Nov. 19, 2009

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – (Scoreboard) The 2009 NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) is scheduled to start on Saturday with eight First Round games at on-campus sites. For twelve schools, they are competing in the playoff event for at least the fifth time. One team, McPherson (Kan.), is making its first-ever FCS appearance while another, Ottawa (Kan.), is searching for its first victory in its fourth trip. The eight First Round winners will advance to the Quarterfinal round, scheduled for Nov. 28.

Defending national champion Sioux Falls (S.D.) kicks-off against Minot State (N.D.) University in Sioux Falls at 1 p.m. CST. The Cougars have won 25 straight games overall, which dates back to a loss in the 2007 National Championship final. Sioux Falls is making its ninth-straight trip to the postseason and its 29 all-time wins rank second among active schools. The 2008 title was the third overall for the Cougars’ program (1996 and 2006).

The team with the most active Championship rings (5) is Carroll (Mont.), who faces Dickinson State (N.D.) for the second straight year and eighth time overall in the playoffs. Making their 10^th straight appearance, the Fighting Saints hold an overall record of 123-13 since 2000, which ranks as the most wins of any NAIA school during that span.

The College Fanz Sports Network / NAIA Game of the Week pits McKendree (Ill.) at St. Xavier (Ill.) with the game starting at 1 p.m. CST. Both teams enter on a roll as St. Xavier has set a school record with an 11-0 record, while McKendree has won nine straight games overall and is 9-1. Fans can check out the live, free video and audio streaming broadcast through the College Fanz website at www.collegefanz.com or by clicking here.

The 54^th Annual Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship is scheduled for Dec. 19 at Rome, Ga. Rome-Floyd County and Shorter (Ga.) College will host the event at Barron Stadium. The event will be televised live on CBS College Sports Network with kick-off slated for 12 p.m. EST. For ticket information, call (706) 233-7288.

For complete Championship history and records, click here.

For more information on the 2009 National Championship, click here.

Championship Series Quick Facts:

• Since 2000, the home teams in the FCS First Round are 53-19 overall. Last year, six of the eight hosts were on the winning end. The road winners were Langston (Okla.) and Northwestern Oklahoma State. There has not been one year when all eight hosts won in the First Round this decade.

• Three programs in this FCS hold at least one National Championship ring – Carroll (Mont.) has five, followed by Sioux Falls (S.D.) with three and Northwestern Oklahoma State with one.

• Minot State (N.D.) is appearing for the first time since 2002, the longest drought of any current FCS team (excluding McPherson, who is making its first appearance).

• Carroll (Mont.) holds the most active FCS wins with 30. Sioux Falls (S.D.) is right behind with 29, followed by Northwestern (Iowa) with 20, St. Francis (Ind.) (17) and Georgetown (Ky.) (14).

• Defending national champion Sioux Falls (S.D.) is playing for its fourth National Championship overall and third in the last four years. Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville) holds the most NAIA Championships with seven.

• Carroll (Mont.) (10) holds the longest active streak of postseason appearances, followed by Sioux Falls (S.D.) (9) and Morningside (Iowa) (6).

• The Heart of America Athletic (HAAC) Conference (Lindenwood, MidAmerica Nazarene, Missouri Valley) and Great Plains Athletic (GPAC) Conference (Hastings, Morningside, Sioux Falls) both qualified three participants each. Those three apiece are the most among any conference in this year’s playoffs.

• Sioux Falls (S.D.) is riding a 25-game winning streak heading into the playoffs. Last year, Carroll (Mont.) was on a 26-game winning streak heading into the postseason.

• Without a bid this year, St. Francis (Ind.) snaps 10 straight years of appearing in the postseason. The Cougars lost three of their final four games this year.

• After securing the Frontier Conference Championship, Carroll (Mont.) now has won 10 straight (outright and shared) conference titles. The Fighting Saints own the nation’s longest active streak of conference championships.

• Six teams will enter the FCS with an undefeated record (Carroll, Lambuth, Lindenwood, Ottawa, St. Xavier, Sioux Falls). The amount is the most since six NAIA teams were undefeated during the regular season in 1995.

2009 Football Championship Series
First Round: November 21
Quarterfinals: November 28
Semifinals: December 5

Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship: December 19

12 p.m. EST kick-off (Approximate)

Televised live on CBS College Sports
Barron Stadium
Rome, Ga.

2009 NAIA Football Championship Series

• First Round Pairings | Saturday, Nov. 21

FIRST ROUND PAIRINGS (all times are local)