The Football Championship Subdivision national championship game comes to Frisco’s Toyota Stadium on Sunday for the 14th consecutive year.
The game is one of two college football national championship games played annually in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, along with the Division II championship played in McKinney, and this year’s matchup will feature the University of Montana Grizzlies (13-1) and the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits (14-0).
Montana is in the championship game for the first time after defeating nine-time national champion North Dakota State in double overtime in the national semifinals, stopping a potential game-tying two-point conversion attempt in its second consecutive overtime playoff game.
The Grizzlies began the season 3-0 before getting a surprise wakeup call in a road loss against Northern Arizona in September. Since then, they have rattled off 10 consecutive wins, including seven against ranked opponents, and continued to look more impressive each week.
Meanwhile, South Dakota State is the defending national champion and is returning to the game for the third time in the last four seasons. The Jackrabbits have breezed through the season, playing just two games decided by single digits and completely dismantling the University of Albany in a 59-0 national semifinal win.
Both teams rely on their running games offensively — attempting just 685 passes combined (28 total games) this season — and have fantastic defenses.
South Dakota State’s defense ranks among the top 10 units in the FCS across the board, allowing just 257.1 total yards and 9.71 points per game. To top it off, the Jackrabbits’ offense scores the third most points in the country with 38.4 and has the sixth-best total offense.
They use a steady attack that features the nation’s leading rusher, Isaiah Davis, junior Amar Johnson, and a capable runner at quarterback, Mark Gronowski. Then, while the passing game doesn’t put up gaudy numbers on paper, they can also beat you there. Gronowski has 28 touchdown passes and just four interceptions this year, and four players have at least five touchdown catches.
Montana can compete defensively, allowing just 16.79 points per game, but its 58th-ranked passing defense could be a weakness that gets exploited. Offensively, the Grizzlies will want to run the ball with a three-headed attack consisting of running backs Eli Gillman and Nick Ostmo and quarterback Clifton McDowell. They also have a better-than-advertised passing game but would likely prefer this game remain a low-scoring one.
Who will take home the national title this time? Find out as the two schools take the field at Toyota Stadium at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday. The game will air on ABC.
