UNI Panthers heading to the FCS Football Playoffs as an at-large team

UNI makes 18th appearance in the FCS Football Playoffs, coming off a 7-4 season.

Indianapolis, IN -- The University of Northern Iowa (7-4) has been selected as an at-large team for the 2015 FCS Football playoffs. The Panthers will host a first round game on Saturday, with a game against Eastern Illinois (7-4), out of the Ohio Valley Conference.

The field of 24 teams competing for the 2015 NCAA Division I Football Championship was announced today by the NCAA Division I Football Championship Committee. The top eight national seeds will host winners from the first round match-ups.

BRACKET: Interactive | Printable

Jacksonville State University (10-1) tops the bracket as the number one seed after capturing the automatic qualifying berth from the Ohio Valley Conference. The Gamecocks are making their third straight appearance in the championship and sixth overall.

Illinois State University (9-2) is the number two seed after finishing as the co-champion of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Redbirds, the runner-up in last year’s national championship game, are making their sixth appearance in the championship.

Four-time defending national champion North Dakota State University (9-2) is the number three seed after capturing the automatic qualifying berth from the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Bison are making their sixth straight appearance in the championship.

McNeese State University (10-0) is the number four seed after capturing the Southland Conference automatic berth. The two-time national runner-up Cowboys are making their 16th appearance in the championship.

James Madison University (9-2), the 2004 national champion, will be the fifth seed. The Dukes are making their 12th appearance in the championship.

Portland State University (9-2), making its first appearance since 2000, will be the number six seed. The Vikings are only making their second appearance in the championship.

University of Richmond (8-3), the automatic qualifier from the Colonial Athletic Association, will be the seventh seed. The Spiders, who won the 2008 title, will be making their 10th appearance.

The eighth and final seeded team will be Charleston Southern University. The Buccaneers will be making its first appearance after capturing the Big South Conference automatic berth.

The 2015 championship field consists of 10 automatic qualifiers and 14 at-large qualifiers.

UNI is 15-6-1 all-time against the Eastern Illinois Panthers (7-4 this season), a series that dates back to 1975. The last time UNI and the Ohio Valley Conference foe played each other was in 2001 when UNI picked up a 49-43 win on the road in the first round of the playoffs.

UNI has made 18 NCAA FCS playoff appearances, including back-to-back years hosting a first round game, picking up 20 playoff wins in school history. UNI has won at least one playoff game in 13 of its previous 17 playoff appearances, including a playoff win in nine of the last 10 appearances.

It's Official: Iowa (7-5) vs. #14 Oklahoma (9-3), while the BCS Title game will be a SEC rematch

The bowl games are set for the 2011-12 College bowl season! Both the Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5) and the Iowa State State (6-6) will play on December 30Th. The Northern Iowa Panthers are still alive in the FCS Playoffs. UNI will play Friday night on ESPN with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Montana. Of course, in the BCS Championship Game, it will be a battle of SEC teams, as #1 LSU faces #2 Alabama, in a rematch.

The Hawkeyes will face former Iowa defensive back Bobby Stoops, who is in his 13Th season at the helm of the #14 Oklahoma Sooners, in the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Arizona. In additional to Stoops, former Iowa OL Bruce Kittle is in his first season as offensive line coach, while co-offensive coordinator Jay Novell is a former Iowa defensive back.

The Cyclones will play earlier in the day against Rutgers (8-4) out of the Big East. Both teams will square off in Yankee Stadium in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, in New York City.

