NCAA Division I Football Championship

Annual post-season college football game

This article is about the NCAA Division I FCS (formerly I-AA) final. For its NCAA Division I FBS (formerly I-A) counterpart, see College Football Playoff National Championship.

College football bowl game

NCAA Division I
Football Championship

Stadium| Toyota Stadium (2010–present)
Location| Frisco, Texas (2010–present)
Previous stadiums| Finley Stadium (1997–2009)
Marshall University Stadium (1992–1996)
various (1978–1991)
Previous locations| Chattanooga, Tennessee (1997–2009)
Huntington, West Virginia (1992–1996)
various (1978–1991)
Operated| 2006–present
Preceded by| NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship (1978–2005)
2022 season matchup

South Dakota State vs. North Dakota State
(South Dakota State 45–21)
2023 season matchup
South Dakota State vs. Montana
(South Dakota State 23–3)

The NCAA Division I Football Championship is an annual post-season college football game, played since 2006, used to determine a national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). From 1978 to 2005, the game was known as the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship.

The game serves as the final match of an annual postseason bracket tournament between top teams in FCS. Since 2013, 24 teams normally participate in the tournament, with some teams receiving automatic bids upon winning their conference championship, and other teams determined by a selection committee. The reigning national champions are the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, who have won back-to-back championship games for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

The FCS is the highest division in college football to hold a playoff tournament sanctioned by the NCAA to determine its champion, as the College Football Playoff currently used by the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) is not NCAA-sanctioned.

## History

[edit]

### Playoff format

[edit]

In the inaugural season of Division I-AA, the 1978 postseason included just four teams; three regional champions (East, West, and South) plus an at-large selection.[1] The field doubled to eight teams in 1981, with champions of five conferences—Big Sky, Mid-Eastern, Ohio Valley, Southwestern, and Yankee—receiving automatic bids.[2] The top four teams were seeded, and then matched against the four remaining teams based on geographical proximity.[3] The tournament was expanded to 12 teams in 1982, with each of the top four seeds receiving a first-round bye and a home game in the quarterfinals.[4] Champions of the Southern and Southland conferences also received automatic bids.[5]

The number of automatic bids has varied over time, due to changes in the number and size of conferences, with an automatic bid typically granted only to champions of conferences with at least six teams.[6] Initially, the tournament was played in December; since the expansion to twelve teams in 1982, earlier rounds have been held in late November.

The playoffs expanded to a 16-team format in 1986, requiring four postseason victories to win the title. Initially, only the top four teams were seeded,[7] with other teams geographically placed in the bracket. From 1995 through 2000, all 16 teams were seeded, independent of geography. In 2001, the number of seeded teams was reduced to four, with the seeded teams assured of home games in early tournament rounds, and other teams once again placed in the bracket to minimize travel.[8] Home team designation in games between unseeded teams is determined based on several factors, including attendance history and revenue potential.[9]

In April 2008, the NCAA announced that the playoff field would expand to 20 teams in 2010, with the Big South and Northeast Conference earning automatic bids for the first time.[10] That bracket structure included seeding of the top five teams. Twelve teams received first-round byes; the remaining eight teams played first-round games, with the four winners advancing to face the top four seeds. The playoffs expanded to 24 teams beginning in 2013, with the champion of the Pioneer Football League receiving an automatic bid for the first time.[11] The number of seeded teams was increased to eight, with the 16 unseeded teams playing in first-round games. The unseeded teams continue to be paired according to geographic proximity and then placed in the bracket according to geographic proximity to the top eight seeds. Teams cannot travel more than 400 miles via ground, and teams from the same conference that played each other during the regular season are not paired for first-round games.[12] For the 2020 season, affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the bracket was reduced to 16 teams.[13] The bracket returned to 24 teams for the 2021 season.[14]

The field is traditionally set the Sunday before Thanksgiving and play begins that weekend.

Appalachian State's National Championship trophies for 2005 (I-AA), 2006 (FCS), and 2007 (FCS). Playoff format  Season(s)  | Bracket
size  | Seeded
teams  | 1st round
byes

|
|
|

1978–1980 | 4 | — | —
1981 | 8 | 4 | —
1982–1985 | 12 | 4 | 4
1986–1994 | 16 | 4 | —
1995–2000 | 16 | —
2001–2009 | 4 | —
2010–2012 | 20 | 5 | 12
2013–2019 | 24 | 8 | 8
2020 | 16 | 4 | —
2021–2023 | 24 | 8 | 8
2024–present | 16

#### Team selection

[edit]

At-large selections and seeding within the bracket are determined by the FCS Playoff Selection Committee, which consists of one athletic director from each conference with an automatic bid.[15] As of the 2018 season, there were 10 conferences with automatic bids and the selection committee made 14 at-large selections.[15] An 11th automatic bid was added as of the 2021 season, reducing the number of at-large selections to 13.[14]

### Championship final

[edit]

The January 2015 final between North Dakota State and Illinois State at Toyota Stadium

The tournament culminates with the national final, played between the two remaining teams from the playoff bracket. Unlike earlier round games in each year's playoff, which are played at campus sites, the title game is played at a site predetermined by the NCAA, akin to how the NFL predetermines the site for each Super Bowl. Originally played in December, with the 2010 expansion to a 20-team field, the final moved to January, with two or three weeks between the semifinals and final.

The inaugural title game was played in 1978 in Wichita Falls, Texas. The 1979 and 1980 games were held in Orlando, Florida, and Sacramento, California, respectively, and the game returned to Wichita Falls for 1981 and 1982. The games played in Wichita Falls were known as the Pioneer Bowl, while the game played in Sacramento was known as the Camellia Bowl—both names were used for various NCAA playoff games played in those locations, and were not specific to the I-AA championship. In 1983 and 1984, the game was played in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1985 and 1986, Tacoma, Washington, hosted the game, which the NCAA branded as the "Diamond Bowl".[16]

The 1987 and 1988 games were played in Pocatello, Idaho; and from 1989 through 1991, in Statesboro, Georgia. The 1992 through 1996 games were held in Huntington, West Virginia; and from 1997 through 2009, the title game was played in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Since 2010, the title game has been played in Frisco, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas, at Toyota Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium primarily used by FC Dallas of Major League Soccer. The stadium was known as Pizza Hut Park until the day after the final of the 2011 season, and then as FC Dallas Stadium until September 2013. The original contract with Frisco began in the 2010 season and ran through the 2012 season.[17] The contract has since been extended three times; first through the 2015 season,[18] then through the 2019 season,[19] and most recently through the 2024 season with an option for the 2025 season.[20]

