Dates and sites: First-round (December 1), quarterfinal (December 8) and semifinal (December 15) games will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. The championship will be December 21 at W. Max Finley Stadium/Davenport Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Field: Sixteen teams will compete for the 24th annual championship. Eight conferences have been granted automatic qualification and eight teams will be selected at large.

Selection date: November 25.

2000 champion: Georgia Southern.

Top team contenders: Appalachian State, Furman, Georgia Southern, Hofstra, Montana, Rhode Island, Youngstown State.

Players to watch: Will Bouton (Furman linebacker), Rocky Butler (Hofstra quarterback), LeVar Greene (Youngstown State cornerback), Yohance Humphrey (Montana running back), David Jamison (Rhode Island running back), Adrian Peterson (Georgia Southern running back), Brian Westbrook (Villanova running back/kick returner).

Dates and sites: First-round (November 17), quarterfinal (November 24) and semifinal (December 1) games will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. The championship game will be December 8 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama.

Field: Sixteen teams will compete for the 29th annual championship. There will be four teams selected in each of four regions (Northeast, Midwest, South and West).

Selection date: November 11.

2000 champion: Delta State.

Top team contenders: Bloomsburg, UC Davis, Catawba, Delta State, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota State, Valdosta State.

Players to watch: Dusty Bonner (Valdosta State quarterback), Aamir Dew [Indiana (Pennsylvania) running back], Chad Geiger (Nebraska-Omaha defensive back), Lamar Gordon (North Dakota State running back), Jamall Johnson (Delta State linebacker), Cameron Peterka (North Dakota placekicker), J. T. O'Sullivan (UC Davis quarterback).

Dates and sites: First-round (November 17), second-round (November 24), quarterfinal (December 1) and semifinal (December 8) games will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. The championship will be December 15 at Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia.

Selection date: November 11.

2000 champion: Mount Union.

Top team contenders: Bethel (Minnesota), Bridgewater (Virginia), Central (Iowa), Mount Union, Rowan, Washington & Jefferson, Widener, Wisconsin-Stout.

Players to watch: Davon Cruz [Bridgewater (Virginia) running back], Brian Dawson (Washington & Jefferson quarterback), Bobby Fisher (Rowan linebacker), Jon Foss [Bethel (Minnesota) defensive end], Nate Jackson (Menlo wide receiver), Jim Jones (Widener wide receiver), Chuck Moore (Mount Union running back/kick returner).

Division I-AA Georgia Southern has the highest winning percentage (.850) among all NCAA schools that have appeared in at least 10 playoff games. North Alabama is the Division II leader at .739 and Mount Union tops Division III at .806.