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2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game

This article is about the FCS (Division I-AA) championship game. For the FBS (Division I-A) championship game, see 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.

2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship
FCS National Championship Game
Sam Houston State Bearkats South Dakota State Jackrabbits
(9–0) (8–1)
Southland Conference MVFC
23 21
Head coach: 
K. C. Keeler		 Head coach: 
John Stiegelmeier
STATSSeed
42
STATSSeed
21
1234 Total
Sam Houston State 01436 23
South Dakota State 70014 21
DateMay 16, 2021
Season2020
StadiumToyota Stadium
LocationFrisco, Texas
MVPJequez Ezzard (WR, Sam Houston State)
FavoriteSouth Dakota State by 6
RefereeSteve Cadorette
Attendance7,840
United States TV coverage
NetworkABC
AnnouncersDave Pasch (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), and Kris Budden (sideline)
NCAA Division I Football Championship
 < 2020 2022 > 

The 2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game played to determine a national champion in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision for the 2020–21 season. It was played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on May 16, 2021. It was the culminating game of the 2020–21 FCS Playoffs. The Sam Houston State Bearkats defeated the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, 23–21.[1]

Background

The regular season and postseason schedules for the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) were both impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Multiple FCS conferences moved their scheduled games from the fall of 2020 to the spring of 2021, and in August 2020, the NCAA announced that the FCS postseason would also be delayed.[2] While the NCAA at one point announced a cancellation of the FCS playoff,[3] in late September a revised playoff schedule was announced, with the Championship Game to be played in mid-May 2021.[4] The date of the Championship Game was later set for May 16.[5]

The 2021 Championship Game matched the final two teams from a 16-team playoff bracket, reduced from the normal 24-team bracket.[4] The playoffs began with a first round on April 24, followed by quarterfinals on May 1, and then semi-finals on May 8.[4]

Teams

The participants of the 2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game were the finalists of the 2020 FCS Playoffs—South Dakota State and Sam Houston State—which began with a 16-team bracket.[6] Neither program had previously won a Division I Football Championship Game. Sam Houston State head coach K. C. Keeler was head coach of the champion 2003 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team.

Further information: NCAA Division I Football Championship § Champions

South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Main article: 2020 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team

The Jackrabbits entered the game in Frisco with an 8–1 record. This was their first appearance in the championship game. SDSU was the top seed in the playoffs and defeated Holy Cross, Southern Illinois, and Delaware at home.

Sam Houston State Bearkats

Main article: 2020 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

The Bearkats entered the game in Frisco with an 9–0 record. This was their third appearance in the championship game, having lost both of their prior appearances, in January 2012 and January 2013. SHSU was the second seed in the playoffs and defeated Monmouth, defending champion North Dakota State, and James Madison at home.

Game summary

2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 2 Sam Houston State 0 14 3623
No. 1 South Dakota State 7 0 01421

at Toyota Stadium • Frisco, Texas

  • Date: Sunday, May 16, 2021
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST (1:00 p.m. CST)
  • Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 69 °F (21 °C) • Wind: NW 11 mph (18 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 7,840 (limited due to COVID-19 pandemic)
  • Referee: Steve Cadorette
  • TV: ABC
  • ESPN game summary
  • Sam Houston Radio: KSAM 101.7 FM, Rob Hipp Play-By-Play, Brian Adams, Analyst
Game information
First quarter
  • (7:33) SDSU – Isaiah Davis 1-yard rush, Cole Frahm kick (Drive: 5 plays, 41 yards, 2:16; South Dakota State 7–0)
Second quarter
  • (11:16) SHST – Jequez Ezzard 35-yard pass from Eric Schmid, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 3 plays, 56 yards, 1:16; Tied 7–7)
  • (1:21) SHST – Jequez Ezzard 15-yard pass from Eric Schmid, Seth Morgan kick (Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 3:32; Sam Houston State 14–7)
Third quarter
  • (0:37) SHST – Seth Morgan 45-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 39 yards, 4:20; Sam Houston State 17–7)
Fourth quarter
  • (13:12) SDSU – Isaiah Davis 28-yard rush, Cole Frahm kick (Drive: 5 plays, 72 yards, 2:15; Sam Houston State 17–14)
  • (5:41) SDSU – Isaiah Davis 85-yard rush, Cole Frahm kick (Drive: 2 plays, 85 yards, 0:19; South Dakota State 21–17)
  • (0:16) SHST – Ife Adeyi 10-yard pass from Eric Schmid, kick failed (Drive: 16 plays, 65 yards, 5:25; Sam Houston State 23–21)

Statistics

Statistics SHSU SDSU
First downs 29 26
Plays–yards 73–353 59–362
Rushes–yards 36–144 35–239
Passing yards 209 123
Passing: comp–att–int 20–37–0 12–24–1
Time of possession 31:09 28:51
Team Category Player Statistics
Sam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 20–37, 209 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Ramon Jefferson 16 rushes, 96 yards
Receiving Jequez Ezzard 10 catches, 108 yards, 2 TD
South Dakota State Passing Keaton Heide 11–22, 107 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Isaiah Davis 14 rushes, 178 yards, 3 TD
Receiving Zach Heins 3 catches, 44 yards

References

  1. ^ Hawkins, Stephen (May 16, 2021). "Sam Houston wins FCS title with late TD over South Dakota St". MSN.com. Associated Press. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  2. ^ Martin, Jill (August 8, 2020). "The NCAA's FCS playoffs will not happen this fall after two more conferences postpone football". CNN. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  3. ^ Sutherland, James (August 10, 2020). "NCAA FCS Football Playoffs Officially Cancelled". swimswam.com. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Kelley, Kevin (September 22, 2020). "FCS Playoff Schedule format for Spring 2021 football season set". fbschedules.com. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  5. ^ Brooks, Amanda (April 2021). "FCS Quarterfinals Featuring Top Four Seeds, Defending National Champion Set for ESPN Networks on Sunday, May 2". espnpressroom.com. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  6. ^ Hawkins, Stephen (May 15, 2021). "Unusual May FCS title game: South Dakota St vs Sam Houston". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
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