IRVING, Texas (May 18, 2021) - The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) recognizes and congratulates NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national champion Sam Houston State and NAIA national champion Lindsey Wilson (KY) for their remarkable seasons, which were played this spring because COVID-19 postponed the normal fall schedule. Each team and their coaches will receive the NFF's 2020-21 divisional national championship trophies.
 
"The NFF sends a huge congratulations to Sam Houston State and Lindsey Wilson on winning their respective national championships," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We salute both programs, as well as the FCS and NAIA, for persevering through an unprecedented season and allowing their student-athletes to compete on the field, creating memories and experiences that will last a lifetime."
 
The NFF normally presents its divisional trophies to the winning teams' coaches during the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Annual Convention, including at the NCAA Division II and the NCAA Division III levels that did not hold championships this year. The NFF looks forward to returning to the tradition of presenting all four of the NFF divisional trophies during the 2022 AFCA Convention.
 
 
NCAA Football Championship Subdivision - John F. Kennedy Trophy
Sam Houston State University - Coach K.C. Keeler
 
Coach K.C. Keeler led the No. 2-seed Sam Houston State (10-0) to its first FCS national championship following an exciting 23-21 victory over the No. 1-seed South Dakota State (8-2) on May 16 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The win marked Keeler's second national title as a head coach, having previously won at Delaware in 2003, and he moved into the all-time lead for NCAA playoff wins with 24. The title gave Sam Houston its second-ever national title as the Bearkats previously won the 1964 NAIA crown. 
 
To clinch the thrilling national championship win, Sam Houston quarterback Eric Schmid found wide receiver Ife Adeyi in the end zone from 10 yards out with 16 seconds left in the game, and the Bearkat defense then stopped South Dakota State on their last-ditch effort to get into field goal range. The Bearkats converted two fourth-down plays on the game-winning drive, which came after the Jackrabbits had rallied from 10 points down to go up 21-17 with two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Schmid was 20 for 37 passing for 209 yards and three touchdowns, and he had 54 yards rushing. Wide receiver Jequez Ezzard, who was the game's Most Valuable Player, finished with a season-high 10 receptions for 108 yards and two scores. Defensive back Braiden Clopton led the way for the Bearkat defense with 10 tackles while linebacker Quentin Brown recorded a key interception when South Dakota State was making a push at the end of the first half.
 
 
NAIA - Dwight D. Eisenhower Trophy
Lindsey Wilson College (KY) - Coach Chris Oliver
 
After just a decade of existence, Coach Chris Oliver and Lindsey Wilson (11-0) claimed the first national title in program history following an impressive 45-21 win over Northwestern (IA) on May 10 at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium in Grambling, Louisiana. Coach Oliver, who helped launch the college's football program in 2010, was named the AFCA-NAIA National Coach of the Year and improved his overall record to 93-33. Blue Raiders quarterback Cameron Dukes, a 2020 Campbell Trophy® semifinalist, was named the Offensive Player of the Game after completing 18-of-24 passes for 157 yards and producing three rushing touchdowns. Overall, Lindsey Wilson outgained Northwestern on offense 347 yards to 231. Blue Raiders defensive back Michael Leslie was the Defensive Player of the Game after recording nine tackles, including half of a sack and half a tackle for loss. Overall, the Blue Raiders defense forced five punts, turned Northwestern over on downs three times and held the Red Raiders to a season-low in yards (231) and points (13).
 

About The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Future for Football, The William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Goodyear, Jostens, the New York Athletic Club, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the Sports Business Journal. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork and learn more at footballfoundation.org.