Southeastern Louisiana’s seniors will get another opportunity to play in Strawberry Stadium after all.
The Lions (9-3, 7-1) earned the No. 16 seed in the Division-I FCS playoff bracket released Sunday morning and will host Illinois State (8-4) at noon Saturday.
The winner will advance to face top-seeded North Dakota State (12-0), the defending national champion, in Fargo, N.D., on Dec. 6.
Southeastern Louisiana will participate in the tournament for that first time since 2022, the third time in the past five years and the fourth time in coach Frank Scelfo’s eight-year tenure.
Scelfo and company finished the regular season and undefeated 6-0 at home, including Thursday’s 38-26 defeat of Nicholls State (4-8, 4-4) in the River Bell Classic — the first time since 2018 the home team has won the annual rivalry matchup.
The victory help wrap up a résumé that earned second place in the Southland Conference standings, an at-large bid into the postseason and the final first-round home game in the bracket.
Conference champion Stephen F. Austin (10-2, 8-0) is the No. 7 seed and will enjoy a bye while awaiting the winner between No. 10 Abilene Christian (8-4) and Lamar (8-4, 5-3), the Southland’s third team in the field.
———— TEAM LEADERS ————
PASSING
SLU — Carson Camp: 128/205, 1674 yards, 14 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
ISU — Tommy Rittenhouse: 219/338, 2345 yards, 28 touchdowns, 5 interceptions
RUSHING
SLU — Deantre Jackson (Edna Karr): 83 carries, 566 yards, 7 touchdowns
ISU — Victor Dawson: 152 carries, 758 yards, 3 touchdowns
RECEIVING
SLU — Jaylon Domingeaux (Comeaux): 46 receptions, 779 yards, 11 touchdowns
ISU — Daniel Sobkowicz: 49 receptions, 686 yards, 11 touchdowns
TACKLES
SLU — K.K. Reno (Catholic-New Iberia): 119 tackles, 42 solo, 77 assists, 10 for loss, 2 sacks
ISU — Tye Niekamp: 126 tackles, 63 solo, 63 assists, 12 for loss, 1 sack
SACKS
SLU — Kaleb Proctor (Oak Grove): 8 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 38 tackles
ISU — Garret Steffen: 3.5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, 41 tackles
INTERCEPTIONS
SLU – Ian Conerly-Goodly (Covington): 3 interceptions, 5 breakups, 48 tackles
ISU — Shadwel Nkuba II: 4 interceptions, 5 breakups, 67 tackles