North Dakota State Bison football

The North Dakota State Bison football program represents North Dakota State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level and competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Bison are the current back-to-back defending NCAA Division I-FCS national champion.

From 2004 to 2007, the Bison were members of the Great West Football Conference, before which they were a NCAA Division II program in the North Central Conference. The team's current head coach is Craig Bohl, who has led the Bison since 2003. During the 2012 season, North Dakota State compiled a record of 14–1 and won the Missouri Valley Football Conference title on the way to repeating as FCS champions. The Bison have won ten national championships; they were selected as NCAA College Division champions by polling three times (1965, 1968, 1969), won the NCAA Division II National Football Championship five times (1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990), and have won the NCAA Division I Football Championship twice (2011, 2012).

Division I Record against FBS competition
Overall (6-3)


 * 2006: (1-1) Ball State (MAC) 29-24 W, Minnesota (Big Ten) 10-9 L


 * 2007: (2-0) Central Michigan (MAC) 44-14 W, Minnesota (Big Ten) 27-21 W


 * 2008: (0-1) Wyoming (Mtn West) 16-13 L


 * 2009: (0-1) Iowa State (Big 12) 34-17 L


 * 2010: (1-0) Kansas (Big 12) 6-3 W


 * 2011: (1-0) Minnesota (Big Ten) 37-24 W


 * 2012: (1-0) Colorado State (Mountain West) 22-7 W

College Division
(by poll, following four regional bowl games - through 1972)
 * 1965, 1968, 1969

Division II
(full playoffs - beginning 1973)
 * 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990
 * runners-up: 1981, 1984

Division I (FCS)

 * 2011, 2012,

Conference championships
^ co-champion # tri-champion
 * North Central (26): 1925^, 1932, 1935, 1964#, 1965, 1966^, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972,#, 1973^, 1974#, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1983^, 1984^, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994^
 * Great West Football (1): 2006 -  (not eligible for FCS playoffs) 
 * Missouri Valley Football (2): 2011^, 2012

FCS Playoff history
2010 -  (20 teams)  First Round vs. Robert Morris, Won 43–17 Second Round vs. Montana State, Won 42–17 Quarterfinal vs. Eastern Washington, Lost 31–38 (OT) 2011 -  (20 teams)  First Round - bye week Second Round vs James Madison, Won 26–14 Quarterfinal vs. Lehigh, Won 24–0 Semifinal vs Georgia Southern, Won 35–7 National Championship vs Sam Houston, Won 17–6

2012 -  (20 teams)  First Round - bye week Second Round vs South Dakota State, Won 28–3 Quarterfinal vs. Wofford, Won 14-7 Semifinal vs. Georgia Southern, Won 23-20 National Championship vs Sam Houston, Won 39-13

Head coaching history

 * Updated on 11/11/2012

Notable players

 * Jeff Bentrim
 * Tyrone Braxton
 * Craig Dahl
 * Mike Dragosavich
 * Lamar Gordon
 * Phil Hansen
 * Kole Heckendorf
 * Ramon Humber
 * Joe Mays
 * Steve Nelson
 * Stacy Robinson
 * Tyler Roehl
 * Nick Schommer
 * Travis White

Stadiums

 * Dacotah Field, 1910–1992: 82 Years
 * Fargodome, 1993–present: 20 Years