Season(s)  | Venue  | Location  | Tenant NCAA team†  | Title games by tenant

|
|
|
|

1978 | Memorial Stadium | Wichita Falls, Texas | none | N/A
1979 | Orlando Stadium | Orlando, Florida | UCF Knights (D-III) | N/A
1980 | Hughes Stadium | Sacramento, California | none | N/A
1981–1982 | Memorial Stadium | Wichita Falls, Texas | none | N/A
1983–1984 | Johnson Hagood Stadium | Charleston, South Carolina | The Citadel Bulldogs | none
1985–1986 | Tacoma Dome | Tacoma, Washington | none | N/A
1987 | Minidome‡ | Pocatello, Idaho | Idaho State Bengals | none
1988 | Holt Arena
1989–1991 | Paulson Stadium | Statesboro, Georgia | Georgia Southern Eagles | 2: 1989, 1990
1992–1996 | Marshall University Stadium | Huntington, West Virginia | Marshall Thundering Herd | 4: 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996
1997–2009 | Finley Stadium | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Chattanooga Mocs | none
2010–2011 | Pizza Hut Park‡ | Frisco, Texas | none | N/A
2012 | FC Dallas Stadium‡
2013–present | Toyota Stadium

† at the time games were played
‡ earlier name of the same venue

There have been six instances where a team whose venue was predetermined to host the final game advanced to play for the championship on their own field. Georgia Southern won both title games they played at Paulson Stadium, while Marshall had a 2–2 record in four title games they played at Marshall University Stadium (now known as Joan C. Edwards Stadium).

### Non-participants

[edit]

Three FCS conferences usually do not participate in the tournament: the Ivy League, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), and Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

The Ivy League has been at the FCS level since 1982 and prohibits its members from awarding athletic scholarships in any sport, plays a strict ten-game regular season and does not participate in any postseason football, citing academic concerns.[21][22] The MEAC and SWAC, two conferences consisting of historically black colleges and universities, opt to play the Celebration Bowl (which was established in 2015) instead of the FCS tournament.[23] MEAC gave up its automatic spot in the tournament prior to the 2015 season,[24] while the SWAC's regular season extends through the Turkey Day Classic and Bayou Classic at the end of November and the SWAC Championship Game is played in December. Teams from the MEAC and SWAC may accept at-large bids, so long as they aren't committed to other postseason games that would conflict with the tournament. The most recent MEAC and SWAC teams to accept bids were the 2023 North Carolina Central Eagles and 2021 Florida A&M Rattlers, respectively.

Historically, conferences in FCS that did not offer athletic scholarships were not granted automatic bids into the tournament and, although in theory were eligible for at-large bids, never received any. The last non-scholarship conference in the subdivision, the Pioneer Football League, now receives a tournament bid, which was initiated with the 2013 postseason.

### FCS conferences

[edit]

Conference  | Nickname  | Founded  | Football members  | Sports  | Headquarters

|
|
|
|
|

Big Sky Conference | Big Sky  | 1963  | 12  | 15  | Farmington, Utah
Big South Conference[a] | Big South  | 1983  | 4  | 19  | Charlotte, North Carolina
CAA Football[b] | CAA  | 1946[c] | 15  | 1  | Richmond, Virginia
Independents |  |  | 1[d] | 1  |
Ivy League[e] |  | 1954  | 8  | 33  | Princeton, New Jersey
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference[f] | MEAC  | 1970  | 6  | 16  | Norfolk, Virginia
Missouri Valley Football Conference | MVFC  | 1982  | 12[g] | 1  | St. Louis, Missouri
Northeast Conference | NEC  | 1981  | 8  | 22  | Somerset, New Jersey
Ohio Valley Conference[a] | OVC  | 1948  | 6[h] | 18  | Brentwood, Tennessee
Patriot League |  | 1986  | 7  | 24  | Center Valley, Pennsylvania
Pioneer Football League | PFL  | 1991  | 11  | 1  | St. Louis, Missouri
Southern Conference | SoCon  | 1921  | 9  | 20  | Spartanburg, South Carolina
Southland Conference |  | 1963  | 6  | 17  | Frisco, Texas
Southwestern Athletic Conference[i] | SWAC  | 1920  | 12  | 18  | Birmingham, Alabama
United Athletic Conference | UAC  | 2022[j] | 9[k] | 1  | Englewood, Colorado

Notes

1. ^ a b The Big South and OVC effectively merged their football leagues in 2023. Both leagues will play full round-robin schedules within their own conferences, plus a smaller number of cross-conference games, and will share a single automatic playoff berth.
2. ^ CAA Football is administered by the multi-sports Colonial Athletic Association but is a separate legal entity.
3. ^ Although CAA Football did not exist in its current form until 2007, it claims the football histories of the Yankee Conference (formed in 1946, played football from 1947–1995) and Atlantic 10 Conference (football from 1996–2006). It does not claim the history of the New England Conference (1938–1946), even though four of the six charter Yankee Conference members were NEC members in its final season.
4. ^ The only independent in the 2023 season, Kennesaw State, is ineligible for the FCS playoffs, as it started a transition to FBS in July 2023. It will join Conference USA in 2024.
5. ^ The Ivy League abstains from the championship tournament and all postseason play.
6. ^ The MEAC champion, since 2015, forgoes its automatic bid to allow its champion to participate in the Celebration Bowl. Non-champions are eligible for at-large bids (an example being the 2016 North Carolina A&T Aggies football team).
7. ^ 11 football members in 2024 with loss of Western Illinois.
8. ^ 7 OVC football members in 2024 with addition of Western Illinois.
9. ^ The SWAC abstains from the championship tournament to allow for a longer regular season, a conference final, and participation in the Celebration Bowl against the MEAC champion since 2015.
10. ^ Formed in 2022 as a full merger of the football leagues of the ASUN Conference and Western Athletic Conference; first season in 2023.
11. ^ 10 members in 2025 with addition of UTRGV.

## Champions

[edit]

Current FCS members  | Team  | #  | Years

|
|

North Dakota State | 9 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015,
2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
Youngstown State | 4 | 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997
Eastern Kentucky | 2 | 1979, 1982
Montana | 1995, 2001
South Dakota State | 2022, 2023
Delaware | 1 | 2003
Eastern Washington | 2010
Florida A&M | 1978
Furman | 1988
Idaho State | 1981
Montana State | 1984
Richmond | 2008
Southern Illinois | 1983
Villanova | 2009

Former FCS members  | Team  | #  | Years

|
|

Georgia Southern | 6 | 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000
Appalachian State | 3 | 2005, 2006, 2007
Marshall | 2 | 1992, 1996
James Madison | 2004, 2016
Boise State | 1 | 1980
Louisiana–Monroe | 1987
Sam Houston | 2020
Massachusetts | 1998
Western Kentucky | 2002

North Dakota State

Georgia Southern

Youngstown State

Appalachian State

Montana

Marshall

EKU

JMU

Delaware

Furman

Massachusetts

Boise
State

Eastern Washington

Florida A&M

Idaho
State

Louisiana–
Monroe

Montana State

Richmond

Sam Houston

Southern Illinois

Villanova

WKU

South Dakota
State

class=notpageimage|

Schools that have won the FCS Championship
9,  6,  4,  3,  2,  1

### Championship game history

[edit]

For each season since the inaugural year of Division I-AA play, 1978, the following table lists the date of each title game and the champion.[25] The score and runner-up are also noted, along with the host city, game attendance, and head coach of the championship team.

