Montana learned Sunday that it will host unranked McNeese State out of Lake Charles, La., when it begins its record 14th-straight postseason on Saturday. McNeese, 7-4, won the Southland Conference title outright Saturday, earning that league's automatic berth into the playoffs. It's the Cowboys' first berth since 2003.
The second-ranked Grizzlies, who beat archrival Montana State 13-7 on Saturday, also learned they were the No. 2 seed into the tournament. That means the Griz can get as many as three home playoff games. Defending champion Appalachian State is top seed.
On the other side of the bracket are the No. 15 Bobcats, who became the first 7-4 at-large Division I-AA playoff team since Idaho in 1995. MSU, in the playoffs for the first time since 2003, hosts Furman. It will be the Cats' first home playoff game since beating Rhode Island in the 1984 semifinals.
“To take a seven-win team out of our league means they have a lot of respect for the teams in our conference and how good everybody is,” said Hauck. “And then it also shows that Montana State, administratively, took care of business and got themselves a good bid so they could get a home game.”
Game time for Saturday's game against McNeese is tentatively set for 12:05 p.m. Tickets are already on sale at $5 for UM students, $10 for student-guest tickets and $25 for everyone else.
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