# 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game

The 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game that determined a national champion in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision for the 2014 season. It was played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on January 10, 2015, with kickoff at 1:00 p.m. EST, and was the culminating game of the 2014 FCS Playoffs. With sponsorship by Northwestern Mutual, the game was officially known as the NCAA FCS Championship presented by Northwestern Mutual.

## Teams

The participants of the 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game were the finalists of the 2014 FCS Playoffs, which began with a 24-team bracket. No. 2 seed North Dakota State and No. 5 seed Illinois State qualified for the final by winning their semifinal games.

### North Dakota State Bison

Led by first-year head coach Chris Klieman, the Bison finished the regular season 11–1, 7–1 in MVFC play, to earn a conference co-championship (shared with Illinois State) and the No. 2 seed in the FCS Playoffs. North Dakota State defeated unseeded South Dakota State, No. 7 seed Coastal Carolina, and unseeded Sam Houston State to reach the final. The Bison entered the Championship game with a 3–0 record in previous FCS Championships, having won the last three straight.

### Illinois State Redbirds

Led by sixth-year head coach Brock Spack, the Redbirds finished the regular season 10–1, 7–1 in MVFC play, to earn a conference co-championship (shared with North Dakota State) and the No. 5 seed in the FCS Playoffs. Illinois State defeated unseeded Northern Iowa, No. 4 seed Eastern Washington, and No. 1 seed New Hampshire to reach their first-ever final.

## Game summary
### Scoring summary

Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | NDSU | ILST |
| 1 | 5:28 | 5 | 38 | 2:33 | ILST | Jon-Marc Anderson 13-yard touchdown reception from Tre Roberson, Nick Aussieker kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 1 | 1:06 | 8 | 42 | 4:22 | NDSU | 41-yard field goal by Adam Keller | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | 8:43 | 11 | 84 | 5:30 | NDSU | Luke Albers 6-yard touchdown reception from Carson Wentz, Adam Keller kick good | 10 | 7 |
| 3 | 12:55 | 4 | –5 | 2:05 | NDSU | 41-yard field goal by Adam Keller | 13 | 7 |
| 3 | 7:28 | 8 | 76 | 3:48 | NDSU | John Crockett 7-yard touchdown run, Adam Keller kick good | 20 | 7 |
| 3 | 2:11 | 8 | 66 | 5:17 | ILST | James O'Shaughnessy 41-yard touchdown reception from Tre Roberson, Nick Aussieker kick good | 20 | 14 |
| 4 | 11:20 | 12 | 62 | 5:51 | NDSU | 24-yard field goal by Adam Keller | 23 | 14 |
| 4 | 8:05 | 6 | 84 | 3:15 | ILST | James O'Shaughnessy 3-yard touchdown reception from Tre Roberson, Nick Aussieker kick good | 23 | 21 |
| 4 | 1:38 | 5 | 80 | 0:44 | ILST | Tre Roberson 58-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass failed | 23 | 27 |
| 4 | 0:37 | 6 | 78 | 1:01 | NDSU | Carson Wentz 5-yard touchdown run, Adam Keller kick blocked | 29 | 27 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 29 | 27 |

### Game statistics

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 2 Bison | 3 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 29 |
| No. 5 Redbirds | 7 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 27 |
| Statistics | NDSU | ILST |
| First downs | 22 | 16 |
| Plays–yards | 72–452 | 50–424 |
| Rushes–yards | 50–215 | 27–267 |
| Passing yards | 237 | 157 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 15–22–0 | 11–23–1 |
| Time of possession | 37:15 | 22:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Dakota State | Passing | Carson Wentz | 15/22, 237 yds, 1 TD |
| North Dakota State | Rushing | Carson Wentz | 16 car, 87 yds, 1 TD |
| North Dakota State | Receiving | R. J. Urzendowski | 5 rec, 100 yds |
| Illinois State | Passing | Tre Roberson | 11/23, 157 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Illinois State | Rushing | Tre Roberson | 11 car, 161 yds, 1 TD |
| Illinois State | Receiving | James O'Shaughnessy | 2 rec, 44 yds, 2 TD |