Appalachian State set to open FCS playoffs against South Carolina State

INDIANAPOLIS - Three-time defending national champion Appalachian State will open the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs Saturday at home against South Carolina State, while top-seeded James Madison will face Wofford.

Second-seeded Appalachian State (10-2) earned the Southern Conference's automatic berth for its 16th playoff appearance. James Madison (10-1), the Colonial Athletic Association champion, won the 2004 national title.

South Carolina State and Wofford are both 9-2.

Also Saturday, third-seeded Northern Iowa will play Maine (8-4), and fourth-seeded Montana (11-1) will open against Texas State (8-4). Montana, the 1995 and 2001 national champions, is making its 16th straight appearance and 19th overall.

In the other pairings announced Sunday, it will be: Colgate (9-2) at Villanova (9-2); Weber State (9-3) at Cal Poly (8-2); Eastern Kentucky (8-3) at Richmond (9-3); and New Hampshire (9-2) at Southern Illinois (9-2).

Pairings:

Wofford (9-2) at No. 1 James Madison (10-1)

South Carolina State (10-2) at No. 2 Appalachian State (10-2)

Maine (8-4) at No. 3 Northern Iowa (10-2)

Texas State (8-4) at No. 4 Montana (11-1)

Eastern Kentucky (8-3) at Richmond (9-3)

Colgate (9-2) at Villanova (9-2)

Weber State (9-3) at Cal Poly (8-2)

New Hampshire (9-2) at Southern Illinois (9-2)