Official FCS Bracket
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University's football team will face Sam Houston, the second overall seed, in the first round of the 2020-21 NCAA FCS Playoffs, the organization announced on Sunday during a live broadcast on ESPNU.
 
"We are excited about the opportunity to play in the FCS national playoffs for the third time in the last four years," said Monmouth Head Coach Kevin Callahan. "I think that is an indication as where we are as a football program and I know our guys are looking forward to playing next weekend."
 
It will be the first meeting between the two schools, with the Hawks ranked 12^th in the most recent STATS Perform media poll and the Bearkats ranked 5^th. Monmouth earned the Big South automatic bid after going 3-0 in conference plays this Spring, winning their games by an average of 24 points. The Hawks feature the nation's fifth-ranked scoring offense into the game at 41.7 ppg and the 18^th ranked defense, allowing just 17.7. Monmouth's defense will be charged with keeping the high powered Bearkats offense in check but the Hawks as a unit rank first in team sacks and second in turnover margin among FCS schools
 
Sam Houston is making its 12^th appearance in the FCS playoffs and its first since 2017. The Kats are 13-0 all-time in FCS Playoff games played at Bowers Stadium.  The Bearkats won the Southland Conference championship after going 6-0 and defeating three ranked opponents along the way. Sam Houston is fourth in scoring offense at 45.4 points per game and 20^th in scoring defense allowing 18.2 ppg in 2021.
 
It will be the third time in the last four years that the Hawks have made the NCAA FCS Playoff, with the Hawks winning a first-round game against Holy Cross in 2019, falling in the second round to eventual runner-up James Madison. The Hawks made their first trip to the NCAAs as an At-Large in 2017.
 
The game is slated for 12 PM eastern and will air on ESPN3. The winner of that game will take on the winner of North Dakota State and Eastern Washington.