SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference earned three bids to the 2011 Division I FCS Playoffs the NCAA announced Sunday (November 20) morning. The league's champion, Georgia Southern, along with Appalachian State and Wofford earned postseason berths.
Georgia Southern (9-2), which won the Southern Conference with a league record of 7-1, earned the No. 3 overall seed. The Eagles will take on either Old Dominion or Norfolk State. Those two teams will square off November 26 with the winner visiting Statesboro, Ga., December 3. The Eagles have won six national titles, the most among FCS schools. GSU is making its 18th appearance in the playoffs and owns a mark of 41-11 (.788).
The Mountaineers (8-3, 6-2 SoCon) earned an at-large bid and will host Maine (8-3, 6-2 CAA) on December 3. This year marks ASU's seventh consecutive trip to the postseason. The Mountaineers won three consecutive national titles from 2005-07 and boast an all-time record of 24-15 in the NCAA playoffs.
Wofford (8-3, 6-2 SoCon) earned its second consecutive bid to the postseason after a come-from behind 28-27 victory over Chattanooga Saturday. The Terriers will travel to face Northern Iowa (9-2, 7-1 MVC) on December 3. The Panthers earned the No. 5 seed in the field. Wofford also earned playoff berths in 2003, 2007 and 2008. The Terriers own a record of 4-4 in the postseason.
Sam Houston State earned the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs, while North Dakota State is seeded second. Georgia Southern, Montana (No. 4) and Northern Iowa earned the remaining seeds in the 20-team field.
Southern Conference teams are 94-55 (.631) in the NCAA playoffs, the best mark among FCS Conferences.
The FCS National Championship game will be held January 7, 2012 in Frisco, Texas.