2014 North Dakota State Bison football team

American college football season

2014 North Dakota State Bison football

NCAA Division I champion
MVFC co-champion

NCAA Division I Championship, W 29–27 vs. Illinois State

Conference| Missouri Valley Football Conference
Ranking
Sports Network| No. 1
FCS Coaches| No. 1
Record| 15–1 (7–1 MVFC)
Head coach|

* Chris Klieman (1st season)

Offensive coordinator| Tim Polasek (1st season)
Offensive scheme| West Coast
Defensive coordinator| Matt Entz (1st season)
Base defense| 3–4
Home stadium| Fargodome

Seasons

<- 2013

2015 ->

2014 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 1 North Dakota State +^  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 15  | - | 1  |
No. 2 Illinois State +^  |  | 7  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 13  | - | 2  |
No. 10 Northern Iowa ^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 5  |
No. 12 South Dakota St. ^  |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 5  |
No. 19 Indiana State ^  |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 6  |
No. 22 Youngstown State |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Southern Illinois |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 6  |
Western Illinois |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Missouri State |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
South Dakota |  | 0  | - | 8  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 10  |

* \+ - Conference co-champions
* ^ - FCS playoff participant

Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2014 North Dakota State Bison football team represented North Dakota State University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first year head coach Chris Klieman. The team played their 22nd season in the Fargodome. The Bison have been members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference since the 2008 season.

The Bison ended the season by winning their fourth consecutive NCAA Division I Football Championship, beating Illinois State 29–27 in the National Championship Game. North Dakota State became the first NCAA Division I football team to win four straight NCAA titles and the second of any NCAA division to win four straight. The other four time championship team was the Augustana College Vikings, the Division III champions in the 1983–1986 seasons. The season did however see the Bison's 33 game winning streak come to an end against the UNI Panthers on the road. That streak was the longest in FCS history and the 3rd longest over the last 50 years in all NCAA football history.

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Rank| Site| TV| Result| Attendance

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

August 30| 11:00 am| at Iowa State*| No. 2|

* Jack Trice Stadium
* Ames, IA

| FS1| W 34–14| 54,800
September 6| 7:00 pm| at Weber State*| No. 1|

* Stewart Stadium
* Ogden, UT

| NBC ND/ALT| W 24–7| 14,577
September 13| 2:30 pm| Incarnate Word*| No. 1|

* Fargodome
* Fargo, ND (College GameDay)

| NBC ND/ESPN3| W 58–0| 19,020
September 20| 2:30 pm| No. 4 Montana*| No. 1|

* Fargodome
* Fargo, ND

| NBC ND/Midco SN/ESPN3| W 22–10| 18,890
October 4| 3:00 pm| at Western Illinois| No. 1|

* Hanson Field
* Macomb, IL

| NBC ND/ESPN3| W 17–10| 5,111
October 11| 1:00 pm| No. 12 Southern Illinois| No. 1|

* Fargodome
* Fargo, ND

| NBC ND/ESPN3| W 38–10| 19,034
October 18| 2:30 pm| No. 22 Indiana State| No. 1|

* Fargodome
* Fargo, ND

| NBC ND/ESPN3| W 34–17| 18,477
October 25| 2:00 pm| at South Dakota| No. 1|

* DakotaDome
* Vermillion, SD

| NBC ND/Midco SN| W 47–7| 9,823
November 1| 2:30 pm| No. 18 South Dakota State| No. 1|

* Fargodome
* Fargo, ND (Dakota Marker)

| NBC ND/Midco SN/ESPN3| W 37–17| 18,832
November 8| 4:00 pm| at No. 19 Northern Iowa| No. 1|

* UNI-Dome
* Cedar Falls, IA

| NBC ND| L 3–23| 14,777
November 15| 2:00 pm| at Missouri State| No. 4|

* Plaster Sports Complex
* Springfield, MO

| NBC ND| W 45–10| 4,597
November 22| 2:30 pm| No. 20 Youngstown State| No. 3|

* Fargodome
* Fargo, ND

| NBC ND/ESPN3| W 38–10| 18,696
December 6| 2:30 pm| No. 14 South Dakota State| No. 2|

