The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the 1979 I-AA Playoffs, which began with a four-team bracket.[4]
Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Eastern Kentucky finished their regular season with a 9–2 record (5–1 in conference); their losses were to East Tennessee State of Division I-A and conference rival Murray State.[5] Tied for third with Lehigh in the final AP Poll for I-AA,[6] the Colonels were the at-large selection to the four-team playoff; they defeated Nevada, the West selection, by a score of 33–30 in double overtime to reach the final. This was the first appearance for Eastern Kentucky in a Division I-AA championship game.
Lehigh Engineers
Lehigh also finished their regular season with a 9–2 record; they had lost to Colgate of Division I-A and Delaware of Division II.[7] Tied with Eastern Kentucky for third in the final AP Poll for I-AA,[6] the Engineers were the East selection to the playoff; they defeated Murray State, the South selection, by a 28–9 score to reach the final. This was also the first appearance for Lehigh in a Division I-AA championship game.
^Henniger, Paul (December 15, 1979). "Viewing Sports". Los Angeles Times. p. 2. Retrieved May 12, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
^ abc"Lehigh Routed By 30‐7". The New York Times. AP. December 16, 1979. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
^"Eastern Kentucky Gains Football Playoff Berth". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. December 3, 1979. p. 36. Retrieved February 9, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
^"Eastern Kentucky Colonels 1979 Schedule". cfbinfo.com. Retrieved May 12, 2019.[permanent dead link]