For the ninth consecutive season the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats have earned a spot in the NCAA Division II football playoffs and for the first time under Head Coach Adam Dorrel the Bearcats will host a first round game as the No. 4 seed in the Super Region Three bracket.

The Bearcats will host Harding University who finished 9-1 overall, 7-1 in the Great American Conference and earned the region’s No. 5 seed. Kickoff from Bearcat Stadium is set for noon as the two teams will meet for the first time in program history. The Bearcats dropped one spot in the rankings after losing the MIAA regular season title to Missouri Western on Saturday. The winner of the Northwest-Harding game will play at Minnesota State Mankato on Nov. 24, while Henderson State will host either Missouri Western or Minnesota Duluth in the regional semifinals. The regional final will be the following Saturday, Dec. 1 at the highest remaining seed.