For 16 football teams in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Sunday officially began their road to Rome.

The NAIA announced the final regular season coaches’ poll a day after the last games were played across the country and set the first-round pairings for the 2009 NAIA Football Championship Series.

All games will be played Saturday.

Announcing the 16 teams live on the College Fanz Network Web site, the organization kicked off the postseason that will end on Dec. 19 at Barron Stadium for the 54th Annual Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship.

The University of Sioux Falls (S.D.), which has been ranked No. 1 all season, will carry an 11-0 record into the playoffs as they try to defend their title, beginning with a first-round contest against No. 14 Minot State (N.D.) at home.

No. 2 Carroll College (Mont.), which lost to Sioux Falls 23-7 at Barron Stadium in the championship game last year, will welcome No. 17 Dickinson State (N.D.) to Helena.

Two teams from Shorter College’s football conference, No. 6 Lambuth (Tenn.) and No. 10 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), will represent the Mid-South Conference in the championship series.

They will meet each other in the first round Saturday in Jackson, Tenn.

The Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship will be televised on CBS College Sports Television.

2009 NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

First Round

Saturday, Nov. 21

Minot State (8-2) at Sioux Falls (11-0)

Dickinson State (7-3) at Carroll, Mont. (11-0)

Langston (7-3) at Lindenwood (10-0)

McKendree (9-1) at Saint Xavier (11-0)

Hastings (9-2) at Ottawa, Kan. (10-0)

U. of the Cumberlands (9-1) at Lambuth (11-0)

Missouri Valley (8-2) at Morningside (9-1)

McPherson (9-1) at MidAmerica Nazarene (9-1)

2009 NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, Dec. 19, 12 p.m.

Barron Stadium, Rome, Ga.