2011-12 Bowl Games (games are Central Time start)

Saturday, December 17Th

New Mexico Bowl:

Temple vs. Wyoming 1:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Idaho Potato Bowl:

Ohio vs. Utah State 4:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

New Orleans Bowl:

UL Lafayette vs. San Diego State 8:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) (3D) / espn3.com

Tuesday, December 20Th

St. Petersburg Bowl:

Florida International vs. Marshall 7:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) (3D) / espn3.com

Wednesday, December 21st

Poinsettia Bowl:

Louisiana Tech vs. TCU 7:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Thursday, December 22Nd

Las Vegas Bowl:

Arizona State vs. Boise State 7:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Saturday, December 24Th

Hawaii Bowl:

Nevada vs. Southern Miss 7:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Monday, December 26Th

Independence Bowl:

Missouri vs. North Carolina 4:00 p.m. ESPN2 (HD) / espn3.com

Tuesday, December 27Th

Little Caesars Bowl:

Purdue vs. Western Michigan 3:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Belk Bowl:

Louisville vs. North Carolina State 7:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com
Wednesday, December 28Th

Military Bowl:

Air Force vs. Toledo 3:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Holiday Bowl:

California vs. Texas 7:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com
Thursday, December 29Th

Champs Sports Bowl:

Florida State vs. Notre Dame 4:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) (3D) / espn3.com

Alamo Bowl:

Baylor vs. Washington 8:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Friday, December 30Th

Armed Forces Bowl:

BYU vs. Tulsa 11:00 a.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Pinstripe Bowl:

Iowa State vs. Rutgers 2:20 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Music City Bowl:

Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest 5:40 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Insight Bowl:

Iowa vs. Oklahoma 9:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Saturday, December 31st

Car Care Bowl:

Northwestern vs. Texas A&M 11:00 a.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Sun Bowl:

Georgia Tech vs. Utah 1:00 p.m. CBS (HD) / cbssports.com

Emerald Bowl:

Illinois vs. UCLA 2:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Liberty Bowl:

Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt 2:30 p.m. ABC (HD)

Peach Bowl:

Auburn vs. Virginia 6:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) (3D) / espn3.com

Monday, January 2Nd

Games traditionally scheduled for New Years Day

to be played on Jan. 2nd to avoid Sunday NFL conflict

TicketCity Bowl:

Houston vs. Penn State 11:00 a.m. ESPNU (HD) / espn3.com?

Capital One Bowl:

Nebraska vs. South Carolina 12:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) (3D) / espn3.com

Gator Bowl:

Florida vs. Ohio State 12:00 p.m. ESPN2 (HD) / espn3.com

Outback Bowl:

Georgia vs. Michigan State 12:00 p.m. ABC (HD)

Rose Bowl:

Oregon vs. Wisconsin 3:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Fiesta Bowl:

Oklahoma State vs. Stanford 7:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Tuesday, January 3rd

Sugar Bowl:

Michigan vs. Virginia Tech 7:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Wednesday, January 4Th

Orange Bowl:

Clemson vs. West Virginia 7:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Friday, January 6Th

Cotton Bowl:

Arkansas vs. Kansas State 7:00 p.m. FOX (HD)

Saturday, January 7Th

FBS Championship Game

Current Brackets, including UNI

12:00 p.m. ESPN2 (HD) / espn3.com

BBVA Compass Bowl:

Pitt vs. SMU 12:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Sunday, January 8Th

Go Daddy Bowl:

Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois 8:00 p.m. ESPN (HD) / espn3.com

Monday, January 9Th

BCS Championship Game:

#2 Alabama vs. # LSU

7:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) (3D) / espn3.com

Enjoy the ride of the 2011-12 College Football bowl season

It's Playoff Time: Iowa High School Playoffs begin with Sub-State play on Wednesday

The Cedar Rapids Washington Warriors closed out a 7-2 regular season in the MVC Valley Division at Kingston Stadium on Friday night with 59-6 win over Waterloo East (2-7). Congratulations to WR Ronnie Henderson with TD catches on the first three drives. The Warriors took a 39-0 lead after one.

Next up: Substate Class 4A Playoffs in Iowa on Wednesday night at Kingston Stadium.