See also: List of NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearances by team

Season | Date | Champion | Score | Runner-up | Location | Attendance | Winning
head coach

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1978 | December 16, 1978 | Florida A&M | 35–28 | Massachusetts | Wichita Falls, TX | 13,604 | Rudy Hubbard
1979 | December 15, 1979 | Eastern Kentucky | 30–7 | Lehigh | Orlando, FL | 5,200 | Roy Kidd
1980 | December 20, 1980 | Boise State | 31–29 | Eastern Kentucky | Sacramento, CA | 8,157 | Jim Criner
1981 | December 19, 1981 | Idaho State | 34–23 | Eastern Kentucky | Wichita Falls, TX | 11,002 | Dave Kragthorpe
1982 | December 18, 1982 | Eastern Kentucky (2) | 17–14 | Delaware | Wichita Falls, TX | 11,257 | Roy Kidd (2)
1983 | December 17, 1983 | Southern Illinois | 43–7 | Western Carolina | Charleston, SC | 15,950 | Rey Dempsey
1984 | December 15, 1984 | Montana State | 19–6 | Louisiana Tech | Charleston, SC | 9,125 | Dave Arnold
1985 | December 21, 1985 | Georgia Southern | 44–42 | Furman | Tacoma, WA | 5,306 | Erk Russell
1986 | December 19, 1986 | Georgia Southern (2) | 48–21 | Arkansas State | Tacoma, WA | 4,419 | Erk Russell (2)
1987 | December 19, 1987 | Northeast Louisiana | 43–42 | Marshall | Pocatello, ID | 11,513 | Pat Collins
1988 | December 17, 1988 | Furman | 17–12 | Georgia Southern | Pocatello, ID | 9,714 | Jimmy Satterfield
1989 | December 16, 1989 | Georgia Southern (3) | 37–34 | Stephen F. Austin | Statesboro, GA | 25,725 | Erk Russell (3)
1990 | December 15, 1990 | Georgia Southern (4) | 36–13 | Nevada | Statesboro, GA | 23,204 | Tim Stowers
1991 | December 21, 1991 | Youngstown State | 25–17 | Marshall | Statesboro, GA | 12,667 | Jim Tressel
1992 | December 19, 1992 | Marshall | 31–28 | Youngstown State | Huntington, WV | 31,304 | Jim Donnan
1993 | December 18, 1993 | Youngstown State (2) | 17–5 | Marshall | Huntington, WV | 29,218 | Jim Tressel (2)
1994 | December 17, 1994 | Youngstown State (3) | 28–14 | Boise State | Huntington, WV | 27,674 | Jim Tressel (3)
1995 | December 16, 1995 | Montana | 22–20 | Marshall | Huntington, WV | 32,106 | Don Read
1996 | December 21, 1996 | Marshall (2) | 49–29 | Montana | Huntington, WV | 30,052 | Bob Pruett
1997 | December 20, 1997 | Youngstown State (4) | 10–9 | McNeese State | Chattanooga, TN | 14,771 | Jim Tressel (4)
1998 | December 19, 1998 | Massachusetts | 55–43 | Georgia Southern | Chattanooga, TN | 17,501 | Mark Whipple
1999 | December 18, 1999 | Georgia Southern (5) | 59–24 | Youngstown State | Chattanooga, TN | 20,052 | Paul Johnson
2000 | December 16, 2000 | Georgia Southern (6) | 27–25 | Montana | Chattanooga, TN | 17,156 | Paul Johnson (2)
2001 | December 21, 2001 | Montana (2) | 13–6 | Furman | Chattanooga, TN | 12,698 | Joe Glenn
2002 | December 20, 2002 | Western Kentucky | 34–14 | McNeese State | Chattanooga, TN | 12,360 | Jack Harbaugh
2003 | December 19, 2003 | Delaware | 40–0 | Colgate | Chattanooga, TN | 14,281 | K. C. Keeler
2004 | December 17, 2004 | James Madison | 31–21 | Montana | Chattanooga, TN | 16,771 | Mickey Matthews
2005 | December 16, 2005 | Appalachian State | 21–16 | Northern Iowa | Chattanooga, TN | 20,236 | Jerry Moore
2006 | December 15, 2006 | Appalachian State (2) | 28–17 | Massachusetts | Chattanooga, TN | 22,808 | Jerry Moore (2)
2007 | December 14, 2007 | Appalachian State (3) | 49–21 | Delaware | Chattanooga, TN | 23,010 | Jerry Moore (3)
2008 | December 19, 2008 | Richmond | 24–7 | Montana | Chattanooga, TN | 17,823 | Mike London
2009 | December 18, 2009 | Villanova | 23–21 | Montana | Chattanooga, TN | 14,328 | Andy Talley
2010 | January 7, 2011 | Eastern Washington | 20–19 | Delaware | Frisco, TX | 13,027 | Beau Baldwin
2011 | January 7, 2012 | North Dakota State | 17–6 | Sam Houston State | Frisco, TX | 20,586 | Craig Bohl
2012 | January 5, 2013 | North Dakota State (2) | 39–13 | Sam Houston State | Frisco, TX | 21,411 | Craig Bohl (2)
2013 | January 4, 2014 | North Dakota State (3) | 35–7 | Towson | Frisco, TX | 19,802 | Craig Bohl (3)
2014 | January 10, 2015 | North Dakota State (4) | 29–27 | Illinois State | Frisco, TX | 20,918 | Chris Klieman
2015 | January 9, 2016 | North Dakota State (5) | 37–10 | Jacksonville State | Frisco, TX | 21,836 | Chris Klieman (2)
2016 | January 7, 2017 | James Madison (2) | 28–14 | Youngstown State | Frisco, TX | 14,423 | Mike Houston
2017 | January 6, 2018 | North Dakota State (6) | 17–13 | James Madison | Frisco, TX | 19,090 | Chris Klieman (3)
2018 | January 5, 2019 | North Dakota State (7) | 38–24 | Eastern Washington | Frisco, TX | 17,802 | Chris Klieman (4)
2019 | January 11, 2020 | North Dakota State (8) | 28–20 | James Madison | Frisco, TX | 17,866 | Matt Entz
2020 | May 16, 2021 | Sam Houston | 23–21 | South Dakota State | Frisco, TX | 7,840 | K. C. Keeler (2)
2021 | January 8, 2022 | North Dakota State (9) | 38–10 | Montana State | Frisco, TX | 18,942 | Matt Entz (2)
2022 | January 8, 2023 | South Dakota State | 45–21 | North Dakota State | Frisco, TX | 18,023 | John Stiegelmeier
2023 | January 7, 2024 | South Dakota State (2) | 23–3 | Montana | Frisco, TX | 19,512 | Jimmy Rogers

Notes:

