NCAA Division I Football Championship

Annual post-season college football game

This article is about the NCAA Division I FCS national championship. For the current iteration of the NCAA Division I FBS national championship, see College Football Playoff National Championship.

College football bowl game

NCAA Division I
Football Championship

Stadium| FirstBank Stadium (2026–future)
Location| Nashville, Tennessee (2026–future)
Previous stadiums| Toyota Stadium (2010–2025)
Finley Stadium (1997–2009)
Marshall University Stadium (1992–1996)
various (1978–1991)
Previous locations| Frisco, Texas (2010–2025)
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)
2023 season matchup

South Dakota State vs. Montana
(South Dakota State 23–3)
2024 season matchup
North Dakota State vs. Montana State
(North Dakota State 35–32)

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 called the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship, during the period when the FCS was known as NCAA Division I-AA.

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 North Dakota State Bison, who have won 10 championships since the 2011 season.

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

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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.

From 2010 through the 2024 season, the title game was 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 was extended three times; first through the 2015 season,[18] then through the 2019 season,[19] and finally through the 2024 season with an option for the 2025 season.[20]

For at least 2026 and 2027, the title game will be played at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, home of the Vanderbilt Commodores, due to renovations beginning at Toyota Stadium following the 2025 title game.[21]

#### Details

[edit]

Season(s)  | Venue  | Location  | Tenant NCAA team[n 1] | Title games by tenant

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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[n 2] | 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[n 2] | Frisco, Texas | none | N/A
2012 | FC Dallas Stadium[n 2]
2013–2025 | Toyota Stadium
2026–future | FirstBank Stadium | Nashville, Tennessee | Vanderbilt Commodores (FBS/SEC) | N/A

Notes

1. ^ at the time games were played
2. ^ a b c 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 its own field. Georgia Southern won both title games it played at Paulson Stadium, while Marshall had a 2–2 record in four title games it played at Marshall University Stadium (now known as Joan C. Edwards Stadium).

### Non-participants

[edit]

As of the 2025 season, two FCS conferences usually do not participate in the tournament: the 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 and plays a strict ten-game regular season. Through the 2024 season, it did not participate in any postseason football, citing academic concerns.[22][23] The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (consisting of student-athletes at all sports, including those who participated in the NCAA tournament in their respective sport) recommended the change be reversed, and on December 18, 2024, the Ivy League announced starting with the 2025 season, the league champion will participate in the tournament.[24]

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.[25] MEAC gave up its automatic spot in the tournament prior to the 2015 season,[26] 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]

Membership numbers reflect those in the next FCS season in 2025.

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

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Big Sky Conference | Big Sky  | 1963  | 12  | 15  | Farmington, Utah
Big South Conference[a] | Big South  | 1983  | 2  | 19  | Charlotte, North Carolina
CAA Football[b] | CAA  | 1946[c] | 14  | 1  | Richmond, Virginia
Ivy League[d] |  | 1954  | 8  | 33  | Princeton, New Jersey
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference[e] | MEAC  | 1970  | 6  | 16  | Norfolk, Virginia
Missouri Valley Football Conference | MVFC  | 1982  | 10  | 1  | St. Louis, Missouri
Northeast Conference | NEC  | 1981  | 8  | 22  | Somerset, New Jersey
Ohio Valley Conference[a] | OVC  | 1948  | 7  | 18  | Brentwood, Tennessee
Patriot League |  | 1986  | 8  | 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  | 10  | 17  | Frisco, Texas
Southwestern Athletic Conference[f] | SWAC  | 1920  | 12  | 18  | Birmingham, Alabama
United Athletic Conference | UAC  | 2022[g] | 9  | 1  | Englewood, Colorado

Notes

1. ^ a b The Big South and Ohio Valley Conference effectively merged their football leagues in 2023. Both leagues share a single automatic playoff berth.
2. ^ CAA Football is administered by the multi-sports Coastal 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 Ivy League abstained from the championship tournament and all postseason play until the end of the 2024 season. Starting in 2025, the Ivy League Champion will participate in the NCAA Tournament.
5. ^ 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, which now plays in CAA Football.).
6. ^ 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.
7. ^ Formed in 2022 as a joint venture of the Atlantic Sun Conference and Western Athletic Conference football playing members; first season in 2023.

