NCAA Playoff Bracket

Portland State Football got exactly what it wanted when the NCAA released the FCS Playoff field on Sunday morning - a first-round bye and a home game in round two. And the Vikings certainly earned it.

PSU is the sixth seed in the NCAA Playoffs following a 9-2 regular season - the best mark in the school's Division I history. The Vikings will play the winner of a Nov. 28 game between Northern Iowa (7-4, Missouri Valley) and Eastern Illinois (7-4, Ohio Valley) on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Providence Park. Kickoff will be 7 p.m.

PSU is one of 24 teams named by the NCAA Playoff Selection Committee to the post-season. It marks the second time in Portland State history it has reached the Division I playoffs (also in 2000), and the 10th time overall (eight times at the Division II level).

The Vikings were ranked fifth in the nation when the STATS FCS poll was released on Sunday morning. That is the highest ranking by a PSU team since Oct. 16, 2000 (2nd) - the last time a Viking team reached the playoffs.

Southern Utah and Montana of the Big Sky Conference also got into the post-season. The Griz play a first-round game against South Dakota State. The Thunderbirds will play Sam Houston State.

Tickets will be on sale at noon today at www.GoViks.com. They will be available at the PSU Box Office on Monday morning at 8 a.m. either in person or by calling 1-888-VIK-TIKS. Prices are $30 for reserved seats and $20 for general admission.

THE NCAA FCS PLAYOFF FIELD

Top 8 seeds and Dec. 5 hosts vs. winners of Nov. 28 First Round Opponents

1 Jacksonville State vs. Chattanooga/Fordham

2 Illinois State vs. Dayton/Western Illinois

3 North Dakota State vs. Montana/South Dakota State

4 McNeese State vs. Sam Houston State/Southern Utah

5 James Madison vs. New Hampshire/Colgate

6 Portland State vs. Northern Iowa/Eastern Illinois

7 Richmond vs. William & Mary/Duquesne

8 Charleston Southern vs. Coastal Carolina/The Citadel

FIRST-ROUND GAMES

November 28 at Dayton, Ohio, Noon (ET) (ESPN3)

Western Ill. (6-5) at Dayton (10-1)

November 28 at Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

Fordham (9-2) at Chattanooga (8-3)

November 28 at Conway, South Carolina, 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

The Citadel (8-3) at Coastal Carolina (9-2)

November 28 at Huntsville, Texas, 3 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

Southern Utah (8-3) at Sam Houston St. (8-3)

November 28 at Missoula, Montana, 3 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

South Dakota St. (8-3) at Montana (7-4)

November 28 at Durham, New Hampshire, 3:30 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

Colgate (7-4) at New Hampshire (7-4)

November 28 at Williamsburg, Virginia, 3:30 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

Duquesne (8-3) at William & Mary (8-3)

November 28 at Cedar Falls, Iowa, 5 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

Eastern Ill. (7-4) at UNI (7-4)

SECOND-ROUND GAMES

December 5 at Charleston, South Carolina, 1 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

Citadel/Coastal Caro. winner at #8 Charleston So. (9-2)

December 5 at Harrisonburg, Virginia, 1 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

Colgate/New Hampshire winner at #5 James Madison (9-2)

December 5 at Richmond, Virginia, 1 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

Duquesne/William & Mary winner at #7 Richmond (8-3)

December 5 at Jacksonville, Alabama, 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

Fordham/Chattanooga winner at #1 Jacksonville St. (10-1)

December 5 at Normal, Illinois, 2 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

Western Ill./Dayton winner at #2 Illinois St. (9-2)

December 5 at Fargo, North Dakota, 3:30 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

South Dakota St./Montana winner at #3 North Dakota St. (9-2)

December 5 at Lake Charles, Louisiana, 7 p.m. (ET) (ESPN3)

Southern Utah/Sam Houston St. winner at #4 McNeese St. (10-0)

December 5 at Portland, Oregon, 7 p.m. (PT) (ESPN3)

Eastern Ill./UNI winner at #6 Portland St. (9-2)