The top-seeded South Dakota State Jackrabbits (13-1) will face the reigning national champion North Dakota State Bison (12-2) in the 2023 FCS national title game at 2 p.m. ET Sunday in Frisco, Texas.

When the two members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference met earlier this season, South Dakota State won 23-21, overcoming a 21-7 halftime deficit. As they prepare to meet again, let’s analyze where each team holds advantages.

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Rush offense: push

Both teams thrive in the run game. They have multiple runners who are effective with the ball in their hands, including the quarterbacks. Whichever team wins, you can be sure it will be led by their rushing attack.

Each team’s approach is different. North Dakota State boasts the third-ranked rushing offense in the FCS, averaging 273.2 yards per game. The Bison have used a committee of backs but will be shorthanded Sunday. Kobe Johnson leads the rushing attack into Frisco, but they will be without second-leading rusher TaMerik Williams and third-leading rusher Hunter Luepke, who was named first-team all-conference as a fullback. Even though quarterback Cam Miller is still there along with a host of other backs champing at the bit to get more carries, it negates the depth advantage that the Bison enjoyed. Look for junior TK Marshall to pick up some of the load.

South Dakota State’s rushing attack is led by junior Isaiah Davis, who earned first-team all-conference honors and has rushed for 1,347 yards and 14 touchdowns. During the playoff run, Davis has averaged 8.3 yards per carry. As a freshman, he had all three of SDSU’s touchdowns and rushed for 178 yards in the spring 2021 national championship game loss to Sam Houston. He will be a major factor again in this matchup. In addition to Davis, the Jacks utilize Amar Johnson (121 carries, 618 yards) and quarterback Mark Gronowski (106 carries, 361 yards) on the ground. All three rushed for a touchdown in the semifinal win against Montana State.

Pass offense: advantage South Dakota State

This is where there is clear separation on offense between these two teams. The Bison possess an opportunistic passing attack built off play-action and misdirection. South Dakota State has the ability to attack a defense through the air thanks to a plethora of weapons. The Jackrabbits average 198 passing yards per game — 72 yards more than the Bison.

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Gronowski has improved as a passer from his freshman season, when he led the team to Frisco during the spring 2021 season. He has two great weapons at receiver in the Janke twins, Jaxon and Jadon, who lead the team with more than 700 receiving yards each. He also has two elite tight ends to throw to in Zach Heinz and Tucker Craft. They are complete tight ends who help open running lanes for backs in addition to hauling in passes.

Rush defense: advantage South Dakota State

South Dakota State has the best run defense in the FCS, allowing 83 yards per game and 2.7 yards per rush. How? First, it’s the defensive personnel. The Jacks have smaller, athletic linebackers, like junior Jason Freeman and first team All-MVFC junior Adam Bock, who fly around the field. They have strong, athletic defensive linemen, led by a pair of all-conference performers in seniors Caleb Sanders and Reece Winkelman, who are disruptive forces up front. They also have defensive backs that come up and make tackles. Second, the offense is one of the best in the country, and once they build a lead, opponents are forced to abandon the run game because they know that is the most difficult way to move the ball against the Jacks. Eventually, most opponents become one-dimensional passing teams.

North Dakota State is traditionally good against the run, but it has suffered some injuries along the defensive line that have made it more vulnerable than usual. Eli Mostaert, a 2021 All-American, has been out for a good portion of the season and will not play in the championship game. Neither will his brother, Will. That puts a lot more pressure on the linebacking corps to make tackles and shed blockers. That group is led by do-everything senior James Kaczor. The Bison will also need 2022 second-team All-American defensive end Spencer Waege to step up in run defense.

Pass defense: advantage North Dakota State

Give a slight edge to North Dakota State, which owns the fifth-ranked pass defense in the FCS (168.9 yards per game). The Bison boast a second-team All-American pass rusher in Waege, as well as a second-team All-American defensive back in Michael Tutsie. A strong safety, Tutsie is a leader in the secondary, which also includes free safety Dawson Weber, who has five interceptions. That combination mixed with quality cornerback play has made North Dakota State difficult to complete passes on. The Bison have intercepted 16 passes and broken up another 41.

Up front, Waege has been a terror as a pass rusher all season. The senior has 11 sacks, eight hurries and 17.5 tackles for loss. The Bison have also received good pressure from freshman nose guard Jaxon Duttenhefer, who is second on the team with four sacks.

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The Bison and Jackrabbits rank tied for 17th nationally with 38 sacks each. South Dakota State may not be as strong in the back third as North Dakota State, but cornerback DyShawn Gales was a first-team all-conference performer.

Special teams: push

Jadon Janke was named a second-team all-conference punt returner for South Dakota State, averaging 11.4 yards per return with a long of 58. Kicker Hunter Dustman averages 41.7 yards per punt with 13 pinned inside the 20. He also handles kicking duties and is 17-of-24 on field goal attempts.

North Dakota State’s Jayden Price averages 15.5 yards per punt return, with one taken back 65 yards touchdown. The Bison also had several big kickoff returns. Kicker Griffin Crosa is 10-of-11 on field goal attempts, and punter Kaedin Steindorf pinned 21 punts inside the 20. It is truly a group effort with the Bison special teams.

The margins are close in this matchup. South Dakota State has been the best team in the FCS for most of the season, but you cannot discount the fact that North Dakota State seems to find a way to get it done in the biggest moments as it pursues a 10th national title in 12 years.

But this time, not only are the Jacks fueled by a need to complete unfinished business, they are the healthier team coming into the game and have the memory of beating the Bison in Fargo. The Jackrabbits will most likely be holding up the trophy when the confetti begins to fly Sunday.

(Top photo: Bailey Hillesheim / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)