NCAA Division I-AA

Since the NCAA formed Division I-AA football in 1978, Eastern Kentucky University has been a dominantforce in the race for the national championship Except for the initial year, 1985 and 1996, the Colonels have either received invitation bids or automatically qualified by virtue of their Ohio Valley Conference championship for the post-season national playoffs, a grueling four-week system that involves 16 teams

EKU captured the national title in both 1979 and 1982 and fought its way to the finals in 1980and 1981. The 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995 and 1997 teams were defeated in first round playoff action. The 1986, 1988 nd 1991 Colonel squads advanced to the semifinals before losing and the 1987 and 1994 teams lost in the quarterfinals.

The I-AA football championship is under the control and supervision of the NCAA I-AA Football Committee, which is elected by the NCAA membership at the annual convention.

Other Division I-AA champions have been Florida A&M (1978), Boise State (1980), Idaho State (1981), Southern Illinois (1983), Montana State (1984), GeorgiaSouthern(1985, 1986, 1989and 1990), Northeast Louisiana (1987), Furman (1988), Youngstown State (1991, 1993, 1994and 1997), Marshall (1992 and 1996) and Montana (1995).