HARRISONBURG — Mike Houston has waited for a date with the Bison since he took over as the coach at James Madison.

To win a national title, Houston said he knew his team would have to inevitably dethrone the five-time defending FCS champions. All the changes he instituted to push JMU away from its former reputation of a panache program toward one of brutality and strength were also made to match mighty North Dakota State.

“In essence, we’ve built this team to try to go in and win this game,” Houston said.

The Dukes and their first-year coach get their shot Friday night in the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs at the FargoDome. The winner moves to the national championship game.

“If you’re going to have any chance at beating them, you’re going to have to combat their physicality,” Houston said. “In the middle of spring practice when we were working so hard to try to establish our culture, I made the statement, and it’s a fact that they’re the five-time defending national champions.

“I told our players that was the reason it was so important for us to develop that mindset.”

Houston runs full-padded practices every Tuesday, even during the thick of the season.

When JMU was given a Friday night game for its FCS quarterfinal against Sam Houston State, Houston moved his Tuesday practice to Monday just so his played could get at least one full day of hitting into its work week.

JMU dominated Sam Houston State from start to finish.

From the first day of training camp through the playoff run, the Dukes offensive line has pushed the sled in practice. Occasionally, Houston and offensive line coach Jamal Powell stand on the back of it while those linemen muscle it all over the practice field.

The same offensive line has paved the way for running back Khalid Abdullah to run for more than 1,500 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns this season.

“There isn’t anything about us that equates to finesse, soft or anything along those lines,” Houston said. “Our kids, when they take the field, are going to hit you right in the face. They will come at you as hard as they can. That is the mindset that has to be taught and demanded on a daily basis.

“Our players have bought into that and believe in that. That is what North Dakota State is, as well. If you’re going to have a chance at beating them, you have to play that style of ball game.”

Houston said JMU’s toughness has shown in road wins throughout conference play this season. The Dukes edged out a victory at Maine, held on to win at New Hampshire, won in a shootout at rival Richmond and overcame starting quarterback Bryan Schor’s injury to win at Villanova.

“We went to places that are traditionally very difficult places to play at and win at,” Houston said. “That, coupled with the strength of the CAA, does give us good preparation and good confidence going into what will be a very tough road game. I think our players understand the mentality and mindset they need to have on this trip.”

JMU senior cornerback Taylor Reynolds said the team didn’t hesitate to go along with all the changes in philosophy Houston made to the program.

“Coach Houston was exactly right,” Reynolds said. “Coming into the season two of our goals were to be CAA champions and be national champions. We knew we’d have to go through North Dakota State eventually to get this national championship.”

Reynolds, who helped the Madison defense shutdown Sam Houston State’s top-ranked offense in the quarterfinals, said he believes there is one key to slowing the Bison’s offense on Friday.

“We’ll have to go out and be very physical,” Reynolds said. “We know North Dakota State is going to come out and be physical, so we have to match their physicality and be who we are.”