KANSAS CITY, Mo. – (FCS Schedule) The first round of the 2016 NAIA Football Championship Series opens action Saturday at eight campus sites. The winners advance to the quarterfinals, which are played out on Saturday, Nov. 26. Quarterfinal pairings are scheduled to be announced on Sunday by 12 p.m. CST on www.NAIA.org.

This year’s field includes 10 automatic qualifiers and six at-large selections. Automatic berths were given to teams that won their conference regular-season title and were ranked within the top 20 of the final regular-season NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll announced Sunday. To access the Top 25 poll, click here. At-large bids were given to the next highest ranked teams that did not claim an automatic spot.

Since the NAIA returned to one division in 1997, FCS First Round hosts own a 120-32 all-time record, including a perfect 8-0 record last season. Last year’s host sweep was the second-straight season – fourth during the timeframe – that home teams have gone unbeaten. The most successful season for the road teams came in 1998 and 2004 when the visitor posted a 4-4 mark.

The 61st annual NAIA Football National Championship, presented by Waste Pro, is slated for Saturday, Dec. 17 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The City of Daytona Beach hosts the event at Municipal Stadium for the third-straight season. For fan and visitor information, click here.

2016 NAIA Football Championship Series – First Round Game Notes
Game 1 - Robert Morris (Ill.) (7-3) at Marian (Ind.) (10-0), 1:05 p.m. EST
Game Notes - Marian

Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between the two clubs, however the teams have played in the regular-season each of the last four seasons. The two teams have split the four contests, including a 45-7 victory by the Knights earlier this season.

Defending national champion Marian enters Saturday looking to push its unbeaten first round record to 6-0. The Knights, who enter the FCS with a 14-3 all-time record in the event, have hopes of becoming the first team to repeat as national champion since former member Sioux Falls (S.D.) accomplished the feat in 2008 and 2009. Marian has two national championships to its credit, with the first coming in 2012. The Knights are riding a NAIA-best 19-game winning streak dating back to last season.

Robert Morris is making its first appearance in the FCS in program history. The Eagles won their first-ever Mid-States Football Association Midwest League title after posting a 7-3 overall record and perfect 5-0 record in league play. Robert Morris last defeated Marian on Sept. 19, 2015, 30-21.

Game 2 - Sterling (Kan.) (8-2) at Baker (Kan.) (11-0), 12 p.m. CST
Game Notes - Baker | Game Notes - Sterling

Baker (Kan.) welcomes Sterling (Kan.) to Liston Stadium for the second time in FCS history. The two programs previously locked horns in the 2013 first round in a game won by the Wildcats, 10-7.

Baker is making its 15th all-time appearance in the FCS field, which ranks third-most among the qualifiers. The Wildcats finished the regular-season with an 11-0 mark – the fourth undefeated regular-season in program history and first since 1983 – en route to their second-straight Heart of America Athletic Conference South Division crown. Baker boasts an 8-6 record in the first round, including a dominant 68-21 win over Point (Ga.) last season.

Sterling punched its ticket to the FCS as the final at-large spot. The Warriors, whose only previous playoff trip came in 2013, are 8-2 on the season and have won six-straight. Sterling is searching for its first-ever FCS win and to avenge its 2013 loss Saturday against the Wildcats.

Game 3 – Southeastern (Fla.) (6-2) at Reinhardt (Ga.) (11-0), 1:30 p.m. EST
Game Notes - Southeastern

Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between the two clubs.

Reinhardt (Ga.) is the third unbeaten team in this year’s FCS field with an 11-0 record. The Eagles cruised through the regular-season en route to the program’s first-ever Mid-South Conference West Division crown and a second-straight trip to the FCS. Reinhardt, which is hosting a playoff game for the first time, is 0-1 all time at the event.

Southeastern is one of three rookies in this year’s FCS field. The Fire are 6-2 on the season and earned an automatic berth by winning The Sun Conference title for the first time. With a win Saturday, Southeastern would be the first team out of The Sun Conference to win a playoff game.

Game 4 - Missouri Valley (9-2) at Saint Francis (Ind.) (9-1), 12 p.m. EST
Game Notes - Saint Francis | Game Notes - Missouri Valley

Saint Francis (Ind.) and Missouri Valley are meeting for the second time in FCS history. The inaugural showdown came in the first round of the 2011 event. The contest was won by Saint Francis, 28-14.