## Champions

[edit]

Current FCS members  | Team  | #  | Seasons

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|

North Dakota State | 10 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024
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  | #  | Seasons

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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
UMass | 1998
Western Kentucky | 2002

ND State

GA Southern

Youngstown St.

Appalachian State

Montana

Marshall

Eastern KY

J. Mad.

Delaware

Furman

Massachusetts

Boise
State

Eastern Washington

Florida A&M

Idaho St.

La.–Monroe

Montana St.

Richmond

Sam Houston

Southern IL

Villanova

Western KY

SD State

class=notpageimage|

Schools that have won the FCS Championship
10,  6,  4,  3,  2,  1

### Championship game history

[edit]

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

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.[27] The score and runner-up are also noted, along with the host city, game attendance, and head coach of the championship team.

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

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| 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

| 2024 | January 6, 2025 | North Dakota State (10) | 35–32 | Montana State | Frisco, TX | 18,005 | Tim Polasek

| 2025 | TBA, January 2026 |  |  |  | Nashville, TN |  |

| 2026 | TBA, January 2027 |  |  |  | Nashville, TN |  |

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]

Updated through the January 2024 championship game, following the 2023 football season.

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 2025)  | #  | 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 | 24

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
North Dakota State | MVFC | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 10 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | CH | CH | CH | CH | CH | SF | CH | CH | CH | QF | CH | RU | SF | CH
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 | 29 | 29 | 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 | 16
Marshall | FBS | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | RU | QF |  |  | RU | CH | RU | SF | RU | CH |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Eastern Kentucky | UAC | 23 | 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 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | 16 | 16 | 16 | • | QF | SF | SF | 16 | RU | SF | CH | CH | SF
Delaware | FBS | 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 |
Montana State | Big Sky | 14 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  | CH |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  | QF |  |  |  | 16 | QF | QF |  | • |  |  |  | 16 | SF |  | RU | SF | 16 | RU
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 |  |  |
Boise State | FBS | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 |  |  | CH | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | SF |  |  |  | RU |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Villanova | Coastal | 16 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  | 16 | QF |  |  |  |  | SF |  |  |  |  |  | QF | CH | SF |  | • |  | QF |  | 16 |  |  | • |  | QF |  | QF | 16
Richmond | Patriot | 14 | 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 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 1 | - |  | RU | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | 16 | QF | QF |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | QF |  |  |  |  | • | • |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16
Illinois State | MVFC | 9 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | SF |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  | QF |  | RU | QF | • |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  | 16
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 | 18 | 16 | 9 | 2 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | QF | QF | QF | 16 | QF | QF | QF | 16 | 16 | SF | SF | • | 16 | QF |  |  |  |  | 16 |  | •
Idaho | Big Sky | 14 | 13 | 6 | 2 | - | - |  |  |  |  | QF |  |  | 12 | 16 | 16 | SF | 16 | QF |  | 16 | SF | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • | QF | 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 | OVC–Big South | 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 | OVC–Big South | 7 | 6 | 3 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  | QF | SF |  |  |  | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | •
Rhode Island | Coastal | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  | QF |  |  | SF | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16
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 |  |
South Dakota | MVFC | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  | • |  | QF | SF
Incarnate Word | Southland | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  | 16 | SF |  | QF
Grambling State | SWAC | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | - |  |  | SF |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Albany | Coastal | 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 | OVC–Big South | 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 |  |  |
UC Davis | Big Sky | 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 | 7 | 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 | FBS | 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 |  | • | • |
Old Dominion | FBS | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | QF |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Mercer | Southern | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | QF
Charleston Southern | OVC–Big South | 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 | • |  |  |  |  |  |
UT Martin | OVC–Big South | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  | 16
Southeast Missouri State | OVC–Big South | 5 | 2 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 | • |  |  | • |  | •
San Diego | Pioneer | 5 | 2 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  | 16 | 16 | • | • |  |  |  |  |
Monmouth | Coastal | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  | 16 | 16 |  |  |  |
Portland State | Big Sky | 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 | OVC–Big South | 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 |  |  |  |
Abilene Christian | UAC | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16
Tarleton State | UAC | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16
Central Connecticut | Northeast | 3 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  | • |  |  |  |  | •
Saint Francis (PA) | Northeast | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |
Drake | Pioneer | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • | •
Robert Morris | Northeast | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Norfolk State | MEAC | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tennessee Tech | OVC–Big South | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Butler | Pioneer | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Morgan State | MEAC | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dayton | Pioneer | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Lamar | Southland | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | • |  |  |  |  |  |
North Carolina Central | MEAC | 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.[28]

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[29] | 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[30] | South Dakota State | QB
2023 | Mark Gronowski[31] | South Dakota State | QB
2024 | Cam Miller[32] | North 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 2025 championship game (47 finals, 94 total appearances). Schools are listed by their current athletic brand names, which do not always match those used in a given season.