* Fargodome
* Fargo, ND (FCS Playoffs Second Round)

| ESPN3| W 27–24| 18,113
December 13| 11:00 am| No. 6 Coastal Carolina| No. 2|

* Fargodome
* Fargo, ND (FCS Playoffs Quarterfinal)

| ESPN| W 39–32| 18,049
December 19| 7:00 pm| No. 19 Sam Houston State| No. 2|

* Fargodome
* Fargo, ND (FCS Playoffs Semifinal)

| ESPN2| W 35–3| 18,025
January 10, 2015| 12:00 pm| vs. No. 7 Illinois State| No. 2|

* Toyota Stadium
* Frisco, TX (FCS National Championship Game)

| ESPN2| W 29–27| 20,918

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game
* All times are in Central time

* Source: Schedule

## Coaching staff

[edit]

Name | Position | Year at
North Dakota State | Alma mater (Year)

|
|
|

Chris Klieman | Head coach | 4th | Northern Iowa (1990)
Matt Entz | Defensive coordinator
Linebackers | 1st | Wayne State (NE) (1995)
Tim Polasek | Offensive coordinator
Running backs | 8th | Concordia (WI) (2002)
Atif Austin | Special teams coordinator
Wide receiver coach | 1st | Iowa State (2003)
Jamar Cain | Defensive ends coach | 1st | New Mexico State (2002)
Nick Goeser | Defensive tackles coach | 5th | Wisconsin–Eau Claire (2003)
Randy Hedberg | Quarterbacks coach | 1st | Minot State (1977)
Joe Klanderman | Defensive backs coach | 1st | Minnesota State Mankato (2001)
Conor Riley | Tight ends
Running backs | 2nd | Nebraska–Omaha (2002)
Tyler Roehl | Director of football operations
Equipment services | 1st | North Dakota State (2009)
Brian Gordon | Director of football operations
Equipment services | 1st | South Florida (2002)
Jake Otten | Video coordinator | 1st | Cal Poly (2013)

[1]

## Game summaries

[edit]

### At Iowa State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#2 Bison | 0  | 17  | 10  | 7 | 34
Cyclones  | 7  | 7  | 0  | 0 | 14

See also: 2014 Iowa State Cyclones football team

### At Weber State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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|
|
|
|

#1 Bison | 7  | 7  | 7  | 3 | 24
Wildcats  | 7  | 0  | 0  | 0 | 7

See also: 2014 Weber State Wildcats football team

### Incarnate Word

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

Cardinals  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0 | 0
#1 Bison | 14  | 14  | 23  | 7 | 58

See also: 2014 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team

### Montana

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#4 Grizzlies  | 0  | 10  | 0  | 0 | 10
#1 Bison | 6  | 6  | 7  | 3 | 22

See also: 2014 Montana Grizzlies football team

### At Western Illinois

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
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#1 Bison | 3  | 0  | 0  | 14 | 17
Leathernecks  | 0  | 3  | 7  | 0 | 10

See also: 2014 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team

### Southern Illinois

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#12 Salukis  | 0  | 7  | 3  | 0 | 10
#1 Bison | 3  | 14  | 7  | 14 | 38

See also: 2014 Southern Illinois Salukis football team

### Indiana State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#22 Sycamores  | 0  | 3  | 0  | 14 | 17
#1 Bison | 13  | 7  | 14  | 0 | 34

See also: 2014 Indiana State Sycamores football team

### At South Dakota

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#1 Bison | 3  | 20  | 14  | 10 | 47
Coyotes  | 0  | 7  | 0  | 0 | 7

See also: 2014 South Dakota Coyotes football team

### South Dakota State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#18 Jackrabbits  | 3  | 7  | 0  | 7 | 17
#1 Bison | 0  | 6  | 14  | 17 | 37

See also: 2014 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team and Dakota Marker

### At Northern Iowa

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#1 Bison  | 0  | 0  | 3  | 0 | 3
#19 Panthers | 0  | 7  | 3  | 13 | 23

See also: 2014 Northern Iowa Panthers football team

### At Missouri State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#4 Bison | 0  | 21  | 21  | 3 | 45
Bears  | 3  | 0  | 0  | 7 | 10

