2012 FCS football playoff bracket: Illinois State, Eastern Illinois make postseason

The Illinois State Redbirds and the Eastern Illinois Panthers were both selected to play in the FCS playoffs on the FCS selection show Sunday.

In the first round in the bracket of 20 teams, the No. 25 Panthers open at No. 19 South Dakota State on Saturday with the victor advancing to face the No. 1 overall seed North Dakota State Bison. The Bison are 10-1 on the year.

No. 16 Illinois State will get a first-round bye and open its playoff seasons against No. 7 Appalachian State on Saturday, Dec. 1. With a 8-3 record on the year, an upset for the Redbirds in the second round would advance them to a quarterfinal round where they could face No. 2 overall seed Eastern Washington if the Eagles take care of the first-round winner in the Wagner and Colgate game.

Montana State was the No. 3 seed, Old Dominion came in fourth and Georgia Southern rounded out the top-five.