Team  | Record  | App.

|
|

Games  | W  | L  | Win %  | Won  | Lost
North Dakota State |

| 10 | 1 | .909  | 2011*, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015*,
2017*, 2018*, 2019*, 2021*, 2024*  | 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*
Montana State |

| 1 | 2 | .333  | 1984  | 2021*, 2024*
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*
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 2025 championship game (47 finals, 94 total appearances).

Conference  | Record  | App

|
|

Games  | W  | L  | Win %  | Won  | Lost
MVFC | 20 | 14 | 6 | .700 | 1997, 2002, 2011*, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015*, 2017*, 2018*, 2019*, 2021*, 2022*, 2023*, 2024* | 1999, 2005, 2014*, 2016*, 2020*, 2022*
Big Sky | 17 | 6 | 11 | .353 | 1980, 1981, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2010* | 1990, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2018*, 2021*, 2023*, 2024*
SoCon | 16 | 8 | 8 | .500 | 1988, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007 | 1983, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001
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  | Qty. | Team  | Opponent  | Edition

|
|
|
|

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  | Network

|

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[33]
2021 | ESPN2
2022–2023 | ABC
2024–present | ESPN

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 reporter

|
|
|
|

January 6, 2025  | ESPN | Dave Flemming | Brock Osweiler | Stormy Buonatony
January 7, 2024  | ABC | Roy Philpott  | Roddy Jones  | Taylor McGregor
January 8, 2023  | 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. ^ "Nashville, TN to host 2026, 2027 FCS National Championships" (Press release). WKRN-TV. December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
22. ^ Torre, Pablo (November 29, 2007). "No playoffs for you!". CNN/Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
23. ^ David Burrick (September 18, 2003). ""Ivy League not likely to see I-AA playoffs"". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved June 27, 2009.
24. ^ "Ivy League To Begin Participating in the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs Starting With 2025 Season". The Ivy League. December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
25. ^ 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.
26. ^ Rashad, Kenn (December 30, 2014). "Morgan State AD Confirms MEAC/SWAC Bowl Game Will Be Played In 2015". hbcusports.com. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
27. ^ "FCS Football Championship History". NCAA.com. January 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
28. ^ "Outstanding players of FCS championship game". ESPN. AP. January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
29. ^ "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.
30. ^ @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.
31. ^ @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.
32. ^ ". @cammiller_5 IS THE MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE 2025 #FCSChampionship GAME!". X. NCAA FCS. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
33. ^ "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*
* 2025*

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

* v
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* 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
* Independent schools
* Rivalries
* Most-played

|

FCS|

* Championship
* Playoff appearances
* Independent schools

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|

* CAA
* Missouri Valley
* OVC–Big South
* 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
* 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|

* Canada
* Ireland
* Japan
* Mexico
* South Korea
* UK

* 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)

NJCAA|

* NJCAA National Football Championship (1956–present)

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|

* Amateurism
* Awards
* Conferences
* Hall of Champions
* Sanity Code

Division I|

* Institutions
* Athletic directors
* Non-football programs
* Realignment
* 1928–1999
* 2000s
* 2010s
* 2020s
* 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
* men
* women
* Wrestling
* championship
* Schools with most national championships
* Schools with most championships

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
* men
* 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
* Wrestling
* women, from 2025–26

Litigation|

* NCAA v. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma (1984)
* NCAA v. Smith (1999)
* O'Bannon v. NCAA (2015)
* Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association (2018)
* National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston (2021)
* House v. NCAA (2024)

Related topics|

* College athletics in the United States
* Championship game outcomes
* NCAA University Division
* Transfer portal

* 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

*[App.]: Appearances by season
*[App]: Appearances by season
*[Qty.]: Quantity
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*[t]: Discuss this template
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