INDIANAPOLIS – The Central Washington University Football Team was announced as a participant in the 32-team NCAA Division II Football Championship field, announced Sunday afternoon.

The Wildcats (10-1) will face a familiar postseason opponent in the Western Colorado Mountaineers (9-2) for the third-straight first year in the first round only this time the Wildcats will be hosting. This will be the first playoff game in Ellensburg since November 25, 2017 when the 'Cats faced then Texas A&M-Commerce, now East Texas A&M. The first round of the playoffs will happen this Saturday, November 22 with more details to be announced later this week.
 
"We are honored and blessed to make our fourth national playoff in five years," CWU Head Football Coach Chris Fisk said. "Our kids and coaches have worked extremely hard to get here. We are excited to host Western Colorado Saturday in Tomlinson Stadium. We have a ton of respect for this program and have had some classic battles which I expect will be no different this Saturday."
 
The Wildcats were featured in all three regional rankings leading up to the announcement of the bracket landing in second in Super Region 4 in the final two which feature actual rankings.
 
Joining the Wildcats in the newly revamped Super Region 4 is top-seeded and Great American Conference champion Harding (11-0) who hosts co-MIAA Champion Northwest Missouri State (9-2). The winner of Harding and NWMSU will face the winner of the other co-MIAA Champion Pittsburg State (9-2) who hosts Chadron State (8-3). Joining the 'Cats and Mountaineers in the bottom half of the Super Region 4 bracket is RMAC Champion Colorado State-Pueblo (10-1) who hosts fellow Lone Star Conference member UT Permian Basin (9-2).
 
The 'Cats and Mountaineers have squared off in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments with both matchups happening in the first round and in Gunnison, Colorado. The two teams split with the 'Cats winning a thrilling 16-13 overtime victory two seasons ago before the Mountaineers stopped a CWU comeback 28-21 last season.
 
You can view the full NCAA bracket and selection show HERE