KANSAS CITY, Mo. – [FCS Schedule] The NAIA Football Championship Series begins on Saturday, November 20th at eight campus host sites across the country, with the higher seed hosting each contest.

The full field features 12 automatic qualifiers and four at-large berths. In order to qualify for an automatic bid, teams must win their conference regular-season title. At-large berths were determined by the NAIA Football National Selection Committee. Teams earning an at-large berth must be ranked in the Top 20 of the final NAIA Coaches' Top 25 poll.

The 66th Annual NAIA Football National Championship will culminate on December 18th at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, N.C. For more information on the 2021 NAIA Football National Championship, click here.

No. 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 10-0 vs. No. 16 Montana Western 8-3

• The Blue Raiders and Bulldogs will play in their first all-time meeting, as LWC is making its seventh appearance in the FCS and UMW in for the fourth time. But first since 2002.
• Lindsey Wilson is 9-5 all-time in the FCS, including winning the 2020 national championship; Montana Western is 1-3 all-time in the FCS.
• The Blue Raiders have not lost in the 2021 calendar year (21-0) after playing the 2020 season last spring.
• Lindsey Wilson leads the NAIA in total defense (198.2 yards per game).
• Montana Western is ninth in the NAIA in total yards, averaging 470.9 yards per game.

No. 2 Morningside (Iowa) 10-0 vs. No. 15 Ottawa (Ariz.) 8-1

• They sit one and two nationally in points per game will light up the scoreboard. Morningside averages 59.1 per contest while OUAZ averages 51.8 per outing.
• The Mustangs rank first in 12 national stat categories. Beyond the points per game, they are also first in total offense (6,382 yards), total offense per contest (638.2), total passing yards (3,935) and passing yards per appearance (393.5), and first downs (329).
• OUAZ ranks second in yards per game (533.2), second in kick return average (28.6), and fifth nationally in total points (466).
• The Spirit are guided by quarterback Austin McCullough who threw for 2,726 yards, Marcelous Chester-Riley who ran for nearly 1,000 yards, Jermaine Trotman Jr. catching 11 touchdowns and kicker Michael Hall is 61-62 on extra points.
• Defensively, Brandon Tomerlin Jr. recorded 68 tackles and David Jones Jr. intercepted a team high three passes.

No. 3 Grand View (Iowa) 11-0 vs. No. 14 Dickinson State (N.D.) 8-2

• The Vikings earned a No. 3 national ranking which mirrors their third straight conference title.
• Notably, Grand View is no stranger to playing ranked opponents as they went 3-0 this season against No. 17 Benedictine (41-20), No. 7 Baker (31-14), and No. 22 Culver-Stockton (9-6).
• As a team, the Vikings are averaging 400 yards and 38 points per game, while they are holding their opponents to a low 10 points per contest.
• Dickinson State is sixth nationally with 34 passing touchdowns, eighth in red zone efficiency, third in defensive touchdowns, and seventh in defensive interceptions.
• Drew Boedecker threw for 28 touchdowns and 2398 yards, Riley Linder rushed 117 times, Nick Miller tallowed a team high 77 tackles and 5.5 TFL.

No. 4 Northwestern (Iowa) 10-1 vs. No. 13 Central Methodist (Mo.) 9-2

• The Eagles are making history, joining the FCS for the first-time while the Red Raiders are 24-20 all-time including two championships.
• NWC quarterback Blake Fryar tossed 25 TD’s for 2,172 yards; Running back Konner McQuillan scored 10 times off 123 carries; Receiver Cade Moser was outstanding to the tune of 1,176 yards and 19 TD’s
• The Red Raiders defense is led by Jaden Snyder with four picks, Parker Fryar totaled 77 tackles, and Jessen Reinking tallied 6.5 sacks
• CMU passer Paxton DeLaurent threw for 2,299 yards and 24 TD’s; running back Paxton DeLaurent had 110 carries and seven scores; Katavious Taylor leads the Eagles in receptions with 855 yards and 13 Touchdowns.
• Defensively, London Chambers has a team high 87 tackles, Brandon Molinari has four interceptions, and Will Miles recorded 7.0 sacks.