NCAA Division I
Football Championship
StadiumToyota Stadium (2010–present)
LocationFrisco, Texas (2010–present)
Previous stadiumsFinley Stadium (1997–2009)
Marshall University Stadium (1992–1996)
various (1978–1991)
Previous locationsChattanooga, Tennessee (1997–2009)
Huntington, West Virginia (1992–1996)
various (1978–1991)
Operated2006–present
Preceded byNCAA 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

Playoff format

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
1978–19804——
198184—
1982–19851244
1986–1994164—
1995–200016—
2001–20094—
2010–201220512
2013–20192488
2020164—
2021–present2488

Team selection

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

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
1978Memorial StadiumWichita Falls, TexasnoneN/A
1979Orlando StadiumOrlando, FloridaUCF Knights (D-III)N/A
1980Hughes StadiumSacramento, CalifornianoneN/A
1981–1982Memorial StadiumWichita Falls, TexasnoneN/A
1983–1984Johnson Hagood StadiumCharleston, South CarolinaThe Citadel Bulldogsnone
1985–1986Tacoma DomeTacoma, WashingtonnoneN/A
1987Minidome‡Pocatello, IdahoIdaho State Bengalsnone
1988Holt Arena
1989–1991Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GeorgiaGeorgia Southern Eagles2: 1989, 1990
1992–1996Marshall University StadiumHuntington, West VirginiaMarshall Thundering Herd4: 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996
1997–2009Finley StadiumChattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga Mocsnone
2010–2011Pizza Hut Park‡Frisco, TexasnoneN/A
2012FC Dallas Stadium‡
2013–presentToyota 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

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 2016 North Carolina A&T Aggies 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

Conference Nickname Founded Football members Sports Headquarters
Big Sky Conference Big Sky 1963 12 16 Ogden, Utah
Big South Conference[lower-alpha 1] Big South 1983 4 19 Charlotte, North Carolina
CAA Football[lower-alpha 2] CAA 1946[lower-alpha 3] 15 1 Richmond, Virginia
Independents 1[lower-alpha 4] 1
Ivy League[lower-alpha 5] 1954 8 33 Princeton, New Jersey
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference[lower-alpha 6] MEAC 1970 6 16 Norfolk, Virginia
Missouri Valley Football Conference MVFC 1982 12[lower-alpha 7] 1 St. Louis, Missouri
Northeast Conference NEC 1981 8 22 Somerset, New Jersey
Ohio Valley Conference[lower-alpha 1] OVC 1948 6[lower-alpha 8] 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[lower-alpha 9] SWAC 1920 12 18 Birmingham, Alabama
United Athletic Conference UAC 2022[lower-alpha 10] 9[lower-alpha 11] 1 Englewood, Colorado
Notes
  1. 1 2 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

Championship game history

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.

