Since 2011, North Dakota State has been the face of FCS football as the Bison have dominated the subdivision for over 10 years. There have been only three programs that have held the FCS national championship trophy in Frisco, Texas since 2011 other than the Bison.
The Bison are 42-4 in postseason play at the FCS level, and all four losses have come against the eventual FCS national champion. There is something that all these teams have in common outside of knocking off the Bison … None have been able to repeat as national champions.
James Madison and Sam Houston have both pursued opportunities at the FBS level, while Eastern Washington has only made one appearance in the FCS national championship game since 2010. That one appearance resulted in a 38-24 loss to NDSU in 2018.
South Dakota State won the first FCS national championship in school history last season as the Jackrabbits defeated North Dakota State, 45-21, on Jan. 8. The question now becomes … Can SDSU establish the next dynasty in FCS football?
Former SDSU defensive coordinator Jimmy Rogers will step into the head coaching role for the Jacks after John Stiegelmeier announced his retirement after the 2022 season.
The unique piece of the Bison dynasty has been the ability to sustain a winning culture through three different head coaches over nine FCS titles. Chris Klieman and Matt Entz both won the FCS championship in their first seasons as the head coach of the Bison.
Rogers will have the opportunity this season to take a massive first step in establishing a new dynasty in Brookings, South Dakota. The target will not shrink due to a large amount of returning talent for the Jacks in 2023.
A shocking 18 starters return for SDSU and over 40 players from the two-deep depth chart will return for the 2023 season. This includes quarterback Mark Gronowski, running back Isaiah Davis, both Janke brothers at wide receiver, linebacker Adam Bock, and cornerback DyShawn Gales.
Rogers knows the talent that SDSU has entering the 2023 season will have the Jacks primed to compete for another FCS National Championship.
“I just have a great roster to do it with … I think maybe one of the best in FCS football,” Rogers said in an interview with The Bluebloods this offseason. “A team that’s really bought into one another and bought into the vision of what we expect to do. I’m excited to see what we could put on the field next fall.”
The Jackrabbits will not have an FBS opponent in 2023, which increases the possibility of an undefeated season for SDSU. The biggest games for the Jacks will take place inside Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, including Montana State, Northern Iowa, and North Dakota State.
The 2023 installment of the Dakota Marker on Nov. 4 will not only be a rematch of the FCS national championship game, but an opportunity for Rogers to re-write the record books. A win over the Bison will tie the longest winning streak in the rivalry’s history for the Jacks since the five-game win streak in the early 1900s.
By winning the 2024 FCS title, SDSU will be the first team (other than the Bison) to win back-to-back championships since Appalachian State won three consecutive championships from 2005-07.
The Jackrabbits would also be only the fifth program to win consecutive FCS championships since 1978; joining North Dakota State, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, and Youngstown State.
New head coach Jimmy Rogers made it clear that the program would not be satisfied with just one national championship.
“I can tell you this, nobody is settling on one national championship,” Rogers said this offseason. “I can assure you that our goal is to be the best. Every year you get an opportunity to reset yourself and try to replicate yourself and try to replicate what you’ve done.”
The road to building a dynasty requires more than just back-to-back national championships, but the 2023 season will lay the groundwork for the Jackrabbits to build their own dynasty.
All the pieces are there … Consistent success in the FCS playoffs, a breakthrough win in the FCS national championship, a loaded returning roster, an established winning tradition, and a coach that is familiar with the standard built inside the program.
Most dynasties start in a similar spot … The talented program that seems to come up one game short of its ultimate goal. This was SDSU as the Sam Houston scored with 16 seconds left in Frisco to win the 2021 spring FCS national championship. The Jacks then lost in the 2021 fall semifinals at Montana State.
Now the target is placed firmly on the back of Jimmy Rogers and SDSU … Every program in the country will be aiming to knock the Jacks off the throne.
Rogers has been at SDSU throughout their transition from Division II into an FCS champion. It would only be fitting to see Rogers be the face of the SDSU dynasty as the Jacks emerge as the new faces of FCS football.
Many fans and analysts have debated whether the NDSU dynasty hurt FCS football … The focus will now shift to Brookings, South Dakota, as SDSU aims to create the next great college football dynasty at the FCS level.