* 1987 champion Northeast Louisiana has been known as the University of Louisiana at Monroe (Louisiana–Monroe) since 1999.
* The 2020–21 school year was the first in which Sam Houston State University called its athletic program "Sam Houston", without the word "State".
* Attendance at the 2020 championship game (played in May 2021) was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Appearances by team

[edit]

Key

* CH National Champion
* RU National Runner-up
* SF Semifinals
* QF Quarterfinals
* 12 16 Round of 12 (1982 through 1985), Round of 16 (1986 to present)
* • First Round (2010 to present, except for 2020)

School  | Conference
(as of 2024)  | #  | 16  | QF  | SF  | CG  | CH  | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
North Dakota State | MVFC | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | CH | CH | CH | CH | CH | SF | CH | CH | CH | QF | CH | RU | SF
Georgia Southern | FBS | 19 | 19 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | CH | CH | QF | RU | CH | CH |  |  | QF |  | QF |  | QF | RU | CH | CH | SF | SF |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  | SF | SF | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Youngstown State | MVFC | 13 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | QF | 16 | CH | RU | CH | CH |  |  | CH |  | RU | 16 |  |  |  |  |  | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | RU |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16
Appalachian State | FBS | 20 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | SF |  | 16 |  | 16 | 16 |  | QF | QF |  |  | QF | 16 | SF | QF | 16 |  |  | CH | CH | CH | QF | SF | QF | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Montana | Big Sky | 28 | 28 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 2 |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | SF |  |  |  | 16 | SF | CH | RU | 16 | 16 | 16 | RU | CH | QF | 16 | RU | 16 | SF | 16 | RU | RU |  | SF |  | 16 | 16 | 16 |  |  |  | QF |  | QF | 16 | RU
Marshall | FBS | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | RU | QF |  |  | RU | CH | RU | SF | RU | CH |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Eastern Kentucky | UAC | 22 | 19 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 2 |  | CH | RU | RU | CH | 12 | 12 |  | SF | QF | SF | 16 | 16 | SF | 16 | 16 | QF | 16 |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  | • |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |
James Madison | FBS | 18 | 17 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  | QF |  |  | QF | 16 |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  | CH |  | 16 | 16 | SF |  |  | 16 |  |  | • | 16 | CH | RU | 16 | RU | SF | SF |  |
South Dakota State | MVFC | 13 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | 16 | 16 | 16 | • | QF | SF | SF | 16 | RU | SF | CH | CH
Delaware | Coastal | 19 | 18 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 |  |  |  | QF | RU |  |  |  | QF |  | 16 |  |  | 16 | SF | QF |  | QF | 16 | SF |  |  | SF |  |  | CH | QF |  |  | RU |  |  | RU |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  | SF |  | 16 | 16
Sam Houston | FBS | 13 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  | RU | RU | 16 | SF | SF | QF | SF |  |  | CH | QF |  |
Furman | Southern | 20 | 19 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 |  |  |  |  | 12 | SF |  | RU | 16 |  | CH | SF | QF |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  | 16 | 16 | RU | 16 |  | QF | SF | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  | 16 |  | • |  |  | 16 | QF
UMass | FBS | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | RU |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | CH | QF |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | RU | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Eastern Washington | Big Sky | 15 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | 16 |  | QF |  | 16 | CH |  | SF | SF | QF |  | SF |  | RU |  | 16 | 16 |  |
Montana State | Big Sky | 13 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  | CH |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  | QF |  |  |  | 16 | QF | QF |  | • |  |  |  | 16 | SF |  | RU | SF | 16
Boise State | FBS | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 |  |  | CH | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | SF |  |  |  | RU |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Villanova | Coastal | 15 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  | 16 | QF |  |  |  |  | SF |  |  |  |  |  | QF | CH | SF |  | • |  | QF |  | 16 |  |  | • |  | QF |  | QF
Richmond | Coastal | 13 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | QF |  |  |  |  | QF |  | SF | CH | QF |  |  |  |  | 16 | SF | QF |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16
Southern Illinois | MVFC | 11 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  | CH |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 | QF | QF | SF | 16 | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | 16 |  | 16
Florida A&M | SWAC | 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | CH |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 | QF | SF | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |
Western Kentucky | FBS | 8 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  | QF | 16 | CH | QF | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Louisiana–Monroe | FBS | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | CH |  |  | 16 |  | QF | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Idaho State | Big Sky | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |  |  |  | CH |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
McNeese | Southland | 16 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 2 | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | QF | QF | QF | SF |  | RU | 16 |  | 16 | 16 | RU | 16 |  |  | 16 | 16 |  | 16 |  |  |  | 16 |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Northern Iowa | MVFC | 22 | 20 | 14 | 7 | 1 | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | SF |  | SF |  |  | 16 | QF | SF | 16 | 16 | QF | SF |  |  |  |  | SF |  | QF |  | RU |  | QF | SF |  | • | QF |  |  | 16 | QF |  | 16 | 16 | QF |  | • |  |
Nevada | FBS | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 1 | - | SF | SF |  |  |  | SF |  | SF | SF |  |  |  | RU | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lehigh | Patriot | 11 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | - |  | RU | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | 16 | QF | QF |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | QF |  |  |  |  | • | • |  |  |  |  |  |
Illinois State | MVFC | 8 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  | RU | QF | • |  |  | QF |  |  |  |
Stephen F. Austin | UAC | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | RU |  |  |  | 16 |  | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | 16 |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |
Louisiana Tech | FBS | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - |  |  |  |  | SF |  | RU |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Colgate | Patriot | 11 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | - |  |  |  |  | QF | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 | 16 |  |  |  | RU |  | 16 |  |  | 16 |  |  |  | • |  |  | QF |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |
Arkansas State | FBS | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | - |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | QF | RU | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Jacksonville State | FBS | 10 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | QF | 16 | RU | 16 | 16 | 16 |  | QF |  |  |
Towson | Coastal | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | RU |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |
Western Carolina | Southern | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |  |  |  |  |  | RU |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New Hampshire | Coastal | 17 | 16 | 9 | 2 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | QF | QF | 16 | QF | QF | QF | 16 | 16 | SF | SF | • | 16 | QF |  |  |  |  | 16 |
Idaho | Big Sky | 13 | 12 | 5 | 2 | - | - |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  | 12 | 16 | 16 | SF | 16 | QF |  | 16 | SF | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • | QF
William & Mary | Coastal | 11 | 11 | 5 | 2 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | 16 | QF |  |  | 16 |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | SF |  |  |  |  | SF | 16 |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |
Troy | FBS | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | SF | 16 | 16 | SF |  | 16 | QF | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Wofford | Southern | 10 | 9 | 6 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | SF |  |  |  | QF | 16 |  | QF | 16 | QF |  |  |  | QF | QF | 16 | • |  |  |  |
Middle Tennessee | FBS | 7 | 7 | 6 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  | SF | QF |  |  |  | QF | QF | QF | QF |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weber State | Big Sky | 10 | 9 | 5 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  | • | QF | QF | SF | 16 |  | 16 |
Western Illinois | Big South–OVC | 11 | 10 | 4 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  | 16 | QF | SF |  | 16 |  | QF | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |
Maine | Coastal | 8 | 8 | 4 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | QF |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | QF |  | 16 |  |  |  |  | SF |  |  |  |  |
Tennessee State | Big South–OVC | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  | QF | SF |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Rhode Island | Coastal | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  | QF |  |  | SF | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Jackson State | SWAC | 12 | 12 | 2 | 1 | - | - | SF |  |  | QF | 12 |  |  | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Northwestern State | Southland | 6 | 6 | 2 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | SF |  |  | 16 | 16 |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Murray State | MVFC | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | - | - |  | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | QF |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
South Carolina State | MEAC | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  | SF | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 | • |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Samford | Southern | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | SF | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  | • | • |  |  |  |  | QF |
Grambling State | SWAC | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | - |  |  | SF |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Albany | Coastal | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  | SF
Incarnate Word | Southland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  | 16 | SF |
UCF | FBS | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | SF |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
'Texas State | FBS | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | SF |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Florida Atlantic | FBS | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Eastern Illinois | Big South–OVC | 16 | 14 | 4 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  | QF | 12 |  |  | QF |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  | 16 | 16 | 16 |  |  | 16 | 16 | 16 |  | 16 |  |  | • | QF |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Holy Cross | Patriot | 6 | 5 | 2 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • | 16 | 16 | QF |
Boston University | no team | 5 | 5 | 2 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  | 12 | QF | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Hofstra | no team | 5 | 5 | 2 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | 16 |  | QF | QF | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Coastal Carolina | FBS | 6 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  | • |  | 16 | QF | QF | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Kennesaw State | FBS | 4 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | QF | 16 |  | 16 |  |
Indiana State | MVFC | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  | QF | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
East Tennessee State | Southern | 3 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  | QF |  |
Nicholls | Southland | 7 | 5 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • | 16 | 16 |  |  |  | •
The Citadel | Southern | 5 | 5 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | 16 |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Chattanooga | Southern | 5 | 5 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16
Northern Arizona | Big Sky | 6 | 4 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | 16 |  | 16 |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |
Fordham | Patriot | 6 | 4 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 | • |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |
North Carolina A&T | Coastal | 5 | 4 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Southeastern Louisiana | Southland | 5 | 4 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | • |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | 16 | 16 |
North Texas | FBS | 4 | 4 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sacramento State | Big Sky | 4 | 4 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | 16 | QF | 16
Missouri State | MVFC | 4 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | • |  |
Cal Poly | Big Sky | 4 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  | 16 |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Alcorn State | SWAC | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
North Dakota | MVFC | 5 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | • | QF |  | • | •
South Dakota | MVFC | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  | • |  | QF
Old Dominion | FBS | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Charleston Southern | Big South–OVC | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |
UC Davis | Big Sky | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  | • |  |
Austin Peay | UAC | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  | •
UConn | FBS | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Hampton | Coastal | 5 | 5 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Central Arkansas | UAC | 5 | 5 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  | 16 |  |  |  |
Bethune–Cookman | SWAC | 5 | 3 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | • | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lafayette | Patriot | 5 | 3 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | •
Stony Brook | Coastal | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  | 16 | • |  |  |  |  |
San Diego | Pioneer | 5 | 2 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  | 16 | 16 | • | • |  |  |  |
Southeast Missouri State | Big South–OVC | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | • |  |  | • |
Monmouth | Coastal | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |
Portland State | Big Sky | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
UT Martin | Big South–OVC | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |
Elon | Coastal | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • | • |  |  |  | • |
Sacred Heart | Northeast | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • | • |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | • |  |
Southern Utah | UAC | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  | • |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |
Davidson | Pioneer | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | • | • |
Duquesne | Northeast | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  | •
Gardner–Webb | Big South–OVC | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | •
Mississippi Valley State | SWAC | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Akron | FBS | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Howard | MEAC | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Northeastern | no team | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Delaware State | MEAC | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Wagner | Northeast | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Liberty | FBS | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
VMI | Southern | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |
Mercer | Southern | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16
Saint Francis (PA) | Northeast | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  | • |
Central Connecticut | Northeast | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  | • |  |  |  |
Robert Morris | Northeast | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Norfolk State | MEAC | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tennessee Tech | Big South–OVC | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Butler | Pioneer | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Morgan State | MEAC | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dayton | Pioneer | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lamar | Southland | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |
North Carolina Central | MEAC | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | •
Drake | Pioneer | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | •

