Eastern Ky.35
Delaware28
December 5, 1981
Winner advances →Division I Football Championship
Division I-AA · National playoff
Final: December 19, 1981
Final site: Wichita Falls, TX
Rounds and bracket
Follow the winner’s link to the next round.
First Round
Boise St.19
Jackson St.7
December 5, 1981
Winner advances →Idaho St.51
Rhode Island0
December 5, 1981
Winner advances →South Carolina St.26
Tennessee St.25
December 5, 1981
(OT)
Tennessee St.’s appearance or championship was vacated by the NCAA. On-field scores are retained; see the source footnote.
Winner advances →Semifinals
Eastern Ky.23
Boise St.17
December 12, 1981
Winner advances →Idaho St.41
South Carolina St.12
December 12, 1981
Winner advances →Championship
Idaho St.34
Eastern Ky.23
December 19, 1981
Format and selection
NCAA championship selection
8 teams in a single-elimination playoff. Recorded games are organized by round.
- The NCAA championship committee selected and placed the field under that season’s championship regulations.
- The recorded bracket documents the participants and advancement. Earlier field sizes, automatic qualifiers and seeding arrangements should not be inferred from the current format.
These are documented selection procedures. They do not explain why a particular participant was chosen unless the source expressly records that decision.
History
The NCAA has organized this national championship since 1978.
A single-elimination bracket determines the champion. The field size and qualifying arrangements changed over time.
Sources and coverage
The NCAA records mark a vacated appearance or championship in this season. Consult the championship history footnote; on-field scores are preserved.