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This article is about the Division I-AA (now FCS) championship game. For the Division I-A (now FBS) champions, see 1981 Clemson Tigers football team.
The game was also known as the Pioneer Bowl, a name that had been used starting in 1971 for various NCAA playoff games held in Wichita Falls. The Colonels were making their third consecutive appearance in the I-AA championship game.
Teams
The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the 1981 I-AA Playoffs, which began with an eight-team bracket.
Eastern Kentucky finished their regular season with a 10–1 record (8–0 in conference); their only loss was to Navy of Division I-A. Ranked first in the final NCAA I-AA in-house poll and seeded first in the tournament, the Colonels defeated seventh-seed Delaware and fourth-seed Boise State to reach the final. This was the third appearance for Eastern Kentucky in a Division I-AA championship game, having won in 1979 and having lost in 1980.
Idaho State finished their regular season with a 9–1 record (6–1 in conference); their only loss was an away game at Montana. Ranked second in the final NCAA I-AA in-house poll and seeded second in the tournament, the Bengals defeated eighth-seed Rhode Island and third-seed South Carolina State to reach the final. This was the first appearance for Idaho State in a Division I-AA championship game.
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