Part of The Analyst’s FCS series called “By the Numbers,” which analyzes data to help tell the story of FCS college football.
The 2023 FCS championship game – No. 1 South Dakota State versus No. 2 Montana – will be played on Jan. 7 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, for the 14th straight season, which will become the high for a single host city.
It’s more a source of pride in Frisco than an actual record that’s charted by the NCAA.
But plenty of individual and team records stand out with the FCS championship game, and here are some of the favorites heading into the eighth all-time matchup between the top two seeds:
59/247/638
Georgia Southern scored the most points in a championship game while beating Youngstown State 59-24 to cap the 1999 season. Adrian Peterson set the individual record for rushing yards (247) and the Eagles raced to the team rushing mark (638).
4/24/220
Marshall wide receiver Randy Moss was a one-man wrecking crew against Montana in 1996, setting the championship game’s receiving yardage (220) and TD receptions (four) records in a 49-29 victory. His 24 points also match the single-game record, shared by two others.
36/57
Montana’s Brian Ah Yat set the single-game record for completions (36) in the Grizzlies’ 1996 loss to Marshall. Montana State’s Kelly Bradley attempted the most passes (57) in the Bobcats’ 19-6 win over Louisiana Tech in 1984.
474
Marshall’s Tony Peterson holds the passing yardage record (474), but it occurred in a 43-42 loss to ULM to end the 1987 season. He completed 28 of 54 pass attempts.
4/7
Southern Illinois overwhelmed Western Carolina and quarterback Jeff Gilbert in a 43-7 win in 1983, picking off seven passes, including defensive back Greg Shipp with four – the team and individual records for interceptions.
6
Massachusetts collected a record six fumble recoveries to beat Georgia Southern 55-43 in the 1998 title game.
509
Georgia Southern outlasted Furman 44-42 in 1985 for the first of its six FCS titles as quarterback Tracy Ham set the single-game mark with 509 yards of total offense (419 passing and 90 rushing). He passed for four touchdowns – the first of three players to notch that record.
85/305
In South Dakota State’s first national title game appearance to cap the spring 2021 season, freshman running back Isaiah Davis broke off the longest play from scrimmage – an 85-yard touchdown – and set the mark for all-purpose yards (305 – 178 rushing, 13 receiving and 114 kickoff return). SDSU fell 23-21.
0/40
The only shutout victory in championship game history belongs to Delaware in 2003. In beating Colgate 40-0, the Blue Hens also established the largest margin of victory.
55/72
The longest field goal belongs to Georgia Southern’s David Cool (55 yards) in a 17-12 loss to Furman in 1988. Delaware’s Rick Titus boomed the longest punt (72 yards) in a 17-14 loss to Eastern Kentucky in 1982.
162
Idaho State defeated Eastern Kentucky 34-23 despite being penalized for 162 yards – the most for a team in championship game history.
32,106
When Marshall hosted the 1995 title game, a record crowd of 32,106 watched Montana edge the Thundering Herd 22-20.
(A list of year-by-year results in the FCS championship game)