Jacksonville State's football team fell short of its first FCS title Saturday when the top-seeded Gamecocks were upset 37-10 by the North Dakota State Bison. NDSU won an unprecedented fifth consecutive national championship.
Jacksonville State came into the championship on a 12-game winning streak after an overtime loss to Auburn in September. That success was propelled by an offense that ranked second in the FCS in total yardage. But North Dakota State held the Gamecocks to a season-low 204 total yards Saturday, more than 300 yards below their season average. The Bison also forced six turnovers en route to their record-setting victory. North Dakota State won their 20th consecutive playoff game, including all five times making the trip from Fargo to Frisco, Texas for the title game at a professional soccer stadium.
The state of Alabama has another shot at a Division 1 national football championship. The University of Alabama will face off against Clemson Monday night in Glendale, Ariz.