Season Date Champion Score Runner-up Location Attendance Winning
head coach
1978December 16, 1978Florida A&M35–28MassachusettsWichita Falls, TX13,604Rudy Hubbard
1979December 15, 1979Eastern Kentucky30–7LehighOrlando, FL5,200Roy Kidd
1980December 20, 1980Boise State31–29Eastern KentuckySacramento, CA8,157Jim Criner
1981December 19, 1981Idaho State34–23Eastern KentuckyWichita Falls, TX11,002Dave Kragthorpe
1982December 18, 1982Eastern Kentucky (2)17–14DelawareWichita Falls, TX11,257Roy Kidd (2)
1983December 17, 1983Southern Illinois43–7Western CarolinaCharleston, SC15,950Rey Dempsey
1984December 15, 1984Montana State19–6Louisiana TechCharleston, SC9,125Dave Arnold
1985December 21, 1985Georgia Southern44–42FurmanTacoma, WA5,306Erk Russell
1986December 19, 1986Georgia Southern (2)48–21Arkansas StateTacoma, WA4,419Erk Russell (2)
1987December 19, 1987Northeast Louisiana43–42MarshallPocatello, ID11,513Pat Collins
1988December 17, 1988Furman17–12Georgia SouthernPocatello, ID9,714Jimmy Satterfield
1989December 16, 1989Georgia Southern (3)37–34Stephen F. AustinStatesboro, GA25,725Erk Russell (3)
1990December 15, 1990Georgia Southern (4)36–13NevadaStatesboro, GA23,204Tim Stowers
1991December 21, 1991Youngstown State25–17MarshallStatesboro, GA12,667Jim Tressel
1992December 19, 1992Marshall31–28Youngstown StateHuntington, WV31,304Jim Donnan
1993December 18, 1993Youngstown State (2)17–5MarshallHuntington, WV29,218Jim Tressel (2)
1994December 17, 1994Youngstown State (3)28–14Boise StateHuntington, WV27,674Jim Tressel (3)
1995December 16, 1995Montana22–20MarshallHuntington, WV32,106Don Read
1996December 21, 1996Marshall (2)49–29MontanaHuntington, WV30,052Bob Pruett
1997December 20, 1997Youngstown State (4)10–9McNeese StateChattanooga, TN14,771Jim Tressel (4)
1998December 19, 1998Massachusetts55–43Georgia SouthernChattanooga, TN17,501Mark Whipple
1999December 18, 1999Georgia Southern (5)59–24Youngstown StateChattanooga, TN20,052Paul Johnson
2000December 16, 2000Georgia Southern (6)27–25MontanaChattanooga, TN17,156Paul Johnson (2)
2001December 21, 2001Montana (2)13–6FurmanChattanooga, TN12,698Joe Glenn
2002December 20, 2002Western Kentucky34–14McNeese StateChattanooga, TN12,360Jack Harbaugh
2003December 19, 2003Delaware40–0ColgateChattanooga, TN14,281K. C. Keeler
2004December 17, 2004James Madison31–21MontanaChattanooga, TN16,771Mickey Matthews
2005December 16, 2005Appalachian State21–16Northern IowaChattanooga, TN20,236Jerry Moore
2006December 15, 2006Appalachian State (2)28–17MassachusettsChattanooga, TN22,808Jerry Moore (2)
2007December 14, 2007Appalachian State (3)49–21DelawareChattanooga, TN23,010Jerry Moore (3)
2008December 19, 2008Richmond24–7MontanaChattanooga, TN17,823Mike London
2009December 18, 2009Villanova23–21MontanaChattanooga, TN14,328Andy Talley
2010January 7, 2011Eastern Washington20–19DelawareFrisco, TX13,027Beau Baldwin
2011January 7, 2012North Dakota State17–6Sam Houston StateFrisco, TX20,586Craig Bohl
2012January 5, 2013North Dakota State (2)39–13Sam Houston StateFrisco, TX21,411Craig Bohl (2)
2013January 4, 2014North Dakota State (3)35–7TowsonFrisco, TX19,802Craig Bohl (3)
2014January 10, 2015North Dakota State (4)29–27Illinois StateFrisco, TX20,918Chris Klieman
2015January 9, 2016North Dakota State (5)37–10Jacksonville StateFrisco, TX21,836Chris Klieman (2)
2016January 7, 2017James Madison (2)28–14Youngstown StateFrisco, TX14,423Mike Houston
2017January 6, 2018North Dakota State (6)17–13James MadisonFrisco, TX19,090Chris Klieman (3)
2018January 5, 2019North Dakota State (7)38–24Eastern WashingtonFrisco, TX17,802Chris Klieman (4)
2019January 11, 2020North Dakota State (8)28–20James MadisonFrisco, TX17,866Matt Entz
2020May 16, 2021Sam Houston23–21South Dakota StateFrisco, TX7,840K. C. Keeler (2)
2021January 8, 2022North Dakota State (9)38–10Montana StateFrisco, TX18,942Matt Entz (2)
2022January 8, 2023South Dakota State45–21North Dakota StateFrisco, TX18,023John Stiegelmeier
2023January 7, 2024South Dakota State (2)23–3MontanaFrisco, TX19,512Jimmy 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

