GLVC Football Sends Two Teams to NCAA DII Playoff for First Time Ever
INDIANAPOLIS – Great Lakes Valley Conference champion Lindenwood University and the University of Indianapolis earned two of the seven Super Region Three berths to the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs Sunday evening, marking the first time in league history two teams have been selected to the playoff bracket.
The Lions (8-2) were selected to the postseason for the first time in school history, earning the final spot among the competing teams from the GLVC, GLIAC, GAC, and MIAA. The Lions will take on fifth-ranked, second-seeded, and GAC Champion Ouachita Baptist (11-0) on Saturday, Nov. 23, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
The Greyhounds (9-1) will be making a program-first third consecutive trip to the postseason after securing what essentially amounts to the No. 5 seed. UIndy’s reward is a 450-mile road trip to fourth-seeded Central Missouri. The previously-unbeaten Mules (10-1) endured their first and only loss in the season finale Saturday, falling on the road to rival Northwest Missouri State. The first-round matchup is set for this upcoming Saturday in Warrensburg, Missouri.
UIndy will be making its third straight postseason trip and sixth in the last eight years. The Greyhounds also qualified in 2012, ’13, ’15, ’17 and ’18, with last fall featuring a first-round win against Fort Hays State, 38-27.
The top seed in SR3 (and corresponding first-round bye) went to the undefeated champions of the GLIAC, Ferris State (10-0). The winner of the UIndy/UCM matchup will head to Ferris State for a second-round clash Saturday, Nov. 30.
The other contest in the SR3 bracket will pit No. 3 seed Northwest Missouri State against Harding (10-1).
The GLVC will also field a third team in the postseason as the league is partnering with the G-MAC to battle in the inaugural America’s Crossroads Bowl, which will take place Dec. 7 at Brickyard Stadium in Hobart, Indiana. An official announcement regarding the bowl matchup will be made at noon ET on Monday, Nov. 18.
