Morningside gets first-round bye in NAIA championship field
The No.6-seeded Mustangs (10-1) received a first-round pass in the 20-team field, and will use the week to rest up and be fully ready to play Nov. 30.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – While it was known the Morningside University football team was going to earn a first-round bye in the NAIA Football Championship Series, it was a welcomed sight to see on Sunday.
The No.6-seeded Mustangs (10-1) received a first-round pass in the 20-team field, and will use the week to rest up and be fully ready to play Nov. 30. The Mustangs earned the bye by earning the GPAC automatic qualifying bid.
It's the 21st time Morningside has made the NAIA FCS, and it'll seek its fourth national championship.
"What's important during the bye week is to get better," Mustangs head coach Steve Ryan said. "They've gotten better each and every week."
The Mustangs have played seven straight weeks, with their bye coming during the first week in October.
Morningside enters the playoffs with the No. 1 offense in the NAIA by yardage. After a 56-3 win against Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday, the Mustangs have amassed 5,918 yards. They're also sixth in points per game (47.6).
Defensively, Morningside is seventh in fewest points allowed per game at 13.4 and fifth in rushing yards allowed per game at 76.3 ypg.