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 StateMVFC14141412109QFCHCHCHCHCHSFCHCHCHQFCHRUSF
Georgia SouthernFBS1919171386CHCHQFRUCHCHQFQFQFRUCHCHSFSF1616SFSFSF
Youngstown StateMVFC1313987416QF16CHRUCHCHCHRU16SFRU16
Appalachian StateFBS20201263316SF161616QFQFQF16SFQF16CHCHCHQFSFQF1616
MontanaBig Sky28281512821216SF16SFCHRU161616RUCHQF16RU16SF16RURUSF161616QFQF16RU
MarshallFBS888762RUQFRUCHRUSFRUCH
Eastern KentuckyUAC22199742CHRURUCH1212SFQFSF1616SF1616QF16161616•••
James MadisonFBS1817974216QFQF1616CH1616SF16•16CHRU16RUSFSF
South Dakota StateMVFC1312763216161616•QFSFSF16RUSFCHCH
DelawareCoastal191813841QFRUQF1616SFQFQF16SFSFCHQFRURU•SF1616
Sam HoustonFBS1313107311616QFSFRURU16SFSFQFSFCHQF
FurmanSouthern20191063112SFRU16CHSFQFQF1616RU16QFSF161616•16QF
UMassFBS885331RU1616CHQF16RUQF
Eastern WashingtonBig Sky151510621QF16SFQF16QF16CHSFSFQFSFRU1616
Montana StateBig Sky13127421CH1616QF16QFQF•16SFRUSF16
Boise StateFBS554421CHSF16SFRU
VillanovaCoastal1513831116161616QFSFQFCHSF•QF16•QFQF
RichmondCoastal13138311QF1616QFQFSFCHQF16SFQF1616
Southern IllinoisMVFC11116211CH1616QFQFSF16QFQF1616
Florida A&MSWAC873211CH1616QFSF1616•
Western KentuckyFBS88511116QFQFQF16CHQF16
Louisiana–MonroeFBS442111CH16QF16
Idaho StateBig Sky221111CH12
McNeeseSouthland1616632-16QFQFQFSFRU161616RU161616161616
Northern IowaMVFC22201471-SFSF16QFSF1616QFSFSFQFRUQFSF•QF16QF1616QF•
NevadaFBS77761-SFSFSFSFSFRUQF
LehighPatriot119621-RUSFQF16QFQF1616QF••
Illinois StateMVFC87621-16SFQFQFRUQF•QF
Stephen F. AustinUAC86421-QFRU16SFQF16••
Louisiana TechFBS22221-SFRU
ColgatePatriot1110411-QF12161616RU1616•QFQF
Arkansas StateFBS44411-QFQFRUQF
Jacksonville StateFBS1010311-161616QF16RU161616QF
TowsonCoastal32111-16RU•
Western CarolinaSouthern11111-RU
New HampshireCoastal171692--1616QFQFQF16QFQFQF1616SFSF•16QF16
IdahoBig Sky121252--QF121616SF16QF16SF1616•QF
William & MaryCoastal111152--1616QF16QF16SFSF1616QF
TroyFBS7732--SF1616SF16QF16
WoffordSouthern10961--SFQF16QF16QFQFQF16•
Middle TennesseeFBS7761--SFQFQFQFQFQF16
Weber StateBig Sky10951--QF16QF16•QFQFSF1616
Western IllinoisBig South–OVC111041--161616QFSF16QFQF1616•
MaineCoastal8841--1616QFQF16QF16SF
Tennessee StateBig South–OVC6631--QFSFQF161616
Rhode IslandCoastal3331--QFSFQF
Jackson StateSWAC121221--SFQF12121616161616161616
Northwestern StateSouthland6621--QF16SF161616