The perennial powerhouse Cougars are making their 16th appearance in the FCS – second most among the field – and are 23-15 all-time in the event. Saint Francis boasts a 13-2 all-time record in the FCS first round, including a run of 12-straight wins – the last loss coming to Campbellsville (Ky.) in 2001. The Cougars (9-1) claimed an at-large berth after finishing second to defending national champion Marian in the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League.

Missouri Valley, which is making its 13th all-time FCS appearance, is back in the field after a one-year hiatus. The Vikings finished second to Baker in the Heart of America Athletic Conference South Division race and finished the regular-season at 9-2. Missouri Valley owns an 11-12 all-time playoff record, including a runner-up finish in 1974.

Game 5 – Tabor (Kan.) (8-2) at Morningside (Iowa) (9-1), 12 p.m. CST
Game Notes - Morningside

Saturday marks the second FCS meeting between Tabor (Kan.) and Morningside (Iowa). The two sides other meeting came in the quarterfinals last season.

Morningside is making its 13th all-time and 13th-consecutive appearance in the FCS this season, which is the longest active appearance streak in NAIA football. The Mustangs are 16-12 all-time in the event, including a 10-2 mark in the first round. The team has reached at least the quarterfinals in 10 of the last 12 seasons, including a national runner-up finish in 2012. Morningside received an automatic berth after claiming at least a share of the Great Plains Athletic Conference title for a sixth-straight season.

Tabor – the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference champion – enters the FCS looking to improve on a 3-5 record at the event. The Bluejays have won three-straight first round games, but have failed to advance beyond the quarterfinals in their five previous trips. Tabor has won four-straight since falling to Kansas Wesleyan in overtime, 45-42, on Oct. 15.

Game 6 – Dickinson State (N.D.) (9-2) at Montana Tech (9-1), 1 p.m. MST

Dickinson State and Montana Tech have locked horns twice previously in the FCS. The Blue Hawks claimed victory in the inaugural meeting in 2004 (30-13), while Montana Tech won last season, 44-10.

Montana Tech returns to the playoffs for a second-straight season and ninth time in team history. The Orediggers most successful run in the FCS came in 1996 when they finished second to former member Southwestern Oklahoma. Montana Tech, which just two years ago posted a 1-9 overall record, is 9-1 on the year and has won nine-straight since falling in its season opener at Carroll (Mont.). The Orediggers won a second-consecutive Frontier Conference title this season.

Dickinson State owns the most playoff appearances among the qualifiers with 17. The Blue Hawks, who qualified as the North Star Athletic Association champion for a second-straight season, are 6-16 all-time in the FCS and 5-11 in the first round. The Blue Hawks last first round victory was the previously mentioned 2004 showdown in Montana Tech. Dickinson State has never advanced past the quarterfinals of the FCS.

Game 7 – Eastern Oregon (8-2) at Doane (Neb.) (9-1), 1 p.m. CST
Game Notes - Eastern Oregon

Doane (Neb.) and Eastern Oregon are meeting for the first time in FCS history.

Doane claimed the second at-large spot after finishing second to Morningside (Iowa) in the Great Plains Athletic Conference title race. The Tigers are appearing in the FCS for the sixth time in program history and are searching for their first win at the event since 1997. Overall, Doane is 3-5 all-time in the playoffs.

Eastern Oregon, which is an at-large out of the Frontier Conference, is making its first-ever appearance in the FCS. The Moutaineers are 8-2 on the season and have won six-straight since losing back-to-back games in mid-September.

Game 8 – Grand View (Iowa) (9-2) at Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (10-1), 12 p.m. CST
Game Notes - Lindsey Wilson

Grand View (Iowa) and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) square off in the first round of the FCS for the second-straight season. Last year, the Vikings emerged victorious 16-13.

Lindsey Wilson is making its third-straight FCS appearance and owns a 1-2 record in the event. The Blue Raiders lone victory came in the 2014 FCS first round, which was also the last time that the squad hosted a playoff game. Lindsey Wilson earned the third at-large position after finishing second to Reinhardt (Ga.) in the Mid-South Conference West Division race.

Grand View won its second-straight Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division championship to earn a fifth all-time appearance in the FCS. The Vikings are 6-3 all-time in the event, including a national championship in 2013. Grand View boasts a 3-1 first round record, including a run of three-straight wins.