The Bison won't be lifting their sixth consecutive trophy, but their impressive steak should not be overlooked.
It may be hard for the FCS community to feel empathy for North Dakota State fans after James Madison handed the Bison their first playoff loss in six years.
After all, for most of this decade, the Bison winning an FCS championship was as inevitable as death and taxes.
NDSU’s dominance since 2010 has earned them a spot among elite dynasties such as the New York Yankees, New England Patriots and Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide.
RELATED: FCS Championship Bracket | Youngstown State vs. Eastern Washington preview
But, like all good things, each of these dynasties -- Alabama excluded, at least at this point -- has either ended or endured waning periods, and the Bison are simply the latest.
However, North Dakota State’s era of dominance deserves celebrating. Let’s take a look at some of the amazing numbers NDSU posted during their historic run.
2197 Days since the Bison lost a playoff game
81-6 overall record from 2011-2016
86 consecutive weeks ranked in the FCS Stats Top 10
"You're not defined by a moment, you're defined by your body of work, and that's the best body of work in college football." - @CoachKli
— NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) December 17, 2016
47 consecutive home games drawing 18,000 or more fans
33 consecutive wins from 2012-2014
30 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in FCS Coaches Poll (2012-2014)
22 straight playoff victories
20 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in FCS STATS Poll (2012-2013)
6 consecutive Missouri Valley Conference Championships
6 consecutive wins against FBS teams
5 consecutive FCS National Championships 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015
