Record: 14-0, NSIC champion
Playoff march: Defeated Chadron (Neb.) State 20-10, Grand Valley (Mich.) State 19-13 (2 OT) and California (Pa.) 45-7.
High-powered: UMD scored at least 38 points in each of its 11 regular-season games.
Minnesota connection: Half of UMD's 22 offensive and defensive starters are from Minnesota.
Twin Cities connection: Senior offensive tackle Mitch Cady (Wayzata) and senior defensive end Drew Fautsch (Bloomington Jefferson) were among 11 UMD players to earn first-team all-NSIC honors this season.
Historic honor: Quarterback Ted Schlalfke (Stevens Point, Wis.) is the first UMD player selected to the American Football Coaches Association Division II All-America team.
Today's opponent: Northwest Missouri State (13-1) is a perennial Division II power, reaching the title game in each of the previous three seasons. The Bearcats lost 25-20 to Valdosta (Ga.) State last year, 17-14 to Grand Valley State in 2006 and 21-17 to Grand Valley State in 2005. The Bearcats won national titles in 1998 and '99, beating Carson-Newman each year.
