For the first time in conference history, the Ivy League will compete in the FCS playoffs.
Yale and Harvard earned bids to the 24-team field announced Sunday night via ESPN, marking a significant shift for a conference that long abstained from postseason football.
Yale (8-2), which beat Harvard on Saturday to claim the Ivy title, will travel to Youngstown State (8-4) in the first round. Harvard (9-1) secured an at-large spot and will visit Villanova (9-2). Both programs enter the bracket amid one of the strongest fields in recent years.
Defending champion North Dakota State (12-0) was awarded the No. 1 seed, topping a record-tying six Missouri Valley Football Conference teams in the tournament. The Bison extended their winning streak to 16 games with a 62-7 win over St. Thomas-Minnesota.
The 11 conference champions and 13 at-large selections open play Saturday, with the top eight seeds receiving byes. The championship is set for Jan. 5 in Nashville.
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