For the sixth time in the past seven years, four Missouri Valley Football Conference schools have made the field of 24 teams for the NCAA Division I Football Championship.  North Dakota State (No. 1 overall seed), South Dakota State (No. 7 overall seed), Illinois State and UNI represent the MVFC this year.

Bracket (PDF)

At 10-straight appearances, North Dakota State's playoff appearance streak is best in the FCS.  South Dakota State, meanwhile, has a streak of eight-straight trips, which is second-best among active FCS schools.  UNI, making its 21st appearance, trails only Montana (24) for overall FCS championship appearances.

The Big Sky (4), Missouri Valley Football (4), CAA Football (3) and Southland (3) conferences  have the most representatives of any league.   With four top-8 seeds, the Big Sky set an FCS playoff record.  The previous record was 3 (also by the Big Sky, in 2018).  The MVFC, meanwhile, has had two Top 8 seeds for an FCS-record six-straight seasons.

FIRST-ROUND GAMES
November 30 at Thibodaux, Louisiana, 4 p.m., (ESPN3)
North Dakota (7-4) at Nicholls St. (8-4)

November 30 at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
Illinois St. (8-4) at Southeast Mo. St. (9-3)

November 30 at Albany, New York 1 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Central Conn. St. (11-1) at Albany (NY) (8-4)

November 30 at Clarksville, Tennessee, 1 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Furman (8-4) at Austin Peay (9-3)

November 30 at Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1:30 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Kennesaw St. (10-2) at Wofford (8-3)

November 30 at Hammond, Louisiana, 4 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Villanova (9-3) at Southeastern La. (7-4)

November 30 at Cedar Falls, Iowa, 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
San Diego (9-2) at UNI (8-4)

November 30 at West Long Branch, New Jersey, Noon (ET) (ESPN3)
Holy Cross (7-5) at Monmouth (10-2)

SECOND-ROUND GAMES
December 7 at Fargo, North Dakota, 3:30 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Nicholls St./North Dakota winner at #1 North Dakota St. (12-0)

December 7 at Conway, Arkansas, 3 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Illinois St./Southeast Mo. St. winner at #8 Central Ark. (9-3)

December 7 at Bozeman, Montana, 3 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Central Conn. St./Albany (NY) winner at #5 Montana St. (9-3)

December 7 at Sacramento, California, 9 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Furman/Austin Peay winner at #4 Sacramento St. (9-3)

December 7 at Ogden, Utah, 3 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Kennesaw St./Wofford winner at #3 Weber St. (9-3)

December 7 at Missoula, Montana 3 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Villanova/Southeastern La. winner at #6 Montana (9-3)

December 7 at Brookings, South Dakota, 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
San Diego/UNI winner at #7 South Dakota St. (8-4)

December 7 at Harrisonburg, Virginia, 1 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)
Holy Cross/Monmouth winner at #2 James Madison (11-1)



2019 NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD ANNOUNCED

INDIANAPOLIS---The field of 24 teams competing for the 2019 NCAA Division I Football Championship was announced today by the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee. The top eight national seeds will host winners from the first-round matchups.

Two-time defending national champion North Dakota State University (12-0) tops the bracket as the number one seed after winning the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Bison are making their 10th consecutive and 15th overall appearance in the championship. 

James Madison University (11-1) is the number two seed after earning the automatic qualifying berth from the Colonial Athletic Association.  The Dukes are making their sixth straight and 16th overall appearance in the championship. 

Weber State University (9-3) is the number three seed after winning a share of their third-straight Big Sky Conference title and the conference’s automatic qualification. The Wildcats will make their fourth consecutive appearance in the championship and eighth overall.  

California State University, Sacramento (9-3) is the number four seed after earning a share of the conference title in the Big Sky. The title was the first for the Hornets, who are making their inaugural appearance in the championship field. 

Montana State University- Bozeman (9-3) will be the fifth seed. The Bobcats are making their second straight and 10th appearance overall in the championship. 

The University of Montana (9-3) is amongst the field for the 24th time overall. The Grizzlies are making their first appearance since 2015 and will be the sixth seed. 

South Dakota State University (8-4) captured the seventh seed and will make their eighth consecutive appearance and ninth total in the championship. 

The eighth and final seeded team will be the University of Central Arkansas (9-3). The Bears earned a share of the Southland title and will compete in the championship for the fifth time in the last nine years.