That's not a misprint, and how the Bison avoided it was something special in itself. Saturday was the FCS National Championship, a game the Bison had won the three previous seasons.
After blowing a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter, NDSU quarterback Carson Wentz needed a touchdown if the Bison were to join D-III Augustana College (Ill.) and NAIA Carroll College (Mont.) as the only teams to win four consecutive national titles.
Unfazed by the pressure, Wentz needed 61 seconds and six plays to travel 78 yards to put the Bison back on top. Wentz threw for 237 yards (15-of-22) and one touchdown, but he did most of his damage on the ground, rushing 16 times for 87 yards.
The key play: a five-yard rush for a touchdown with 38 seconds left to make it 29-27.
With that final score, the Bison finished 15-1 and sparked the expected jubilation. The Dakota Dynasty put its mark on the record book.
#BisonNation has taken over the field! The BEST fans in the country! #BisonPride #FourPeat pic.twitter.com/Ell1lZRLLd
— NDSU Athletics (@NDSUathletics) January 10, 2015In total, the Bison rushed for 214 yards, including 74 from senior running back John Crockett, who finished the season with 1,994 rushing yards.
Wentz's winning rush was set up after RJ Urzendowski's two catches of 32 and 33 yards to get the Bison in scoring range. Urzendowski led the Bison with five receptions and 100 yards.
Wentz and the Bison received the national title, but Illinois State quarterback Tre Roberson was dominant against a defense that has allowed just 12.1 points per game since 2011. Roberson passed for 157 yards and rushed for 161 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown that put the Redbirds ahead 27-23 with 1:38 to play.
With the win, North Dakota State seniors will graduate with more national championships than losses. Over the past four years, the Bison were 58-3 with four wins over FBS schools.
North Dakota State is the first college football team to win four consecutive titles since Carroll's 2002-05 run.