Class 4A - Eastern Iowa

• #16 Cedar Rapids Prairie 3-6 @ #1 Clinton 9-0#9
• Davenport Assumption 5-4 @ #8 Cedar Falls 7-2
• #12 Pleasant Valley 5-4 @ #5 Cedar Rapids Xavier 7-2
• #13 Burlington 4-5 @ #4 Linn-Mar 8-1
• #14 Cedar Rapids Kennedy 4-5 @ #3 Bettendorf 8-1
• #13 North Scott 5-4 @ #6 Cedar Rapids Washington 7-2 @ Kingston Stadium
• #10 Davenport Central 5-4 @ #7 Dubuque Hempstead 7-2
• #15 Iowa City West 3-6 @ #2 Iowa City High 9-0

Class 4A - Western Iowa

• #16 Ames 3-6 @ #1 Dowling 9-0
• #9 Des Moines East 6-3 @ @8 Des Moines Lincoln 6-3
• #12 Valley 5-4 @ #5 Fort Dodge 7-2
• #13 Sioux City East 5-4 @ #4 Urbandale 7-2
• #14 Mason City 5-4 @ #3 Ankeny 8-1
• #13 Johnston 5-4 @ #6 Ottumwa 7-2
• #10 Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 6-3 @ #7 Waukee 6-3
• #15 Indianola 4-5 @ #2 Marshalltown 9-0

Good luck to the Warriors in the 2009 Class 4A Playoffs.

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Lakers advance to NBA Finals tonight: 119-92

Well, the Lakers will return to the NBA Finals again, after winning Game 6 of the Western Conference championship with an explosive 119-92 road win over the Denver Nuggets tonight.

Hopefully, the Los Angeles Lakers will get it done this time around in the NBA Finals! The Finals begin June 4Th!

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Last Friday night, I attended Cedar Falls vs. Cedar Rapids Washington in the semi-finals

West Des Moines Valley beats Cedar Falls on November 21, 2008 to win the Class 4A Iowa State Football Championship. I didn't attend the finals, since I live in Cedar Rapids and have no loyalty to either school. But, it apparently was "no contest" as Wesley Vaclav points out.

http://twigger.com/cidsports

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Cedar Falls takes out revenge on CR Washington in the Dome

Cedar Falls (12-1) will advance to play West Des Moines Valley (13-0) in the State Football Final, after a 27-19 win over Cedar Rapids Washington (11-2) Friday night in the UNI-Dome. The Tigers outplayed the Warriors on the line of scrimmage most of the night. Mistakes and Momentum were by products that the Tigers benefited from, as well.

The Warriors had a fine season, but playing Cedar Falls twice in the UNI-Dome proved too much. Coach Tony Lombardi advanced the Warriors farther into the playoffs in his fourth season, but experience at Cedar Falls was shown in the semi-final match up.

Valley beat Ankeny (11-2) 21-14 to advance to the finals, where they will meet Cedar Falls, next weekend.

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Cedar Rapids Washington handles Bettendorf 48-27

It was a muddy turf, but the Washington Warriors (11-1) capitalized on Bettendorf Bulldogs (11-1) turnovers all game to pull out the Class 4A Iowa Quarter-Final Playoff Game for a 48-27 win at Kingston Stadium. The Warriors threw for nearly 450 yards in the win.

Next up: The UNI Dome in the semi-finals Friday!

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Cold Weather returns to Eastern Iowa

It is wet and cold in Cedar Rapids, as Washington High School (10-1) will host Bettendorf High School (11-0) in the Class 4A Quarter-Final Football Playoff Game at Kingston Stadium tonight at 7 pm.

Go Warriors!

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Two Games of personal interest this week...

Friday night in Cedar Rapids: Cedar Rapids Washington (10-1) hosts Bettendorf (11-0) in a Class 4A Quarter-Final Football match up. By the way, in my high school day, the Bulldogs usually had the Warriors number in the state football playoffs.

Saturday afternoon in Iowa City: the Iowa Hawkeyes (5-4, 2-3 Big Ten) will host my #2 Penn State Nittany Lions (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten) in an important Big Ten Conference game at Kinnick Stadium. ABC/ESPN will televise at 2:30 pm.

Weather is certainly taking a turn to cold, after a great week or so of outstanding Autumn weather in Iowa and much of the Midwest.