## MVPs

[edit]

Bo Levi Mitchell was MVP of the final for the 2010 season.

Since 2009, a Most Outstanding Player has been named for each final.[26]

Season  | Player  | Team  | Position

|
|
|

2009 | Matt Szczur | Villanova | WR
2010 | Bo Levi Mitchell | Eastern Washington | QB
2011 | Travis Beck | North Dakota State | LB
2012 | Brock Jensen | North Dakota State | QB
2013 | Brock Jensen | North Dakota State | QB
2014 | Carson Wentz | North Dakota State | QB
2015 | Carson Wentz | North Dakota State | QB
2016 | Khalid Abdullah[27] | James Madison | RB
2017 | Easton Stick | North Dakota State | QB
2018 | Darrius Shepherd | North Dakota State | WR
2019 | Trey Lance | North Dakota State | QB
2020 | Jequez Ezzard | Sam Houston | WR
2021 | Hunter Luepke | North Dakota State | FB
2022 | Mark Gronowski[28] | South Dakota State | QB
2023 | Mark Gronowski[29] | South Dakota State | QB

Note: starting with the 2010 season, the final game is played in the next calendar year.

## Most appearances

[edit]

The following table summarizes appearances in the final, by team, since the 1978 season, the first year of Division I-AA (the predecessor of FCS).

Updated through the January 2024 championship game (46 finals, 92 total appearances). Schools are listed by their current athletic brand names, which do not always match those used in a given season.

