For the third time in the last five years, UIW is in the FCS playoffs. The Cardinals earned one of the top eight seeds and a first round bye for the first time in program history when the bracket was released on Sunday.

The Cardinals will host the winner of the Elon at Furman contest at 1 p.m. on Dec. 3. UIW finished the regular season with a 10-1 record and a share of the program’s third Southland Conference title following a 66-7 thrashing of Northwestern State.

It’s been a remarkable season for the Cardinals in G.J. Kinne’s first season at the helm. The offense is averaging 52.9 points per game behind the dynamic playmaking ability of quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. and a talented receiving corps averaging 383 yards per game. The Cardinals rushing attack is equally impressive, averaging 199 yards per contest.

While the offense has gained most of the headlines, UIW has one of the top scoring defenses in the country, allowing a paltry 19.1 points per game. In addition, the defense is averaging 3.5 sacks per game and has excelled on third down allowing the opposition to convert only 34.4 percent of third down attempts.

Linebacker Kelechi Anyalebechi leads the team with 88 tackles, while defensive lineman Steven Parker has terrorized the opposition with a team leading 10.5 tackles for loss. Fellow defensive lineman Chris Whittaker leads the Cardinals with 7.7 sacks.

The top overall seed is South Dakota State, followed by Sacramento State, who could host UIW in the quarterfinals. Perennial power and reigning national champions North Dakota State is the third seed, while Montana State earned the fourth seed. William & Mary is the fifth seed, Samford is sixth, with Holy Cross making the eighth and final seed.