Complete NCAA Bracket (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Wofford College will face James Madison on Saturday, November 29 in the first round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The game will mark the third time in the past six years that the Terriers have advanced to the Playoffs.
Wofford finished the season with a 9-2 overall record and were 7-1 in the Southern Conference for a second-place finish. This marks the Terriers third trip to the NCAA Playoffs and first as an at-large team. Last season the Terriers advanced to the second round after defeating Montana.
James Madison University (10-1) tops the bracket as the top seed after capturing the automatic qualifying berth from the Colonial Athletic Association. The Dukes, who won the 2004 national championship, are making their ninth tournament appearance. They have won ten-straight games and are ranked #1 in the nation.
Second-seeded Appalachian State University (10-2), the three-time defending Football Championship Subdivision national champion, is making its 16th appearance. The Mountaineers captured the Southern Conference automatic berth.
The University of Northern Iowa (10-2), which is making its 14th tournament appearance, is the number-three seed. The Panthers were the national runners-up to Appalachian State in 2005.
Rounding out this year’s seeded teams is the University of Montana (11-1) with the number- four seed. The Grizzlies, who won the 1995 and 2001 national championship, are making their 16th straight appearance and 19th overall.
Other first-round hosts include Cal Poly (8-2), University of Richmond (9-3), Missouri Valley Football Conference automatic qualifier Southern Illinois University (9-2), and Villanova University (9-2).
Other automatic qualifiers in the tournament include 2003 national runners-up Colgate University (9-2), which earned the automatic bid from the Patriot League. Eastern Kentucky University (8-3) was the automatic qualifier from the Ohio Valley Conference, while South Carolina State University (10-2) earned the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s automatic bid. Texas State University (8-4) was the automatic qualifier from the Southland Conference and Weber State University (9-3) was the automatic qualifier from the Big Sky Conference.
Other teams in the field are University of Maine (8-4), University of New Hampshire (9-2), Richmond University (9-3) and Wofford College (9-2).
For tickets, please call the Wofford College ticket office at 864-597-4090.
Quotes
Head Coach Mike Ayers
“Not a lot of difference from last year. Last year we had to face the number two team in Montana and we went out there. This year we moved up a notch and have number one in James Madison. They are an excellent program, no doubt about it. We have had an opportunity to see them on film and they are good. At the same time, I think we will have a chance. We will prepare hard this week and get our kids ready. Then we will go up there and play. We have not played those guys since I was an assistant here in the early eighties. A lot has changed for them and a lot has changed for us. I know that Mickey does a great job with his program and they have some outstanding athletes. They are a very similar team from a physical standpoint and an athletic standpoint as Appalachian State. We will have the work cut out for us, but we are in.”
On facing tough teams in the first round: “I am not sure how all of that works out when they get behind those closed doors. I can’t control that or worry about that. What I have to worry about is the preparation of our team.”
On the last three week’s games: “I think it has prepared us for this coming Saturday. The pressure is on, there is no doubt about that. It is a one and done deal. Like the previous three weeks, if we had lost anywhere along the way we probably would not be here. We finished 9-2 and I think we have an excellent football team. Quite frankly I think our football team has gotten better each week. I know we are a lot better now than we were early this season.”
On last year’s experience in Montana: “Our kids understand that this situation that we have with JMU, going on the road, opening game against the number one seed is similar to last year going to Montana and facing the number two team. It is very similar. I think the kids who went out there last year will benefit from it, but we have so many young kids on the football team that did not experience it. I think it will be a week of preparation, not only from a physical standpoint but from the mental standpoint, of getting our guys ready to play number one.”
Quarterback Ben Widmyer
On the match-up: “Your initial reaction is wondering how they do it. I don’t think they do it by seeds. James Madison is a great football team and a great challenge for us. You have to play great teams no matter who you play in the playoffs. We are just going to prepare for James Madison and go from there.”
On last year in the Playoffs: “I think the experience last year (at Montana) gave us confidence. If we can go out there to a great venue and a tough place to play, one of the toughest in the FCS, and come away with a win, it proves that we can go anywhere and compete with anyone.”
On James Madison: “I know that they beat App and played a lot of close games. They won ten games, and to win ten games you have to be a great football team. It will be a good challenge for us.”
On the play of Wofford right now: “We played a real good game against Elon and struggled a bit against Appalachian State. I think we have regained our momentum and are heading into the playoffs with some good stuff.”