Team  | Record  | Appearances by season

|
|

Games | W | L | Win pct. | Won | Lost
North Dakota State |

| 9 | 1 | .900  | 2011*, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015*, 2017*, 2018*, 2019*, 2021*  | 2022*
Georgia Southern^  |

| 6 | 2 | .750  | 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000  | 1988, 1998
Montana |

| 2 | 6 | .250  | 1995, 2001  | 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2023*
Youngstown State |

| 4 | 3 | .571  | 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997  | 1992, 1999, 2016*
Marshall^  |

| 2 | 4 | .333  | 1992, 1996  | 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995
James Madison^  |

| 2 | 2 | .500  | 2004, 2016*  | 2017*, 2019*
Eastern Kentucky |

| 2 | 2 | .500  | 1979, 1982  | 1980, 1981
Delaware |

| 1 | 3 | .250  | 2003  | 1982, 2007, 2010*
Appalachian State^  |

| 3 | 0 | 1.000  | 2005, 2006, 2007  |
South Dakota State |

| 2 | 1 | .667  | 2022*, 2023*  | 2020*
Furman |

| 1 | 2 | .333  | 1988  | 1985, 2001
Sam Houston^  |

| 1 | 2 | .333  | 2020*  | 2011*, 2012*
Massachusetts^  |

| 1 | 2 | .333  | 1998  | 1978, 2006
Boise State^  |

| 1 | 1 | .500  | 1980  | 1994
Eastern Washington |

| 1 | 1 | .500  | 2010*  | 2018*
Montana State |

| 1 | 1 | .500  | 1984  | 2021*
McNeese |

| 0 | 2 | .000  |  | 1997, 2002
Florida A&M |

| 1 | 0 | 1.000  | 1978  |
Idaho State |

| 1 | 0 | 1.000  | 1981  |
Louisiana–Monroe^  |

| 1 | 0 | 1.000  | 1987  |
Richmond |

| 1 | 0 | 1.000  | 2008  |
Southern Illinois |

| 1 | 0 | 1.000  | 1983  |
Villanova |

| 1 | 0 | 1.000  | 2009  |
Western Kentucky^  |

| 1 | 0 | 1.000  | 2002  |
Arkansas State^  |

| 0 | 1 | .000  |  | 1986
Colgate |

| 0 | 1 | .000  |  | 2003
Illinois State |

| 0 | 1 | .000  |  | 2014*
Jacksonville State^  |

| 0 | 1 | .000  |  | 2015*
Lehigh |

| 0 | 1 | .000  |  | 1979
Louisiana Tech^  |

| 0 | 1 | .000  |  | 1984
Nevada^  |

| 0 | 1 | .000  |  | 1990
Northern Iowa |

| 0 | 1 | .000  |  | 2005
Stephen F. Austin |

| 0 | 1 | .000  |  | 1989
Towson |

| 0 | 1 | .000  |  | 2013*
Western Carolina |

| 0 | 1 | .000  |  | 1983

* Denotes finals played in the following calendar year.
^ Team is now a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

## Appearances by conference

[edit]

The following table summarizes appearances in the final, by conference, since the 1978 season, the first year of Division I-AA (the predecessor of FCS).

Updated through the January 2024 championship game (46 finals, 92 total appearances).

Conference  | Record  | Appearances by season

|
|

Games | W | L | Win pct. | Won | Lost
MVFC | 19 | 13 | 6 | .684 | 1997, 2002, 2011*, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015*, 2017*, 2018*, 2019*, 2021*, 2022*, 2023* | 1999, 2005, 2014*, 2016*, 2020*, 2022*
SoCon | 16 | 8 | 8 | .500 | 1988, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007 | 1983, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001
Big Sky | 16 | 6 | 10 | .375 | 1980, 1981, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2010* | 1990, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2018*, 2021*, 2023*
Independent | 11 | 7 | 4 | .636 | 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 | 1979, 1982, 1988, 1992
Southland | 9 | 2 | 7 | .222 | 1987, 2020* | 1984, 1986, 1989, 1997, 2002, 2011*, 2012*
CAA Football | 8 | 3 | 5 | .375 | 2008, 2009, 2016* | 2007, 2010*, 2013*, 2017*, 2019*
OVC | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | 1979, 1982 | 1980, 1981, 2015*
A-10 | 4 | 3 | 1 | .750 | 1998, 2003, 2004 | 2006
MVC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1983 |
SIAC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1978 |
Patriot League | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |  | 2003
Yankee | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |  | 1978

* Games marked with an asterisk (*) were played in the following calendar year.
* Records reflect conference affiliations at the time each game was played.
* Conferences in italics are defunct or not currently active in FCS.
* The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) and Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) are historically related but independently operating entities. MVFC was known as the Gateway Football Conference until June 2008.
* The Yankee Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10), and CAA Football, although separately chartered, are effectively the same entity in football. The Yankee Conference, formerly an all-sports conference but a football-only league since 1976, was effectively merged into the A-10 after the 1996 season. In turn, the A-10 shut down its football league after the 2006 season, with the multi-sports Colonial Athletic Association (since renamed the Coastal Athletic Association) taking over administration of that league as the separate entity of CAA Football.
* Teams from the same conference have met in the championship game following the 2014 and 2022 seasons. Both matchups involved MVFC teams.

## Game records

[edit]

This table lists records for the Championship Game.

| Record  | Team  | Opponent  | Game

|
|
|
|

Most points scored (one team)  | 59 | Georgia Southern | Youngstown State | 1999
Most points scored (losing team)  | 43 | Georgia Southern | UMass | 1998
Most points scored (both teams)  | 98 | UMass (55) | Georgia Southern (43)
Fewest points allowed  | 0 | Delaware | Colgate | 2003
Largest margin of victory  | 40 | Delaware (40) | Colgate (0)
Attendance  | 32,106 | Montana vs. Marshall | 1995

## Media coverage

[edit]

The game has been televised on an ESPN affiliated network since 1995.

Season(s) | Television

|

1978–1981 | ABC
1982 | CBS Sports
1983 | ABC
1984 | Satellite Program Network
1985–1989 | ESPN
1990–1994 | CBS
1995–2001 | ESPN
2002–2018 | ESPN2
2019–2020 | ABC[30]
2021 | ESPN2
2022–present | ABC

Note: starting with the 2010 season, the final game is played in the next calendar year.

Date  | Network  | Play-by-play announcers  | Color commentators | Sideline reporters

