The participants of the 2020 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game were the finalists of the
2019 FCS Playoffs—North Dakota State and James Madison—which began with a 24-team
bracket. This was a rematch of the
2018 FCS Championship Game, won by North Dakota State, 17–13. Entering the game,
North Dakota State and
James Madison had won every FCS championship, with North Dakota State winning eight and James Madison winning one, since the
2010 Eastern Washington Eagles won the
2011 FCS Championship Game.
North Dakota State Bison North Dakota State entered the game with a 15–0 record. They were 12–0 during the regular season, finishing atop the
Missouri Valley Football Conference with an 8–0 conference record. The Bison received the top seed for the FCS playoffs, entitling them to a first-round bye. They then defeated
Nicholls,
Illinois State, and
Montana State to reach the championship game. North Dakota entered the title match with a 36-game winning streak, having not lost since falling to
South Dakota State on November 4, 2017. This was North Dakota State's eighth FCS title game; they were 7–0 in prior championship game appearances, having won titles for the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018 seasons. During the
2016 playoffs, they were denied a spot in the title game due to a semifinal loss to James Madison.
James Madison Dukes James Madison entered the game with a 14–1 record. They were 11–1 during the regular season, finishing atop the
Colonial Athletic Association with an 8–0 conference record. Their only loss was to FBS program
West Virginia, 20–13, on August 31. The Dukes received the second seed for the FCS playoffs, entitling them to a first-round bye. They then defeated
Monmouth,
Northern Iowa, and
Weber State to reach the championship game. This was James Madison's fourth FCS title game; they were 2–1 in prior championship game appearances, having won titles for the 2004 and 2016 seasons. ==Game summary==