Murray StateMVFC5521--SF1616QF16
South Carolina StateMEAC6421--SFQF1616••
SamfordSouthern6321--SF16•••QF
Grambling StateSWAC3311--SF1216
AlbanyCoastal3211--•16SF
Incarnate WordSouthland3211--•16SF
UCFFBS2211--SF16
'Texas StateFBS2211--SF16
Florida AtlanticFBS1111--SF
Eastern IllinoisBig South–OVC16144---QF12QFQF161616161616161616•QF•
Holy CrossPatriot652---QF16•1616QF
Boston Universityno team552---12QF12QF16
Hofstrano team552---1616QFQF16
Coastal CarolinaFBS642---16•16QFQF•
Kennesaw StateFBS442---QFQF1616
Indiana StateMVFC332---QFQF16
East Tennessee StateSouthern322---QF•QF
NichollsSouthland751---QF1616•1616•
The CitadelSouthern551---1616QF1616
ChattanoogaSouthern551---12QF161616
Northern ArizonaBig Sky641---161616QF••
FordhamPatriot641---QF161616••
North Carolina A&TCoastal541---1616QF16•
Southeastern LouisianaSouthland541---QF•161616
North TexasFBS441---QF161616
Sacramento StateBig Sky441---1616QF16
Missouri StateMVFC431---QF1616•
Cal PolyBig Sky431---QF1616•
Alcorn StateSWAC331---QF1616
North DakotaMVFC521---16•QF••
South DakotaMVFC321---16•QF
Old DominionFBS221---16QF
Charleston SouthernBig South–OVC211---QF•
UC DavisBig Sky211---QF•
Austin PeayUAC211---QF•
UConnFBS111---QF
HamptonCoastal55----1616161616
Central ArkansasUAC55----1616161616
Bethune–CookmanSWAC53----161616••
LafayettePatriot53----161616••
Stony BrookCoastal43----161616•
San DiegoPioneer52----•1616••
Southeast Missouri StateBig South–OVC42----1616••
MonmouthCoastal32----•1616
Portland StateBig Sky22----1616
UT MartinBig South–OVC22----1616
ElonCoastal41----16•••
Sacred HeartNortheast41----••16•
Southern UtahUAC31----••16
DavidsonPioneer31----16••
DuquesneNortheast31----•16•
Gardner–WebbBig South–OVC21----16•
Mississippi Valley StateSWAC11----12
AkronFBS11----12
HowardMEAC11----16
Northeasternno team11----16
Delaware StateMEAC11----16
WagnerNortheast11----16
LibertyFBS11----16
VMISouthern11----16
MercerSouthern11----16
Saint Francis (PA)Northeast2-----••
Central ConnecticutNortheast2-----••
Robert MorrisNortheast1-----•
Norfolk StateMEAC1-----•
Tennessee TechBig South–OVC1-----•
ButlerPioneer1-----•
Morgan StateMEAC1-----•
DaytonPioneer1-----•
LamarSouthland1-----•
North Carolina CentralMEAC1-----•
DrakePioneer1-----•
School Conference # 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

