Dates and sites: First-round (November 30), quarterfinal (December 7) and semifinal (December 14) games will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. The championship will be December 20 at W. Max Finley Stadium/Davenport Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Field: Sixteen teams will compete for the 25th annual championship. Eight conferences have been granted automatic qualification and eight teams will be selected at large.

Selection date: November 24.

2001 champion: Montana forced three turnovers and held Furman scoreless until the game's final play in a 13-6 triumph.

Top team contenders: Appalachian State, Furman, Maine, McNeese State, Montana, Northern Arizona, Northwestern State, Villanova.

Players to watch: Stephen Cooper (Maine linebacker); Brett Gordon (Villanova quarterback); Mark Gould (Northern Arizona punter); Josh Jeffries (Appalachian State defensive lineman); Roy Locks (Northwestern State linebacker/defensive end); Billy Napier (Furman quarterback); B.J. Sams (McNeese State wide receiver/kick returner); Chris Snyder (Montana place-kicker); Allen Suber (Bethune-Cookman quarterback).

Dates and sites: First-round (November 23), quarterfinal (November 30) and semifinal (December 7) games will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. The championship will be December 14 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama.

Field: Sixteen teams will compete for the 30th annual championship. There will be four teams selected in each of four regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, West).

Selection date: November 17.

2001 champion: Jed Perkerewicz's one-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter lifted North Dakota over Grand Valley State, 17-14.

Top team contenders: UC Davis, Carson-Newman, Central Arkansas, Grand Valley State, Northwest Missouri State, Pittsburg State, Saginaw Valley, Valdosta State.

Players to watch: Curt Anes (Grand Valley State quarterback); Daniel Chappell (Pittsburg State place-kicker); Ranney Davis (Central Arkansas linebacker); Buster Faulkner (Valdosta State quarterback); Ryan Flanigan (UC Davis quarterback); Travis McAlpine (Saginaw Valley wide receiver); John McMenamin (Northwest Missouri State quarterback); William Moody (Carson-Newman linebacker); Ian Smart (C.W. Post running back).

Dates and sites: First-round (November 23), second-round (November 30), quarterfinal (December 7) and semifinal (December 14) games will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. The championship will be December 21 at Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia.

Field: Twenty-eight teams will compete for the 30th annual championship. Eighteen conferences have been granted automatic qualification, and seven berths have been allocated for independents and for those teams that are members of conferences that do not qualify for automatic qualification. Three berths will be provided for those teams remaining from automatic-qualifying conferences that do not win their automatic berth. The teams will be placed into four brackets of seven based on geographic proximity whenever possible. The top-seeded team in each bracket is not guaranteed a first-round bye.

Selection date: November 17.

2001 champion: Mount Union captured its fifth title in the last six years with a 30-27 defeat of Bridgewater (Virginia). Chuck Moore rambled for 273 yards and three touchdowns.

Top team contenders: Bridgewater (Virginia), Hardin-Simmons, Ithaca, Mount Union, Rowan, Trinity (Texas), Widener, Wittenberg.

Players to watch: Blake Elliott [St. John's (Minnesota) wide receiver]; Daniel Grove (Wittenberg running back); Roy Hampton [Trinity (Texas) quarterback]; Alex Hansen (Hardin-Simmons cornerback); Dan Pugh (Mount Union running back/kick returner); Jermaine Taylor [Bridgewater (Virginia) linebacker]; Gerrit Tosh (Rowan defensive lineman); Mike Warker (Widener quarterback).