KANSAS CITY, Mo - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 20-team field of the 69th NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) on Sunday, November 17. 

The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Cougars earned the 18 seed and will travel to No. 15 Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan. on Saturday, November 23.

2024 NAIA Football Championship Series Qualifiers

ADMISSION

• Gates will open at 10 a.m., no online tickets are available, cash/credit card payments will be available at each gate.
• No passes accepted. No reserved seating.
• General admission $15 each

GAME NOTES

• The 2024 championship series field enters the first round of the playoffs with a 176-30 record, good for an 85.4 winning percentage.
• USF concluded the regular season with a record of 8-3, 4-1. Saint Francis claimed their record-extending 14th MSFA title and their first-ever Midwest League title this season. The Cougars also held the tiebreaker over Marian to earn the MSFA Midwest automatic bid to the NAIA playoffs. This will be the Cougars' 20th appearance in the NAIA FCS. USF last qualified for the playoffs during the 2019 campaign. 
• Southwestern has an overall record of 10-1. The Moundbuilders compete in the Dr. Ted Kessinger Division of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference where they tied for first with a record of 4-1. Southwestern earned an At-Large bid into the playoffs. The Moundbuilders last qualified back in 2022. 
• The Cougars have scored 459 total points this season with 5,142 total yards of offense for an average of 467.5 yards per game. USF leads the NAIA in passing touchdowns with 45. 
• USF has made 750 tackles this season and finished the regular season with 17 interceptions and 10 forced fumbles. The Saint Francis defense is also tied for first nationally in sacks with 41 and fumble recoveries with 14. 
• The Moundbuilders have scored 474 total points this season with 5,245 total yards of offense for an average of 476.8 yards per game. 
• The Southwestern defense has made 647 tackles and finished the regular season with 28 sacks and 24 interceptions. 
• USF quarterback Joshua Kulka is tied for second in the NAIA with Southwestern quarterback Braden Howell in passing touchdowns with 36 each. Moundbuilder wide receiver Matthew Holthusen is tied for third in the nation in receiving touchdowns with 14.

Cougar fans can stay updated on all events and recaps with USF Athletics by visiting saintfranciscougars.com.