Four CAAFB Teams Receive FCS Playoff Berths

Four CAAFB Teams Receive FCS Playoff Berths

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Rob Washburn

2017 NCAA Division I Football Championship Bracket

RICHMOND, Va. (November 19, 2017) – For the fourth year in row, four CAA Football teams were chosen to the NCAA Division I Football Championship field on Sunday morning. CAA champion and automatic qualifier James Madison was joined by at-large selections Elon, New Hampshire and Stony Brook.

Defending FCS national champion James Madison (11-0) received the No. 1 overall seed and a first-round bye. The Dukes, who are making their fourth straight playoff appearance and 14th overall, will host either CAA foe Stony Brook or Lehigh at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 2.
Stony Brook (9-2) is making its first playoff appearance since 2012, first as a member of CAA Football and third overall. The Seawolves, who are riding a five-game winning streak, entertain Patriot League champion Lehigh (5-6) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Elon (8-3) received its first FCS playoff berth since 2009, first as a member of CAA Football and second overall. The Phoenix will be at home against Southern Conference member Furman (7-4) at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Elon picked up a 34-31 victory at Furman on Sept. 9.

New Hampshire (7-4) extended the nation’s longest FCS playoff streak with its 14th consecutive appearance and 18th overall. The Wildcats host Northeast Conference champion Central Connecticut State (8-3) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

All first and second-round FCS playoff games will be televised on ESPN3.

This marks the 10th time in CAA Football history that the league has sent at least four teams to the FCS playoffs. The conference has now had multiple postseason selections in 27 consecutive years, and at least three teams make the field in 12 straight seasons.

James Madison became the sixth CAA Football team to capture the FCS national championship last season. Over the last 12 years, seven league teams have reached the national title game and 13 have advanced to the national semifinals.

CAA Football’s four playoff selections were second only to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, which had five squads in the 24-team playoff field.

The NCAA Division I Football National Championship will take place at Noon (ET) on Jan. 6 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
 
2017 NCAA Division I Football Championship
First Round (Nov. 25)
Furman at Elon, 1 p.m. (ESPN3)
Lehigh at Stony Brook, 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
Central Connecticut State at New Hampshire, 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
 
Second Round (Dec. 2)
Lehigh/Stony Brook at #1 James Madison, 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
Furman/Elon at #7 Wofford, 2 p.m. (ESPN3)
Central Connecticut/New Hampshire at #4 Central Arkansas, 3 p.m. (ESPN3)