The FCS Daily Dose is a blog-style article series featuring an assortment of news, rumblings, quick hitters, and commentary on various topics.
A new Daily Dose will be published multiple times a week.
SDSU Eyes A 3-Peat
South Dakota State looks to join a short list of teams to win three straight FCS/Division 1-AA national championships.
The 2023 Jackrabbits will go down as one of the best teams in subdivision history, factoring in their dominant postseason run (outscoring playoff opponents 146-15), a historically good defense (9.3 points allowed per game), and the number of players that have already signed or will sign NFL contracts.
Despite a big core of the 2022 and 2023 championship squads graduating after last season, the cupboard is still stocked.
The Jacks have 28 seniors on the 2024 roster. They return quarterback Mark Gronowski, the 2023 Walter Payton Award winner and a potential 2025 NFL Draft pick. Amar Johnson is back as a First Team All-MVFC running back. Griffin Wilde was one of the best freshman wide receivers in the FCS last fall. The offensive line returns two starters in All-American Gus Miller and Evan Beerntsen, plus added North Dakota multi-year starter Sam Hagen via the transfer portal.
The Jackrabbits bring back eight of their top 13 tacklers. Linebacker Adam Bock, safety Tucker Large, and cornerback Dalys Beanum are among the best players at their positions in the FCS.
SDSU, frankly, is still loaded … even though it seems crazy to use that word considering the talent it lost from last year’s squad.
So, will the Jacks three-peat and join the list below? Or will they fall short and join the slightly longer list of teams further down in this article?
How Many FCS Teams Have 3-Peated?
Appalachian State (2005-2007)
App State was the first team to win three national championships in a row. The Mountaineers, led by head coach Jerry Moore, beat Northern Iowa in 2005, UMass the next year, and Delaware in 2007.
North Dakota State (2011-2015)
NDSU technically had multiple “3-peats” in its run of five straight FCS titles. The Bison won their first three FCS championships from 2011-2013 under Craig Bohl, beating Sam Houston twice and Towson. They added two more in 2014 and 2015 under Chris Klieman, defeating Illinois State and Jacksonville State.
North Dakota State (2017-2019)
After James Madison’s 2016 national championship, the Bison went on another run for a 3-peat. Klieman led NDSU to championship wins over JMU and Eastern Washington. Matt Entz took over as head coach in 2019 as the Bison went on to beat JMU in Frisco again.
How Many Teams Fell 1 Title Short Of A 3-Peat?
Georgia Southern (1985-1986)
Georgia Southern beat Furman in 1985 and Arkansas State in 1986. Its quest for a 3-peat fell short, though. The Eagles lost to App State in the 1987 quarterfinals.
Georgia Southern (1989-1990)
The Eagles defeated Stephen F. Austin and Nevada for two more national titles. But they couldn’t pull off the 3-peat, finishing 7-4 and missing the 1991 playoffs.
Youngstown State (1993-1994)
YSU knocked off Marshall and Boise State in back-to-back years as part of its four national titles in the 1990s. The Penguins couldn’t make it three in a row, though, missing the 1995 playoffs.
Georgia Southern (1999-2000)
For the third time in program history, Georgia Southern won back-to-back D1-AA championships. But a 3-peat remained elusive. The Eagles beat YSU in 1999 and Montana in 2000. In 2001, they lost to Furman in the semifinals.
Past Daily Doses
FCS Teams Playing The Worst FBS Teams In 2024 + FCS Championship Game Tickets … READ MORE
Celebration Bowl Date Moved Up A Week + Idaho, South Dakota Schedule Home-and-Home … READ MORE
FCS vs. Non-D1 Opponents In 2024 … READ MORE