MVPs

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
2009Matt SzczurVillanovaWR
2010Bo Levi MitchellEastern WashingtonQB
2011Travis BeckNorth Dakota StateLB
2012Brock JensenNorth Dakota StateQB
2013Brock JensenNorth Dakota StateQB
2014Carson WentzNorth Dakota StateQB
2015Carson WentzNorth Dakota StateQB
2016Khalid Abdullah[27]James MadisonRB
2017Easton StickNorth Dakota StateQB
2018Darrius ShepherdNorth Dakota StateWR
2019Trey LanceNorth Dakota StateQB
2020Jequez EzzardSam HoustonWR
2021Hunter LuepkeNorth Dakota StateFB
2022Mark Gronowski[28]South Dakota StateQB
2023Mark Gronowski[29]South Dakota StateQB

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

Most appearances

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
GamesWLWin pct.WonLost
North Dakota State
10
91.900 2011*, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015*, 2017*, 2018*, 2019*, 2021* 2022*
Georgia Southern^
8
62.750 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000 1988, 1998
Montana
8
26.250 1995, 2001 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2023*
Youngstown State
7
43.571 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997 1992, 1999, 2016*
Marshall^
6
24.333 1992, 1996 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995
James Madison^
4
22.500 2004, 2016* 2017*, 2019*
Eastern Kentucky
4
22.500 1979, 1982 1980, 1981
Delaware
4
13.250 2003 1982, 2007, 2010*
Appalachian State^
3
301.000 2005, 2006, 2007
South Dakota State
3
21.667 2022*, 2023* 2020*
Furman
3
12.333 1988 1985, 2001
Sam Houston^
3
12.333 2020* 2011*, 2012*
Massachusetts^
3
12.333 1998 1978, 2006
Boise State^
2
11.500 1980 1994
Eastern Washington
2
11.500 2010* 2018*
Montana State
2
11.500 1984 2021*
McNeese
2
02.000 1997, 2002
Florida A&M
1
101.000 1978
Idaho State
1
101.000 1981
Louisiana–Monroe^
1
101.000 1987
Richmond
1
101.000 2008
Southern Illinois
1
101.000 1983
Villanova
1
101.000 2009
Western Kentucky^
1
101.000 2002
Arkansas State^
1
01.000 1986
Colgate
1
01.000 2003
Illinois State
1
01.000 2014*
Jacksonville State^
1
01.000 2015*
Lehigh
1
01.000 1979
Louisiana Tech^
1
01.000 1984
Nevada^
1
01.000 1990
Northern Iowa
1
01.000 2005
Stephen F. Austin
1
01.000 1989
Towson
1
01.000 2013*
Western Carolina
1
01.000 1983
* Denotes finals played in the following calendar year.
^ Team is now a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Appearances by conference

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
GamesWLWin pct.WonLost
MVFC19136.6841997, 2002, 2011*, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015*, 2017*, 2018*, 2019*, 2021*, 2022*, 2023*1999, 2005, 2014*, 2016*, 2020*, 2022*
SoCon1688.5001988, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 20071983, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001
Big Sky16610.3751980, 1981, 1984, 1995, 2001, 2010*1990, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2018*, 2021*, 2023*
Independent1174.6361985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 19941979, 1982, 1988, 1992
Southland927.2221987, 2020*1984, 1986, 1989, 1997, 2002, 2011*, 2012*
CAA Football835.3752008, 2009, 2016*2007, 2010*, 2013*, 2017*, 2019*
OVC523.4001979, 19821980, 1981, 2015*
A-10431.7501998, 2003, 20042006
MVC1101.0001983 
SIAC1101.0001978 
Patriot League101.000 2003
Yankee101.000 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

This table lists records for the Championship Game.

  Record Team Opponent Game
Most points scored (one team) 59Georgia SouthernYoungstown State1999
Most points scored (losing team) 43Georgia SouthernUMass1998
Most points scored (both teams) 98UMass (55)Georgia Southern (43)
Fewest points allowed 0DelawareColgate2003
Largest margin of victory 40Delaware (40)Colgate (0)
Attendance 32,106Montana vs. Marshall1995

Media coverage

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

Season(s)Television
1978–1981ABC
1982CBS Sports
1983ABC
1984Satellite Program Network
1985–1989ESPN
1990–1994CBS
1995–2001ESPN
2002–2018ESPN2
2019–2020ABC[30]
2021ESPN2
2022–presentABC

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

References

  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. 1 2 Herder, Sam (August 9, 2021). "Predicting The 2021 FCS Playoff Bracket". herosports.com. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  15. 1 2 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. 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.
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