Athlon Sports projects ISU football as at-large playoff team in 2016

Posted on June 14, 2016

Hancock Stadium was the host site for a pair of FCS Playoff games in 2015. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – The Illinois State football team has been projected by Athlon Sports to be an at-large bid for the 2016 FCS Playoffs.

The prediction would be mean a third straight playoff appearance for the Redbirds. ISU was able to grab the second overall seed in 2015, but fell in the quarterfinals to Richmond, which has also been projected as a 2016 playoff team.

Illinois State is one of six Missouri Valley Football Conference teams projected for the playoffs. That would be a record for most teams qualifying from a single conference.

North Dakota State is predicted to gain an automatic qualification as the conference champions. South Dakota State, Western Illinois, Youngstown State, and Northern Iowa were all projected for at-large bids.

ISU kicks off its season Sep. 3 with a home contest against Valparaiso. The full FCS Playoff projections can be seen here.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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