This Saturday, the Illinois State Redbirds football team will play for their first ever national title in football.

It is the first appearance in the title game for ISU and Athletic Director Larry Lyons says the matchup has a lot of interesting aspects. He explains their opponent, North Dakota State, was the only Missouri Valley Conference team they didn't face this year, yet, ended up splitting the conference title.

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The road to the final was the toughest of any potential road as ISU faced two road games from one side of the country to the other. Lyons says it has been to see everything play out the way it has.

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North Dakota State is going for their fourth straight national championship, but Lyons feels they are going to give the Bison a good one in Texas this weekend. He compliments the NDSU program for what they have done, and feels both teams are very similar in the way play.

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For the Redbirds, the key to their team is first year, transfer quarterback Trey Roberson. Lyons says Roberson has come in and been dynamic, and is complimented well by junior runningback Marshaun Coprich, who had a record setting season for the ISU.

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Game time Saturday from Frisco, TX is at noon central time and the game can be seen on ESPN 2. Lyons says the community of Bloomington/Normal has embraced the run by the Redbirds, and watch parties will be going on all over the community.