See also: 2014 Missouri State Bears football team

### Youngstown State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#20 Penguins  | 0  | 0  | 7  | 7 | 14
#3 Bison | 14  | 14  | 3  | 7 | 38

See also: 2014 Youngstown State Penguins football team

## FCS Playoffs

[edit]

### Second Round–South Dakota State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#14 Jackrabbits  | 0  | 14  | 3  | 7 | 24
#2 Bison | 7  | 7  | 3  | 10 | 27

See also: 2014 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team

Overall record  | Previous meeting  | Result

|
|

58–40–5  | 11/1/2014  | NDSU, 37–17

### Quarterfinal–Coastal Carolina

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#6 Chanticleers  | 10  | 10  | 6  | 6 | 32
#2 Bison | 14  | 10  | 7  | 8 | 39

See also: 2014 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team

Overall record  | Previous meeting  | Result

|
|

1–0  | 2013 FCS Playoffs  | NDSU, 48–14

### Semifinal–Sam Houston State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#19 Bearkats  | 0  | 3  | 0  | 0 | 3
#2 Bison | 7  | 0  | 14  | 14 | 35

See also: 2014 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

Overall record  | Previous meeting  | Result

|
|

3–1  | 2012 FCS Playoffs  | NDSU, 39–13

### Championship–Illinois State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

#7 Redbirds  | 7  | 0  | 7  | 13 | 27
#2 Bison | 3  | 7  | 10  | 9 | 29

See also: 2014 Illinois State Redbirds football team

Overall record  | Previous meeting  | Result

|
|

6–2  | 2013  | NDSU, 28–10

## 2015 NFL draft

[edit]

Main article: 2015 NFL draft

Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL team

|
|
|
|

5 | 153 (17)  | Kyle Emanuel | Outside linebacker | San Diego Chargers
UFA | \-  | John Crockett | Running back | Green Bay Packers

## Ranking movements

[edit]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes ( ) = First-place votes| Week

|

Poll| Pre| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| 10| 11| 12| 13| Final
Sports Network| 2 (62)| 1 (93)| 1 (137)| 1 (146)| 1 (150)| 1 (153)| 1 (153)| 1 (156)| 1 (152)| 1 (157)| 1 (164)| 4 (19)| 3 (20)| 2 (39)[2]| 1 (152)
Coaches| 1 (18)| 1 (24)| 1 (25)| 1 (25)| 1 (26)| 1 (26)| 1 (25)| 1 (26)| 1 (26)| 1 (26)| 1 (26)| 4| 4 (1)| 3 (4)[3]| 1 (25)
AP Poll| —[4]| RV[5]| RV[6]| RV[7]| RV[8]| RV[9]| RV| RV| RV| RV| RV| —| —| —| —

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2014 Football Coaching Staff". North Dakota State Athletics. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
2. ^ "The Sports Network - Football Championship Subdivision". www.sportsnetwork.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
3. ^ "FCS Coaches Poll - College Football | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
4. ^ "2014 NCAA Football Rankings - AP Top 25 Preseason". ESPN. August 17, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
5. ^ "2014 NCAA Football Rankings - AP Top 25 Week 2". ESPN. August 31, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
6. ^ "2014 NCAA Football Rankings - AP Top 25 Week 3". ESPN. September 7, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
7. ^ "2014 NCAA Football Rankings - AP Top 25 Week 4". ESPN. September 14, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
8. ^ "2014 NCAA Football Rankings - AP Top 25 Week 5". ESPN. September 21, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
9. ^ "2014 NCAA Football Rankings - AP Top 25 Week 6". ESPN. September 28, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.