|
|
|
|

January 8, 2023  | ABC | Roy Philpott  | Jay Walker | Paul Carcaterra
January 8, 2022  | ESPN2 | Dave Flemming | Stormy Buonatony
May 16, 2021  | ABC  | Dave Pasch | Andre Ware | Kris Budden
January 11, 2020  | Mark Jones | Dusty Dvoracek | Olivia Dekker
January 5, 2019  | ESPN2  | Taylor Zarzour  | Matt Stinchcomb | Kris Budden
January 6, 2018  | Dave Neal | Quint Kessenich
January 7, 2017  | Anish Shroff | Ahmad D. Brooks
January 9, 2016
January 10, 2015  | Kelly Stouffer | Cara Capuano
January 4, 2014
January 5, 2013  | Dave Neal  | Jay Walker
January 7, 2012  | David Diaz-Infante | Allison Williams
January 7, 2011  | Andre Ware  | Jon Berger
December 18, 2009  | Eric Collins | Brock Huard | Cara Campuano
December 19, 2008  | Bob Wischusen |
December 14, 2007  | Sean McDonough | Chris Spielman | Rob Stone
December 15, 2006  | Dave Pasch  | Rod Gilmore and Trevor Matich | Dave Ryan
December 16, 2005  | Stacey Dales-Schuman
December 17, 2004  | Rob Stone
December 19, 2003  | Sean McDonough  | Mike Golic and Rod Gilmore  | Rob Stone
December 20, 2002  | Ron Franklin | Mike Gottfried | Adrian Karsten
December 21, 2001  | ESPN |
December 16, 2000  | Rich Waltz | Rod Gilmore  | Dave Ryan
December 18, 1999  | Don McPherson
December 19, 1998  | Dave Barnett | Bill Curry | Dave Ryan
December 20, 1997  |
December 21, 1996  | Brad Nessler | Gary Danielson |
December 16, 1995  | Joel Meyers | Todd Christensen | Adrian Karsten
December 17, 1994  | CBS | Sean McDonough  | Steve Davis | Dave Logan
December 18, 1993  | Dan Jiggetts | Jim Gray
December 19, 1992  | Jim Nantz | John Robinson |
December 21, 1991  | Brad Nessler  | Dan Jiggetts  |
December 15, 1990  | Jim Nantz  | Tim Brant | John Dockery
December 16, 1989  | ESPN  | Barry Tompkins | Stan White |
December 17, 1988  | Tim Brando |
December 19, 1987  | Denny Schreiner  |
December 19, 1986  | Tim Brando  | Kevin Kiley  |
December 21, 1985  | Mike Patrick | Sam Adkins |
December 15, 1984  | Satellite Program Network | Bill Flemming | Steve Davis  |
December 17, 1983  | ABC  | Keith Jackson | Frank Broyles |
December 18, 1982  | CBS  | Lindsey Nelson | Steve Davis  |
December 19, 1981  | ABC  | Bill Flemming  | Frank Broyles  |
December 20, 1980  |
December 15, 1979  |
December 16, 1978  |

## See also

[edit]

* List of NCAA Division I FCS football programs
* List of NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearances by team
* College Football Playoff (FBS)
* NCAA Division II Football Championship
* NCAA Division III Football Championship
* NAIA Football Championship

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Television Debut May Ignite FAMU". The Palm Beach Post. AP. November 18, 1978. p. 49. Retrieved January 6, 2019 - via newspapers.com.
2. ^ "Recommends expansion for I-AA playoffs". The Des Moines Register. AP. April 10, 1982. p. 8. Retrieved January 6, 2019 - via newspapers.com.
3. ^ Sutton, Stan (November 29, 1981). "Delaware will be Eastern's playoff foe". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. C9. Retrieved February 6, 2019 - via newspapers.com.
4. ^ "Blue Hens Get Berth; Earn Opening Bye". The Daily Times. Salisbury, Maryland. AP. November 22, 1982. p. 10. Retrieved February 6, 2019 - via newspapers.com.
5. ^ Sutton, Stan (September 9, 1982). "Will I-AA numbers hamper Eastern's playoff bid?". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. 11. Retrieved January 6, 2019 - via newspapers.com.
6. ^ "SWAC loses automatic bid". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. October 28, 1983. p. 6. Retrieved January 6, 2019 - via newspapers.com.
7. ^ "I-AA playoffs". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. November 24, 1986. p. C5. Retrieved February 6, 2019 - via newspapers.com.
8. ^ Kasper, Jon (November 12, 2001). "NCAA changes format for playoff pairings". Missoulian. Missoula, Montana. p. D1. Retrieved February 2, 2019 - via newspapers.com.
9. ^ Kasper, Jon (November 12, 2001). "NCAA changes format for playoff pairings (cont'd)". Missoulian. Missoula, Montana. p. D6. Retrieved February 2, 2019 - via newspapers.com.
10. ^ Graham, Tony (April 26, 2008). "NEC granted access to playoffs". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 28. Retrieved January 6, 2019 - via newspapers.com.
11. ^ Moorman, Chris (August 4, 2013). "Flyers set sights on playoff prize". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. p. 37. Retrieved January 6, 2019 - via newspapers.com.
12. ^ "FCS Championship: Everything you need to know | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com.
13. ^ Kelley, Kevin (September 22, 2020). "FCS Playoff Schedule format for Spring 2021 football season set". fbschedules.com. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
14. ^ a b Herder, Sam (August 9, 2021). "Predicting The 2021 FCS Playoff Bracket". herosports.com. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
15. ^ a b Barnett, Zach (November 15, 2018). "With one week to go, here's your FCS playoff primer". footballscoop.com. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
16. ^ "I-AA championship moved to Tacoma". Billings Gazette. Billings, Montana. AP. January 5, 1985. p. 2-C. Retrieved May 1, 2019 - via newspapers.com.
17. ^ Caplan, Jeff (February 26, 2010). "20 teams to compete for FCS crown". ESPN. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
18. ^ "NCAA inks three-year extension to keep FCS title game in Frisco, Texas" (Press release). NCAA. December 19, 2012. Archived from the original on February 20, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
19. ^ "NCAA keeping FCS title game in Frisco through at least 2020". USA Today. Associated Press. January 8, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
20. ^ "FCS Championship Will Stay in Frisco Through 2025 With Option for 2026" (Press release). Southland Conference. January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
21. ^ Torre, Pablo (November 29, 2007). "No playoffs for you!". CNN/Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
22. ^ David Burrick (September 18, 2003). ""Ivy League not likely to see I-AA playoffs"". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
23. ^ Craig T. Greenlee (January 6, 2000). "Not Exactly for THE SPORT OF IT". Black Issues in Higher Education. Archived from the original on September 16, 2004. Retrieved June 27, 2009 - via Wayback Machine.
24. ^ Rashad, Kenn (December 30, 2014). "Morgan State AD Confirms MEAC/SWAC Bowl Game Will Be Played In 2015". hbcusports.com. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
25. ^ "FCS Football Championship History". NCAA.com. January 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
26. ^ "Outstanding players of FCS championship game". ESPN. AP. January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
27. ^ "JMU wins FCS title, beats Youngstown St". The Rock Island Argus. East Moline, Illinois. Associated Press. January 8, 2017. p. 16. Retrieved October 26, 2020 - via newspapers.com.
28. ^ @FCS_STATS (January 8, 2023). "Most Outstanding Player of #FCSChampionship South Dakota State QB Mark Gronowski: 280 total yards, 4 total TDs" (Tweet). Retrieved January 8, 2023 - via Twitter.
29. ^ @DomIzzoWDAY (January 7, 2024). "#NDSU AD Matt Larsen presents Mark Gronowski with his FCS Most Outstanding Performance trophy" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2024 - via Twitter.
30. ^ "Broadcast Info". NCAA.com. 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division I Football Championship Game

* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2011*
* 2012*
* 2013*
* 2014*
* 2015*
* 2016*
* 2017*
* 2018*
* 2019*
* 2020*
* 2021†
* 2022*
* 2023*
* 2024*

Games through 2009 were played in December. Subsequent games have been played in January (*) or May (†).

