Fargo, ND (Sports Network) - North Dakota State will begin defense of the FCS
national championship when its kicks off its 116th season by hosting Robert
Morris on Saturday.
The Bison claimed the 2011 FCS championship in Frisco, Texas, with a 17-6
victory over Sam Houston State. They played a record 15 games last season,
winning 14 of them, the most since 1990 when the Bison went 14-0 and won the
NCAA Division II championship.
NDSU's defense was very solid last year, leading the FCS in scoring defense
(12.7 ppg) and ranking eighth in turnover margin (plus-1.20 per game), 16th in
pass efficiency defense (110.53), 17th in rushing defense (118.73 ypg) and
20th in total defense (315.93 ypg). The defense allowed only 27 points in four
FCS playoff games.
Coach Craig Bohl returns 13 starters, highlighted by running back Sam Ojuri,
quarterback Brock Jensen, cornerback Marcus Williams and strong safety Colten
Heagle. But he also must replace a handful of key players, including the team's
top three leading tacklers, the leading receiver and two experienced offensive
linemen.
This is the second meeting between North Dakota State and Robert Morris. The
Bison beat the Colonials, 43-17, in the opening round of the 2010 FCS playoffs
in Fargo.
North Dakota State has compiled a 238-36-3 record at home since 1964. For the
first time, it will play on AstroTurf's GameDay Grass 3D60 infilled turf,
which was installed in the Fargo Dome this summer.
The next two most-recent national champions, Villanova (2009) and Eastern
Washington (2010), lost their season opener to FBS competition in the following
season.
The Sports Network