TAMPA, Fla. — Boston College is accustomed to playing for a national championship. Ferris State is not.

That’s the backdrop for Saturday night’s Frozen Four title game between the Eagles (32-10-1), one of the nation’s elite hockey programs, and the Bulldogs (26-11-5), who are competing in only the program’s second NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs compete at the Division II level in other sports.

Boston College, the overall No. 1 seed, won its 18th straight game Thursday night by dispatching Minnesota 6-1 in the semifinals. But even though the Eagles seem poised to earn the fifth national championship in program history — and third in five seasons — they are approaching Ferris State with caution.

“I hear this talk of David and Goliath, but I do not consider it to be that way,” said Boston College coach Jerry York, in his 18th season with the Eagles. “Anybody that gets to the Frozen Four is a really great team. I said any of the four can win this thing.”

Boston College has outscored its NCAA tournament opponents 12-1. The Eagles have largely been fueled by goaltender Parker Milner, who had a shutout streak of 193 minutes, 49 seconds that was halted when Minnesota scored in the third period.

Ferris State, which is seeking the school’s first national championship in any sports, also has built substantial confidence. It began when the Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 nationally for two weeks earlier in the season.