* v
* t
* e

College football

NCAA|

| Competitions|

| Division I|

| FBS|

* National championship
* Playoff
* Playoff National Championship
* BCS National Championship Game
* Bowl games
* List
* Bids
* Coalition
* Alliance
* Championship Series
* Records
* Rivalries
* Most-played

|

FCS|

* Championship
* Playoff appearances

Division II|

* Championship

Division III|

* Championship

Other|

* Black college championship

Seasons|

* Division I-A (FBS)
* Division I-AA (FCS)
* Division II
* Division III

Programs|

* Div I (FBS)
* Div I (FCS)
* Div II
* Div III

Conferences 1|

* Big South–OVC
* CAA
* Eastern
* Missouri Valley
* Pioneer
* The United

Stadiums|

* FBS
* FCS

Records|

* Overview
* Teams by wins
* Win-loss records (FBS)
* Win-loss records (FCS)
* Win-loss records (DII)
* Win-loss records (DIII)

Related|

* Heisman Trophy
* Winners
* Curse
* Non-football programs
* Never sponsored football
* Retired numbers
* Teams alignment history

NAIA|

| Competitions|

* National Championship

|

Conferences|

* Independent schools
* Mid-States

Other topics|

* Programs
* Seasons

NJCAA|

| Competitions|

* National Championship

|

Conferences|

* Midwest
* Northeast
* Southwest Junior
* Western States

3C2A|

* SCFA

NCCAA|

* Victory Bowl

Games|

* First games by state
* Games outside the U.S.
* Historically significant games
* Nicknamed games

Media|

* Radio
* Television
* Playoff debate

Related articles|

* AP rankings
* Black college classics
* Junior college programs
* Defunct conferences
* Defunct teams
* Game of the Century
* Hall of Fame
* Institutions with club football teams
* Seasons (list)
* UPI rankings
* American football in the United States

Non-U.S. football|

* Ireland
* ONEFA (Mexico)

* 1 Note: Football-only conferences are listed

* * *

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Systems used to determine college football national championships

NCAA Division I-A/FBS|

* Various polling systems (1869–present)
* Bowl Coalition (1992–1994)
* Bowl Alliance (1995–1997)
* Bowl Championship Series (1998–2013)
* College Football Playoff (2014–present)

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS|

* NCAA Division I Football Championship (1978–present)

NCAA Division II|

* NCAA Division II Football Championship (1973–present)

NCAA Division III|

* NCAA Division III Football Championship (1973–present)

NAIA|

* NAIA Football National Championship (1956–present)
* NAIA Division II Football National Championship (1970–1996)

Additional systems|

* Black college football national championship (1920–present)
* UPI small college football rankings (1958–1974)
* AP small college football rankings (1960–1974)
* NCCAA Victory Bowl (1997–present)

* v
* t
* e

National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA|

* Awards
* Hall of Champions
* Conferences

Division I|

* Institutions
* Athletic directors
* Non-football programs
* Never sponsored football
* Realignment
* 1928–2009
* 2010–
* Baseball
* championship
* MCWS
* Basketball
* men
* women
* Cross country
* men
* women
* Field hockey
* championship
* Football
* FBS
* FCS
* Golf
* men
* women
* Ice hockey
* men
* Lacrosse
* men
* women
* Rowing
* women
* Soccer
* men
* women
* Softball
* championship
* WCWS
* Swimming and diving
* men
* women
* Tennis
* men
* women
* Track and field
* men's indoor and outdoor
* women's indoor and outdoor
* Volleyball
* women
* Wrestling
* championship

Division II|

* Institutions
* Baseball
* championship
* Basketball
* men
* women
* Cross country
* men
* women
* Field hockey
* championship
* Football
* championship
* Golf
* men
* women
* Gymnastics
* men
* women
* Ice hockey
* men
* Lacrosse
* men
* women
* Rowing
* women
* Soccer
* men
* women
* Softball
* championship
* Swimming and diving
* men
* women
* Tennis
* men
* women
* Track and field
* men's indoor and outdoor
* women's indoor and outdoor
* Volleyball
* women
* Wrestling
* championship

Division III|

* Institutions
* Baseball
* championship
* Basketball
* men
* women
* Cross country
* men
* women
* Field hockey
* championship
* Football
* championship
* Golf
* men
* women
* Ice hockey
* men
* women
* Lacrosse
* men
* women
* Rowing
* women
* Soccer
* men
* women
* Softball
* championship
* Swimming and diving
* men
* women
* Tennis
* men
* women
* Track and field
* Men's indoor and outdoor
* Women's indoor and outdoor
* Volleyball
* men
* women
* Wrestling
* championship

Single-division or
National Collegiate sports
and championships|

* Beach volleyball
* women
* Bowling
* women
* Boxing
* championship
* Fencing
* championship
* Ice hockey
* women
* Gymnastics
* men
* women
* Rifle
* championship
* Skiing
* championship
* Trampoline
* championship
* Volleyball
* men
* Water polo
* men
* women

Related topics|

* College athletics in the United States
* List of college athletics championship game outcomes

* (events listed in italics have been discontinued)

* * *

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

American football in the United States

History|

| Early|

* American Football Union
* Intercollegiate Football Association
* National Football League (1902)
* New York Pro Football League
* Ohio League
* Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit
* World Series of Football (1902–03)

|

Modern|

| Major|

* All-America Football Conference
* American Football League (1926)
* American Football League
* American Football League (1936)
* American Football League (1940)
* United States Football League
* World Football League

|

Minor|

* Alliance of American Football
* American Association
* Anthracite League
* Atlantic Coast Football League
* Continental Football League
* Dixie League
* Midwest Football League
* NFL Europe
* Pacific Coast Professional Football League
* United Football League (1961–1964)
* United Football League
* United States Football League
* XFL (2001)
* XFL (2020)

Developmental|

* The Spring League
* Your Call Football

Halls of fame|

* Professional
* College
* Arena
* Indoor

Professional|

| NFL|

* History
* Playoffs
* AFC Championship Game
* NFC Championship Game
* Pro Bowl
* Super Bowl

|

Other outdoor|

* American 7s Football League
* United Football League

Indoor leagues|

* American Arena League
* Arena Football Association
* American West Football Conference
* Arena Football League
* American Indoor Football
* Champions Indoor Football
* Indoor Football League
* National Arena League
* Great Lakes Arena Football
* Fan Controlled Football

Proposed leagues|

* American Patriot League
* American Spring Football League
* Freedom Football League
* The Arena League

Related topics|

* Researchers Association

College|

| NCAA|

| FBS|

* National championship
* Playoff National Championship
* Playoff
* Bowl game

|

FCS|

* Championship

Other|

* NAIA
* National Championship
* NJCAA
* Championship
* National Signing Day

Junior|

| High school|

* High School Football National Championship
* National Federation of State High School Associations
* National Signing Day

|

Youth / middle|

* American Youth Football
* Pop Warner

Women's|

* Extreme Football League
* United States Women's Football League
* Women's Football Alliance
* Women's National Football Conference

International|

* USA Football
* National men's team
* National women's team

Related|

* List of American football films
* Donald Trump and American football

* Category
* Commons
* Portal

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template