The Northwest Missouri St. football team will try to win its third NCAA Division II national championship on Saturday, as they face Grand Valley St. (Mich.) in the title game in Florence, Alabama. Northwest comes into the game as a marked underdog. The 11-3 Bearcats were a six-seed in the tournament and advanced with wins over Angelo St., Washburn, Pittsburg St. and North Alabama (that win was also in Florence, Alabama).

GVS comes into the national championship with a perfect 12-0 record and are looking for their third national championship in five years. They won it all in 2002 and 2003.

Northwest won national championships in 1998 and 1999.