FCS Playoffs: UNI football to host Monmouth in first round

As expected, UNI football received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs. The Panthers (7-4) will host Monmouth (9-2) in the first round at 4 p.m. Saturday (ESPN3).

The Hawks are also an at-large team, having finished second in the Big South behind Kennesaw State.

The UNI-Monmouth winner will travel to No. 5 seed South Dakota State next Saturday for a 2 p.m. second round game. The Panthers (6-2 MVFC) beat SDSU 38-18 Oct. 14.

Five Missouri Valley Football Conference teams are in the playoffs, including seeded teams North Dakota State (No. 2) and South Dakota State (No. 5). Western Illinois (at Weber State) and South Dakota (at Nicholls State) join UNI in the first round.

Defending champion James Madison (11-0) is the No. 1 seed. The Dukes host the Lehigh-Stony Brook winner in the second round.

The bracket: November 19, 2017

The bracket: https://t.co/XEb5LXWn3P#FCSPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4yRsoShOim

— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS)

FCS first round - Nov. 25

Lehigh (5-6) at Stony Brook (9-2), 1 p.m.

Western Illinois (8-3) at Weber State (9-2), 3 p.m.

Monmouth (9-2) at Northern Iowa (7-4), 4 p.m.

Central Connecticut (8-3) at New Hampshire (7-4), 1 p.m.

Samford (8-3) at Kennesaw State (10-1), 1 p.m.

South Dakota (7-4) at Nicholls State (8-3), 3 p.m.

Furman (7-4) at Elon (8-3), noon

San Diego (9-2) at Northern Arizona (7-4), 7 p.m.

FCS second round - Dec. 2

Lehigh/Stony Brook winner at No. 1 James Madison (11-0)

Western Illinois/Weber State winner at No. 8 Southern Utah (9-2)

Monmouth/Northern Iowa winner at No. 5 South Dakota State (9-2)

Central Connecticut/New Hampshire winner at No. 4 Central Arkansas (10-1)

Samford/Kennesaw State winner at No. 3 Jacksonville State (10-1)

South Dakota/Nicholls State winner at No. 6 Sam Houston State (10-1)

Furman/Elon winner at No. 7 Wofford (9-2)

San Diego/Northern Arizona winner at No. 2 South Dakota State (10-1)