I already had this done for the first 5 title teams so I figured I'd add all the stats in for the 2017 team to see how they stacked up and let's just say they were impressive to say the least.
Here's the overall season numbers (best season for each stat category is highlighted):
Here's the regular season numbers:
Here's the playoff numbers:
Some things that stood out for me:
- The run game was absolutely dominant. A half yard per carry higher in the regular season than any other year, more rush yards per game than any other year, and more rushing TDs than any other year.
- A 14.5% 3rd down conversion defense in the playoffs is just stupid good.
- A 100+ point spread in passing efficiency compared to defensive passing efficiency in the playoffs is simply astounding.
- The 2017 defense on the season has the best defensive pass efficiency and lowest rush yards per game allowed of any D1 title team. It's a legit question to ask if this was the best defense the Bison have ever had in the D1 era.
- Speaking of efficiency the 2017 offense had the highest yards per pass attempt and tied for the highest (with 2013) yards per rush attempt.
By the numbers this year's team clearly exceeded all the other title teams except for the 2013 team. Now you can make the argument that the 2013 team played a tough FBS opponent that skews the numbers a bit and, of course, the 2013 team is all by itself with a 0 in the L column but these 2017 Bison should go down as one of the best teams in the history of NDSU football.