* v
* t
* e

2014 North Dakota State Bison football—NCAA Division I FCS national champions

* 1 Chris Board
* 6 C. J. Smith
* 11 Carson Wentz
* 12 Easton Stick
* 19 Ben LeCompte
* 23 John Crockett
* 46 Andrew Bonnet
* 49 Nick DeLuca
* 53 Kyle Emanuel
* 59 Joe Haeg

* Head coach: Chris Klieman

* Assistant coaches: Jamar Cain
* Randy Hedberg
* Joe Klanderman
* Tyler Roehl
* Matt Entz
* Tim Polasek

* v
* t
* e

North Dakota State Bison football

Venues|

* Dacotah Field (1910–1992)
* Fargodome (1993–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* North Dakota: Nickel Trophy
* South Dakota State: Dakota Marker

Culture & lore|

* Thundar
* "On Bison"
* Gold Star Marching Band

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees

Seasons|

* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943–1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

National championship seasons in bold

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS football champions

1970s|

* 1978: Florida A&M
* 1979: Eastern Kentucky

1980s|

* 1980: Boise State
* 1981: Idaho State
* 1982: Eastern Kentucky
* 1983: Southern Illinois
* 1984: Montana State
* 1985: Georgia Southern
* 1986: Georgia Southern
* 1987: Northeast Louisiana
* 1988: Furman
* 1989: Georgia Southern

1990s|

* 1990: Georgia Southern
* 1991: Youngstown State
* 1992: Marshall
* 1993: Youngstown State
* 1994: Youngstown State
* 1995: Montana
* 1996: Marshall
* 1997: Youngstown State
* 1998: UMass
* 1999: Georgia Southern

2000s|

* 2000: Georgia Southern
* 2001: Montana
* 2002: Western Kentucky
* 2003: Delaware
* 2004: James Madison
* 2005: Appalachian State
* 2006: Appalachian State
* 2007: Appalachian State
* 2008: Richmond
* 2009: Villanova

2010s|

* 2010: Eastern Washington
* 2011: North Dakota State
* 2012: North Dakota State
* 2013: North Dakota State
* 2014: North Dakota State
* 2015: North Dakota State
* 2016: James Madison
* 2017: North Dakota State
* 2018: North Dakota State
* 2019: North Dakota State

2020s|

* 2020: Sam Houston State
* 2021: North Dakota State
* 2022: South Dakota State
* 2023: South Dakota State

* v
* t
* e

Gateway Football Conference / Missouri Valley Football Conference champions

* Northern Iowa (1985)
* Eastern Illinois (1986)
* Northern Iowa (1987)
* Western Illinois (1988)
* Southwest Missouri State (1989)
* Southwest Missouri State & Northern Iowa (1990)
* Northern Iowa (1991)
* Northern Iowa (1992)
* Northern Iowa (1993)
* Northern Iowa (1994)
* Eastern Illinois & Northern Iowa (1995)
* Northern Iowa (1996)
* Western Illinois (1997)
* Western Illinois (1998)
* Illinois State (1999)
* Western Illinois (2000)
* Northern Iowa (2001)
* Western Illinois & Western Kentucky (2002)
* Northern Iowa & Southern Illinois (2003)
* Southern Illinois (2004)
* Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois & Youngstown State (2005)
* Youngstown State (2006)
* Northern Iowa (2007)
* Northern Iowa & Southern Illinois (2008)
* Southern Illinois (2009)
* Northern Iowa (2010)
* North Dakota State & Northern Iowa (2011)
* North Dakota State (2012)
* North Dakota State (2013)
* Illinois State & North Dakota State (2014)
* Illinois State & North Dakota State (2015)
* North Dakota State & South Dakota State (2016)
* North Dakota State (2017)
* North Dakota State (2018)
* North Dakota State (2019)
* Missouri State & South Dakota State (2020)
* North Dakota State (2021)
* South Dakota State (2022)
* South Dakota State (2023)

National championships in bold

* v
* t
* e

2014 NCAA Division I FCS playoff participants

* Chattanooga
* Coastal Carolina
* Eastern Kentucky
* Eastern Washington
* Fordham
* Illinois State
* Indiana State
* Jacksonville State
* James Madison
* Liberty
* Montana
* Montana State
* Morgan State
* New Hampshire
* North Dakota State
* Northern Iowa
* Richmond
* Sacred Heart
* Sam Houston State
* San Diego
* South Dakota State
* Southeastern Louisiana
* Stephen F. Austin
* Villanova

Champion – North Dakota State
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[No.]: Number