As expected, UNI has received its first at-large bid to the NCAA's Football Championship Sub-Division (FCS) playoffs. The Panthers begin their post-season at home on Thanksgiving weekend.

UNI opens post-season play at 7 p.m. on Saturday against Stephen F. Austin (SFA), hosting the Lumberjacks the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

The Panthers learned that they were one of 16 at-large teams selected for the playoffs this morning (Sunday, November 23, 2014). Players, coaches and fans gathered inside the Dome to watch the selection show on the stadium's jumbo-tron when the 24-team field was announced during an hour-long broadcast on ESPNU.

"I'm glad we're playing this Saturday and that we've got a home game," Coach Mark Farley said afterward. "To me, the most important thing was to get in and get in position to get the first win. We've got somebody to start studying now."

SFA (8-4) was one of three Southland Conference teams to earn a bid to the playoffs. This will be the Lumberjacks' seventh post-season appearance and their first since 2010.

"Stephen F. Austin has always been a good football program," Farley said. "We know the name and know they're a strong program. If they're in the playoffs, they're good."

SFA has a 7-6 (.538) playoff record, including a run to the national championship game in 1989. Saturday will mark the first playoff meeting between the Lumberjacks and UNI, but the teams have faced each other nine times during the regular season. The teams last played in 2011, a 34-23 win by UNI in Nacogdoches, Texas.

UNI is 6-3 (.666) all-time against SFA, including a 3-2 mark at the UNI-Dome.

"A home game is big," Farley said. "To be home and get started in the playoffs with a home game is very important to create some momentum, and sustain the momentum we have."

The Panthers (8-4) enter the playoffs on a five-game winning streak after starting the season 3-4. Two of their victories during the streak were against Illinois State and three-time defending FCS national champion North Dakota State, both unbeaten at the time.

UNI has made 17 previous playoff appearances, including a run to the national title game in 2005. The Panthers have won at least one playoff game in 12 of their previous 16 appearances, including a playoff win in eight of their last nine appearances. They have 19 post-season victories all-time.

The Panthers were among five teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference MVFC) selected for the 2014 playoffs, an all-time high for the league. North Dakota State received the MVFC's automatic bid, while UNI, Illinois State, Indiana State and South Dakota State all got at-large berths.

This season marks the first time that UNI is going to the playoffs as an at-large qualifier.

"It's unbelievable," Farley said, referring to the Panthers' post-season history. "I don't think anybody can explain that. Whether you're sitting on the chairs of these committees or you're from UNI or anywhere in the country, try to explain that. That's hard to do. It's hard to believe that it hasn't happened before."

More From K92.3