Bearkats Makes Return To FCS Playoffs

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Sam Houston State returns to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs for the third consecutive year as the Bearkats have been named as one of the 24 teams in the 2013 FCS bracket.

Sam Houston will play host to the Southern Utah State Thunderbirds from Cedar City, Utah, in an opening round game Saturday, Nov. 30, at 2 p.m. at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium.

Three Southland Conference teams are part of the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2001.

Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana is the No. 4 seed and league runner-up McNeese State is the No. 6 seed.

The winner of the Sam Houston versus Southern Utah game will travel to Hammond, La., to face the Lions on Saturday Dec. 7 in the second round.

McNeese will take on the winner of the Jacksonville State versus Samford matchup in the opening round.

Sam Houston is making its seventh FCS playoffs appearance. The Bearkats reached the national championship finals in both 2011 and 2012 in Frisco.

The Kats were semifinalists in 2004, quarterfinalists in 2001 and lost in the first round in 1986 and 1991.

Sam Houston is 6-0 at home in the FCS playoffs. The Bearkats own the longest current winning streak in FCS football, having won their last 21 contests at Bowers Stadium.

The complete line-up for the opening round Nov. 30:

South Carolina State vs. Furman
Winner faces No. 1 seed North Dakota State

Coastal Carolina vs. Bethune-Cookman
Winner faces No. 8 seed Montana

New Hampshire vs. Lafayette
Winner faces No. 5 seed Maine

SAM HOUSTON vs. Southern Utah
Winner faces No. 4 seed Southeastern Louisiana

Northern Arizona vs. San Diego State
Winner faces No. 3 seed Eastern Washington

Jacksonville State vs. Samford
Winner faces No. 6 seed McNeese State

Fordham vs. Sacred Heart
Winner faces No. 7 seed Towson

Butler vs. Tennessee State
Winner faces No. 2 seed Eastern Washington

About Cheval John

Cheval John is the Founder and CEO of Vallano Media, LLC, a marketing agency which helps small to mid-sized businesses use social media correctly to build a loyal following and in the process become more profitable. Cheval is also the host of "What's The Word?" a podcast about finding out what inspires people to choose their respective careers and how social media impacted their lives and business. He is the author of two books including the Amazon Best-Seller, "8 Lessons Every Podcaster Needs To Learn." He has spoken at Social Media Week Lima in Ohio and at Social Media Day Houston 2017 about topics around live streaming and podcasting. Cheval has been featured in media outlets including Ebony Magazine, Social Media Today and Forbes. He was named a Houston Top 25 Social Media Power Influencer (2016 and 2017) and a Twitter Top 50 Influencer by Onalytica in 2018.

We Welcome Your Comments