BOZEMAN – Montana State has received a first-round bye in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and will host a second-round game on Dec. 4 at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman.
Meanwhile, the University of Montana, 7-4, has been left out of the playoffs for the first time in 18 years.
The NCAA announced the pairings Sunday.
Montana State earned a spot in the 20-team tournament after compiling a 9-2 record. The Bobcats will play the winner of Saturday’s game between Robert Morris (8-2) and North Dakota State (7-4).
The other Big Sky Conference team to make the playoffs is Eastern Washington, 9-2. It also received a first-round bye and will host Southeast Missouri State (9-2) on Dec. 4.