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State of Iowa State Football Playoffs: Sub-State Round in book

University of Iowa in-state commits played in the Iowa State Football Playoffs: Sub-State Round on Wednesday:

Brandon Wegher (Game Recap)

Keenan Davis (Game Recap)

Jordan Cotton (Game Recap)

Drew Clark (Game Recap)

Class of 2010 commit James Morris (Game Recap)

I attended the Cedar Rapids Washington game vs. Muscatine last night. The Warriors won the game 62-14. Though, the game was 20-14, prior to a Earnest Crank type touchdown (ie: former Iowa RB vs. Northwestern at Kinnick back in the 1990's) off a Muscatine failed on-side kick attempt, where Washington Warriors special teams player, Jerome Strong, took the failed on-side kick all the way for a touchdown to make the game 27-14 Washington.

Washington junior running back Andre Dawson and reserve RB sophomore Alex Carr went wild running the ball vs. the Muskies in the Warriors 62-14 win. Carr had a 70+ yard run called back for encroachment late in the game to reduce the blowout.

The Warriors (9-1) will face Dubuque Hempstead (6-4) on Monday night in the Class 4A first round. Ironically, the game will be in Dubuque.

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Iowa High School Playoffs kickoff at 7 PM Wednesday in all Classes

Here are the Substate pairings for Wednesday, October 29, 2008:

All games are at 7 p.m., with one exception.

CLASS 4A

Des Moines Lincoln (4-5) at W.D.M. Valley (9-0), C.B. Jefferson (6-3) at Ottumwa (6-3), Des Moines East (5-4) at Johnston (7-2), C.B. Lincoln (5-4) at W.D.M. Dowling (7-2), Fort Dodge (4-5) at Southeast Polk (7-2), Indianola (5-4) at Ames (6-3), Mason City (5-4) at Waukee (6-3), Sioux City North (4-5) at Ankeny (8-1), Davenport Assumption (4-5) at Iowa City High (9-0), Cedar Rapids Kennedy (6-3) at Cedar Rapids Xavier (6-3), Cedar Rapids Jefferson (4-5) at Cedar Falls (8-1), Dubuque Wahlert (4-5) at North Scott (8-1), Muscatine (4-5) at Cedar Rapids Washington (8-1), Dubuque Hempstead (5-4) at Burlington (7-2), Pleasant Valley (6-3) at Cedar Rapids Prairie (6-3), and Clinton (4-5) at Bettendorf (9-0).

CLASS 3A

ADM (5-4) at Sioux City Heelan (9-0), Sergeant Bluff-Luton (6-3) at Lewis Central (8-1), MOC-Floyd Valley (4-5) at Harlan (8-1), Atlantic (5-4) at Spencer (6-3), Ballard-Huxley (5-4) at Clear Lake (9-0), Charles City (7-2) at Boone (7-2), Algona (5-4) at Carroll (9-0), Dallas Center-Grimes (7-2) at Webster City (6-3), Benton Community (5-4) at Decorah (9-0), West Delaware (6-3) at Marion (8-1), New Hampton (5-4) at DeWitt Central (9-0), Union (7-2) at Crestwood (5-4), Norwalk (5-4) at Mount Pleasant (9-0), Clear Creek Amana (6-3) at Centerville 8-1), Oskaloosa (4-5) at Pella (9-0) and Grinnell (6-3) at Williamsburg (8-1).

CLASS 2A

Pocahontas (5-4) at Central Lyon (9-0), Boyden-Hull (5-4) at Eagle Grove (5-4), Western Christian (4-5) at Milford (7-2), Cherokee (5-4) at Unity Christian (8-1), Carroll Kuemper (5-4) at West Marshall (8-1), Bondurant-Farrar (6-3) at Missouri Valley (7-2), PCM (5-4) at IKM (9-0), OA/BCIG (7-2) at CMB (8-1), Dyersville Beckman (5-4) at Roland-Story (9-0), Gilbert (6-3) at Western Dubuque (8-1), Osage (5-4) at North Fayette (7-2), Sumner-Frederickburg (8-1) at Dike-New Hartford (6-3), Sigourney-Keota (6-3) at Solon (9-0), Wilton (7-2) at West Burlington (8-1), Tipton (5-4) at Mid-Prairie (8-1) and Davis County (6-3) at Iowa City Regina (8-1).

