Tonight, the NAIA announced their playoff field and first round matchups.
The format is new this year, with 20 teams making the field and the top 12 teams getting a first-round bye. The previous iteration had just 16 teams qualify.
Of the 20 teams, ten played in the NAIA playoffs last year, and six of the teams in the field have won a combined 13 titles.
Two leagues - The Frontier and Great Plains Athletic Conference - both got three teams into the field.
The top 12 teams, and their seeds, that will receive a bye in the first round are:
1 - Northwestern (IA)
2 - Grand View (IA)
3 - Keiser (FL)
4 - Georgetown (KY)
5 - Marian (IN)
6 - Indiana Wesleyan
7 - Bethel (TN)
8 - Montana Western
9 - Evangel (MO)
10 - Morningside (IA)
11 - College of Idaho
12 - Saint Xavier (IL)
The complete field features two schools that are playing postseason NAIA football for the first time, in St. Thomas (FL) and Louisiana Christian. St. Thomas just added football in 2019.
While the NAIA hasn't released an actual bracket that can be found anywhere yet, there have provided a listing of first round games.
Those are:
St. Thomas (FL) vs Reinhardt (GA)
Montana Tech vs. Dickinson State (ND)
Dordt (IA) vs. Ottawa (KS)
Baker (KS) vs. Louisiana Christian
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest, and we will provide a bracket as soon as one is made available.