FCS Playoffs: Vandals seeded eighth, will face Richmond or Lehigh in second round

From news services and local reports 

Coach Jason Eck hoped for a six seed, but the Vandals ended up seeded eighth when the 24-team FCS playoff field was announced Sunday. 

But the result was the same — a first-round bye this week, and a home game in the second round next weekend.  

Idaho (9-3) will play the winner of Saturday’s game pitting Lehigh (8-3) at No. 9 Richmond (10-2) on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. (ESPN+) at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.

The Vandals had three losses in 2024, with those teams having combined records of 33-2 overall (Oregon, Montana State, UC Davis). The playoff berth is the third straight for Idaho, all under Eck, which marks the longest stretch since earning four straight playoff appearances from 1992-95.  

Richmond started the season with losses over Virginia and Wofford, but since had rolled to 10 straight wins. The Spiders went 8-0 in the CAA to earn the outright championship title, but didn't play Rhode Island, Villanova or New Hampshire, the other three CAA teams in the playoffs.

Lehigh won the Patriot League title, finishing 8-3 overall and 5-1 in league play. Its losses came on the road at Army, at Yale and against Bucknell.

The two face off in Richmond at 11 a.m. Saturday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

If the Vandals win their second-round game, Idaho faces a likely return to Bozeman to face Montana State. 

Vandal season ticket holders have the first right of refusal and can claim their tickets at govandals.com/tickets. Ticket holders have until Wednesday at noon to claim their seats before they are released to the public.

Donors have stepped up to provide a limited number of free tickets to Idaho students. Details on how to claim the tickets will be released early this week. Students can secure their tickets now by purchasing a ticket for $10. 

Idaho was one of five Big Sky Conference teams selected, and one of three to earn first-round byes. 

Montana State earned the Big Sky’s first No. 1 seed since 2009, and UC Davis earned a fifth seed. 

Montana and Northern Arizona will play in the first round this weekend. 

Montana State (12-0) will play at home Saturday, Dec. 7, at noon vs. The winner of UT Martin and No. 16 New Hampshire. 

Montana State won its first outright Big Sky title since 2011. 

UC Davis (10-2) plays Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. vs. the winner of SE Missouri and No. 12 Illinois State. The playoff appearance is the first for UC Davis since 2021 and its first national seed since earning a No. 6 in 2018.  

Montana (8-4), the 14 seed, will play host to Eddie George-coached Tennessee State on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. PST on ESPN2.  

The playoff berth for the Grizzlies marks its total appearances to 28 overall. If the Grizzlies win Saturday, it will set up a rematch of last season's national title game in the second round as they would travel to No. 3 South Dakota State. 

Northern Arizona (8-4) will play at No. 15 Abilene Christian on Saturday at noon. Northern Arizona won its last five games to earn its first playoff berth since 2017. If the Lumberjacks win Saturday, they will travel to No. 2 North Dakota State in the second round next week. 

The Big Sky led all other FCS leagues for playoff bids in 2024, with the Big Sky's five selections topping the Missouri Valley (4), the CAA (4), the United Athletic (3) and the Big South-OVC (3) overall for the 24-team field.  

Four different Big Sky teams have earned the No. 1 seed since the FCS Playoffs began seeding in 1981. Montana has the most No. 1 seeds for a Big Sky team with four, while Nevada earned a No. 1 seed twice and Idaho (1988) claimed the top seed once.