The defense had a plus nineteen turnover margin and allowed fewer than thirteen points a game and just three rushing touchdowns all season.
North Dakota got off to a 6–0–0 start, before playing on October 24 to face the 6–0–0 UNO Mavericks of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
The Pittsburg State Gorillas were the next team to visit Grand Forks, on November 24 for the quarterfinal round.
The semifinal game on December 1 brought the UC-Davis Aggies to Grand Forks, and the Sioux had a 14–0 lead with 30 seconds left.
North Dakota earned its first ever trip ever to the Division II championship game in Florence, Alabama, to face the Lakers of Michigan's Grand Valley State University.
With 29 seconds to play, Jed Perkerewicz took the handoff for the winning touchdown, giving the Sioux the 2001 Division II national championship.