Stephen F. Austin Will Host Defending Champion Villanova Dec. 4
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -Stephen F. Austin, which won its second consecutive Southland Conference championship on Saturday, received an opening-round bye and will play host to defending Villanova, the defending NCAA champion, in the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs Dec. 4 at Homer Bryce Stadium, the NCAA announced on ESPNU on Sunday.
This season marks the first time in program history the Lumberjacks (9-2, 6-1 Southland Conference) have won back-to-back conference titles. SFA, which has a 7-5 record in the playoffs, also made the appearances in 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995 and 2009.
"I'm extremely excited about getting the opportunity of playing the defending national champions at our place," SFA coach J.C. Harper said. "In my opinion, it could be any better than having the opportunity of playing a top quality opponent, like Villanova, at Homer Bryce Stadium. This is an exciting time for Stephen F. Austin and Nacogdoches, Texas."
The game against the Wildcats (7-4, 5-3 Colonial Athletic Association), which earned one of 10 at-large teams in this year's expanded playoff field, is slated for a 2:30 p.m., CST, kickoff and will be televised on ESPN GamePlan and ESPN3.com. It is the second year in a row that SFA has hosted a playoff game at Homer Bryce Stadium.
The Lumberjacks won three consecutive games to close out the year and earn their first outright conference title since the 1989 season. The Wildcats also enter the playoffs on a high note after knocking off top-ranked Delaware in overtime, 28-21, on the road.
Playoff tickets will go sale Monday beginning at 10 a.m. through SFA Ticket Office, and prices range from $5 - $24. Students and children's general admission are $5, while general admission for adults is $13. Reserved seats can be purchased for $16, and chair back seats are $24.
Tickets can be purchased through the ticket office at (936) 468-JACK, or through the SFA Athletics web site at www.sfajacks.com.