CLASS 1A

Underwood (4-5) at West Lyon (8-1), Hinton (6-3) at Griswold (8-1), Lawton-Bronson (5-4) at C.B. St. Albert (8-1), Logan-Magnolia (6-3) at HartleyMelvin-Sanborn (8-1), Ogden (3-6) at Pella Christian (81)***, Pleasantville (5-4) at WoodwardGranger (8-1), Nodaway Valley (4-5) at Prairie Valley (8-1), Manson-Northwest Webster (4-5) at Mount Ayr (8-1), South Winneshiek (6-3) at Emmetsburg (9-0), Garner-Hayfield (6-3) at GladbrookReinbeck (6-3), Saint Ansgar (4-5) at AplingtonParkersburg (9-0), Nashua-Plainfield (6-3) at Fort Dodge St. Edmond (8-1), Pekin (5-4) at Maquoketa Valley (7-2), North-Linn (6-3) at Belle Plaine (8-1), Alburnett (4-5) at West Branch (8-1) and Iowa Valley (5-4) at Northeast (7-2).

CLASS A

Newell-Fonda (5-4) at AkronWestfield (8-1), Alta (7-2) at Algona Garrigan (7-2), Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn (3-6) at Southern Calhoun (8-1), Clay Central (6-3) at LeMars Gehlen (7-2), Corning (4-5) at Madrid (8-1), Earlham (7-2) at Boyer Valley (7-2), Van Meter (5-4) at AHST (9-0), Bedford (5-4) at Colo-NESCO (6-3), Lisbon (5-4) at Northwood-Kensett (8-1), Rockford (7-2) at Elkader Central (7-2), Riceville (5-4) at East Buchanan (9-0), Wapsie Valley (6-3) at Mason City Newman (7-2), BGM (5-4) at New London (6-3), Lone Tree (6-3) at HLV (7-2), Highland (3-6) at North Tama (9-0) and North Mahaska (6-3) at WACO (5-4).

EIGHT-MAN

Graettinger-Terril (6-3) at RemsenUnion (7-2), Woodbine (6-3) at ArmstrongRingstead (8-1), Remsen St. Mary’s (5-4) at North Sentral (9-0), Laurens-Marathon (7-2) at Ar-WeVa (8-1), Sidney (3-6) at CAM (9-0), Coon Rapids-Bayard (7-2) at East Mills (7-2), Glidden-Ralston (5-4) at Stanton (9-0). Villisca (4-5) at Adair-Casey (7-2), West Central (7-2) at CWL (7-1), Ventura (6-3) at Preston (6-3), Northeast Hamilton (5-5) at Central City (8-1), Dunkerton (6-3) at Janesville (8-1), Ankeny Christian (5-4) at Tri-County (8-1), Harmony (4-5) at Lenox (8-1), Twin Cedars (5-4) at Lamoni (7-2) and East Union (8-1) at Melcher-Dallas (7-2)

*** Game is at 7:30 p.m. at Central College.

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Iowa High Football Playoffs are set for 2008

Substate kicks off Wednesday, October 29, 2008... playoff dates.

Cedar Rapids Washington (8-1) will host Muscatine (4-5), while fellow area schools match ups are: battle of 42nd Street, with CR Xavier (6-3) hosting CR Kennedy (6-3); CR Jefferson (4-5) at Cedar Falls (8-1); and Pleasant Valley (6-3) at CR Prairie (6-3). Class 4A Final 32 in the 2008 Playoffs...

2008 Playoff Brackets:
Class 3A
Class 2A
Class 1A
Class A
Eight Player

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Local Sports: Last Weekend of Regular Season for High School Football

The last weekend of the Iowa High School football season will occur this weekend. The Class 4A has been expanded from 16 to 32 teams this year. It should be an exciting playoff season in Iowa in '08.

Go Warriors!

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