Nov. 21, 2010

- Villanova NCAA Tournament Central

VILLANOVA, Pa. --- The defending national champion Villanova Wildcats were awarded a first round bye in the 2010 FCS playoffs. Villanova will begin defense of its crown on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. The field was announced this morning live on ESPNU.

Villanova is 7-4 overall this season and went 5-3 in regular season play in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Wildcats are coming off a thrilling 28-21 overtime win at arch rival Delaware in the regular season finale. Villanova checked in at No. 10 in the final regular season Sports Network poll.

A win at Stephen F. Austin would advance the Wildcats to the quarterfinal round against either Coastal Carolina, Western Illinois or Appalachian State. Western Illinois plays at Coastal Carolina in the first round with the winner traveling to Appalachian State in the second round.

The Wildcats are one of four CAA teams in this year's 20-team playoff field. Two of the teams earned Top 4 seeds in the playoff bracket including William & Mary at No. 2 and Delaware at No. 3. New Hampshire is the fourth CAA member in the field. This year marks the fifth time in the last seven years that the CAA has had at least four teams chosen to the championship field. The league has sent one of its teams to the national championship game in six of the last seven seasons, including Richmond (2008) and Villanova (2009) who have won the last two championships.

During the regular season, Villanova registered a 2-2 record against teams that make-up the playoff field. The Wildcats earned wins over Lehigh (35-0) and Delaware (28-21 in overtime) and lost to William & Mary (31-24) and New Hampshire (31-24).

This season marks the ninth appearance in the FCS playoffs for Villanova, which returns to the championship field for the third time in as many years. This is the first time in program history that Villanova has qualified for the playoffs in three consecutive seasons. Villanova is 8-7 all-time in the NCAA playoffs, including a 5-1 mark the last two seasons.

Stephen F. Austin earned an automatic bid to the playoffs after winning the Southland Conference regular season championship. The Lumberjacks are 9-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play. In the latest Sports Network poll, Stephen F. Austin was ranked No. 3. The team was 5-1 at home during the regular season.

The Lumberjacks feature an explosive offense that averages 442.0 yards of total offense per game, including 362.1 passing yards per contest. Stephen F. Austin is led by senior quarterback Jeremy Moses who has completed 303-of-499 for 3,658 yards to go with 34 touchdowns and four interceptions. His favorite targets are sophomores Gralyn Crawford who has 69 receptions for 889 yards and five touchdowns and Cordell Robertson with 52 catches for 940 yards and 16 touchdowns. On defense, junior linebacker Devin Ducote leads the way with 107 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

The Division I Football Championship includes automatic bids from 10 different conferences as well as 10 at-large selections. The first four rounds of the championship are all played at campus sites, while the championship game will be played on Friday, January 18, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.

The Wildcats have made eight previous playoff appearances under head coach Andy Talley. The program earned playoff bids in 1989, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2008 and 2009. Villanova is 8-7 in the Division I Championship over the years, including two semifinal appearances and one national title.

FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS
All games played on Saturday, November 27

Western Illinois at Coastal Carolina Robert Morris at North Dakota State Lehigh at Northern Iowa South Carolina State at Georgia Southern

SECOND ROUND MATCHUPS
All games played on Saturday, Dec. 4

Western Illinois/Coastal Carolina at No. 1 Appalachian State VILLANOVA at Stephen F. Austin Southeast Missouri State at No. 5 Eastern Washington Robert Morris/North Dakota State at No. 4 Montana State Lehigh/Northern Iowa at No. 3 Delaware New Hampshire at Bethune Cookman Wofford at Jacksonville State South Carolina State/Georgia Southern at No. 2 William & Mary