It was played on December 18, 2009, at Finley Stadium, home field of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

The culminating game of the 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season, it was won by Villanova, 23–21.

The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the 2009 FCS Playoffs, which began with a 16-team bracket.

This was Montana's second consecutive and seventh overall appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA championship game, having previously won in 1995 and 2001, and having lost in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008.

As the second-seed in the tournament, the Wildcats defeated Holy Cross, New Hampshire (who had given Villanova their only loss during the regular season), and William & Mary to reach the final.