CEDAR FALLS – UNI football will be making its 22nd appearance in the FCS Championships when they face No. 5 Eastern Washington on the road.
The game is set for 3 p.m. CT Nov. 27. Fans can watch all the first and second rounds on ESPN+.
Head coach Mark Farley is 2-1 against Eastern Washington. The Panthers are 6-1 overall against the Eagles. This will be the third time UNI has face EWU in the postseason. The meetings in 1985, 1992 and 2005 all ended in victories for UNI.
Montana is the only team with more playoff appearances than UNI with 25.
This is the first time six teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference have been in postseason play, which is the most of any conference this season.
UNI ranks in the top five nationally in six categories. The Panthers are No. 1 in turnovers gained, and Isaiah Weston is atop the list for most yards per reception. Quarterback Theo Day is second in the nation for passing yards per completion. Caden Houghtelling and the team each are No. 3 in the nation for fumbles recovered. Matthew Cook is fourth in the nation for field goal percentage.
Eleven conference champions automatically qualified for this year’s playoffs. An additional 13 teams earned at-large bids selected by the FCS Playoff Committee. The top eight seeds receive a bye week.
UNI has been in the semifinals seven times: 1985, 1987, 1992, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2008.
The FCS Playoffs conclude with the national championship in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022.
FULL LIST OF TOP SEEDS AND FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS
#1 SEED: Sam Houston
Stephen F. Austin vs. Incarnate Word
#2 SEED: North Dakota State
Southern Illinois vs. South Dakota
#3 SEED: James Madison
Florida A&M vs. SE Louisiana
#4 SEED: Sacramento State
UC Davis vs. South Dakota State
#5 SEED: Villanova
Sacred Heart vs. Holy Cross
#6 SEED: Montana
UNI (6-5) vs. No. 5 Eastern Washington (9-2)
#7 SEED: East Tennessee State
Davidson vs. Kennesaw State
#8 SEED: Montana State
UT Martin vs. Missouri State
