2023 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game

2023 NCAA Division I Football Championship
2023 NCAA Division I Football Championship
FCS National Championship Game
North Dakota State Bison	South Dakota State Jackrabbits
(12–2)	(13–1)
Missouri Valley	Missouri Valley
21	45
Head coach: ; Matt Entz	Head coach: ; John Stiegelmeier
STATS	Seed
4	3
STATS	Seed
1	1
Date	January 8, 2023
Season	2022
Stadium	Toyota Stadium
Location	Frisco, Texas
MVP	Mark Gronowski (QB, South Dakota State)
Favorite	South Dakota State by 4
Referee	Jeff Page
Attendance	18,023
United States TV coverage
Network	ABC, ESPN+
Announcers	Roy Philpott, Jay Walker and Paul Carcaterra
NCAA Division I Football Championship
< 2022	2024 >

Last updated December 11, 2024

The 2023 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a college football game played on January 8, 2023, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The game determined the national champion of NCAA Division I FCS for the 2022 season, featuring the finalists of the 24-team playoff bracket, which began on November 26, 2022.

Teams

The participants were rivals North Dakota State and South Dakota State of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Both teams advanced through the FCS playoff bracket to reach the championship game.

Entering the game, North Dakota State led the all-time series 63–45–5 (.580), although South Dakota State had won their last three meetings, lasting back to the 2021 spring season. North Dakota State was 4–0 against South Dakota State in prior FCS playoff games; this was their first meeting in the FCS title game.

North Dakota State

North Dakota State played to a 9–2 regular-season record, suffering losses to Arizona (an FBS program) and South Dakota State. Seeded No. 3 in the FCS playoffs, the Bison received a first-round bye, then defeated Montana, Samford, and Incarnate Word to advance to the championship game.

South Dakota State

South Dakota State played to a 10–1 regular-season record; their only loss was to Iowa (an FBS program). Seeded No. 1 in the FCS playoffs, the Jackrabbits received a first-round bye, then defeated Delaware, Holy Cross, and Montana State to advance to the championship game.

Game summary

2023 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 3 North Dakota State	7	7	0	7	21
No. 1 South Dakota State	7	24	7	7	45

at Toyota Stadium • Frisco, Texas

Date: January 8, 2023
Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 56 °F (13 °C) • Wind: 5 mph (8.0 km/h) north
Game attendance: 18,023
Referee: Jeff Page
TV announcers (ABC, ESPN+): Roy Philpott, Jay Walker and Paul Carcaterra
Box score

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	North Dakota State	South Dakota State
1	9:12	9	85	4:04	SDSU	Isaiah Davis 16-yard touchdown run, Hunter Dustman kick good	0	7
1	6:31	6	75	2:41	NDSU	Joe Stoffel 27-yard touchdown reception from Cam Miller, Griffin Crosa kick good	7	7
2	12:50	8	77	4:37	SDSU	Amar Johnson 32-yard touchdown run, Hunter Dustman kick good	7	14
2	11:03	4	34	1:31	SDSU	Jaxon Janke 18-yard touchdown reception from Mark Gronowski, Hunter Dustman kick good	7	21
2	3:30	9	84	4:17	SDSU	Michael Morgan 44-yard touchdown reception from Mark Gronowski, Hunter Dustman kick good	7	28
2	2:03	4	65	1:27	NDSU	Eli Green 44-yard touchdown reception from Cam Miller, Griffin Crosa kick good	14	28
2	0:00	6	62	2:03	SDSU	30-yard field goal by Hunter Dustman	14	31
3	13:13	3	74	1:47	SDSU	Mark Gronowski 51-yard touchdown run, Hunter Dustman kick good	14	38
4	13:44	16	99	7:51	NDSU	Kobe Johnson 9-yard touchdown run, Griffin Crosa kick good	21	38
4	8:05	4	42	2:35	SDSU	Jaxon Janke 30-yard touchdown reception from Mark Gronowski, Hunter Dustman kick good	21	45
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							21	45

Statistics

Team statistical comparison^[3]
Statistic	North Dakota State	South Dakota State
First downs	21	22
First downs rushing	11	10
First downs passing	10	12
First downs penalty	0	0
Third down efficiency	5–12	9–14
Fourth down efficiency	1–3	0–0
Total plays–net yards	66–420	60–522
Rushing attempts–net yards	37–160	39–299
Yards per rush	4.3	7.7
Yards passing	260	223
Pass completions–attempts (percent)	18–29 (62%)	14–21 (67%)
Interceptions thrown	2	0
Punt returns–total yards	1–(-3)	1–0
Kickoff returns–total yards	2–55	2–26
Punts–average yardage	4–45.0	4–53.3
Fumbles–lost	1–1	0–0
Penalties–yards	2–25	3–20
Time of possession	28:00	32:00

North Dakota State statistics^[3]
Bison passing
	C–A	Yds	TD–INT
Cam Miller	18–29	260	2–2
Bison rushing
	Car	Yds	TD
Cam Miller	11	64	0
Kobe Johnson	11	63	1
TaMerik Williams	7	23	0
TK Marshall	4	13	0
Cole Payton	1	6	0
Eli Green	1	-9	0
Bison receiving
	Rec	Yds	TD
Zach Mathis	7	123	0
Eli Green	1	44	1
Joe Stoffel	3	41	1
Jake Lippe	2	26	0
TaMerik Williams	2	11	0
TK Marshall	2	11	0
Kobe Johnson	1	4	0

South Dakota State statistics^[3]
Jackrabbits passing
	C–A	Yds	TD–INT
Mark Gronowski	14–21	223	3–0
Jackrabbits rushing
	Car	Yds	TD
Amar Johnson	9	126	1
Isaiah Davis	22	103	1
Mark Gronowski	5	57	1
Team	1	-1	0
Angel Johnson	1	-2	0
Jackrabbits receiving
	Rec	Yds	TD
Jadon Janke	5	61	0
Jaxon Janke	3	60	2
Michael Morgan	1	44	1
Tucker Kraft	2	30	0
Isaiah Davis	2	28	0
Amar Johnson	1	0	0

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References

↑ @FCS_STATS (January 8, 2023). "Most Outstanding Player of #FCSChampionship South Dakota State QB Mark Gronowski: 280 total yards, 4 total TDs" (Tweet). Retrieved January 8, 2023– via Twitter.
↑ "South Dakota State crowned 2022 FCS champions defeating North Dakota State". NCAA.com. January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
1 2 3 4 "NCAA Division I Football Championship Championship Final Stats" (PDF). Statbroadcast. January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
↑ "FCS Championship: Broadcast info". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved December 5, 2022.

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[1] @FCS_STATS (January 8, 2023). "Most Outstanding Player of #FCSChampionship South Dakota State QB Mark Gronowski: 280 total yards, 4 total TDs" (Tweet). Retrieved January 8, 2023– via Twitter.

[2] "South Dakota State crowned 2022 FCS champions defeating North Dakota State". NCAA.com. January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.

[finalstats-3] 1 2 3 4 "NCAA Division I Football Championship Championship Final Stats" (PDF). Statbroadcast. January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.

[4] "FCS Championship: Broadcast info". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved December 5, 2022.

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