State's third appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA title game, having won the prior two title games. This was the final game for
Craig Bohl as head coach of the Bison, as he had accepted on offer to take the same role with
Wyoming.[6]
Towson finished their regular season with a 10–2 record (6–2 in conference), including a season-opening win over
Connecticut of the FBS. As the seventh-seed in the tournament, the Tigers defeated
Fordham, second-seed
Eastern Illinois, and third-seed
Eastern Washington to reach the final. This was Towson's first appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA championship game.
Game summary
The teams traded
touchdowns in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Bison returned a blocked
field goal 59 yards, then scored on the next play to go ahead, 14–7. The Tigers were held scoreless for the remainder of the game, as the Bison won by a 35–7 final score. The Bison became the second team in FCS/Division I-AA history to win three consecutive titles, joining
Appalachian State (2005–2007).[6]