Mankato, Minn.  --- For the fifth time in school history, the Minnesota State football team has earned a berth into the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The third-seeded Mavericks open the 24-team tournament Saturday when they host sixth-seeded Hillsdale.  The game marks the first-ever playoff game to be played in historic Blakeslee Stadium.

"We are very excited about being in the playoffs," said head coach Todd Hoffner.  "We think this is a golden opportunity for Minnesota State University and Maverick Athletics.  I know the guys are excited, they are very happy to be playing and not turning in their pads."

Minnesota State is 2-4 in six playoff games.  Last season, MSU qualified for the playoffs for first time in 15 years and fell in the opening round at Ashland, 27-16. 

MSU's two playoff wins came in 1991 when it downed North Dakota State, 27-7 and in 1993 when it downed Missouri Southern State, 34-13. 

The Mavericks finished the regular season with a 10-1 record en route to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division Championship.

Minnesota Duluth is the top seed in the Super Region and is followed by Grand Valley State.  Both UMD and GVSU will receive first-round byes.  Minnesota State is the #3 seed, followed by Nebraska-Kearney (#4), Saginaw Valley (#5) and Hillsdale (#6).  The winner of the Minnesota State and Hillsdale game plays at Grand Valley State on Nov. 21.

Beginning Monday, fans can purchase tickets in advance for Saturday's game by logging onto www.MSUMaverickTickets.com

Game time for Saturday's contest against Hillsdale is Noon, CST. 

Minnesota State In The Playoffs

Date	Opponent	Location	Result
11/28/1987	Portland, Ore.	Portland, Ore.	L, 27-21
11/23/1991	North Dakota State	Fargo, N.D.	W, 27-7
11/30/1991	Portland State	Portland, Ore.	L, 37-27
11/20/1993	Missouri Southern State	Joplin, Mo.	W, 34-13
11/27/1993	North Dakota	Grand Forks, N.D.	L, 54-21
11/15/2008	Ashland	Ashland, Ohio	L, 27-16

To listen to Coach Hoffner's comments about the playoffs, click HERE

To listen to redshirt freshman Jake Aberg speak about the playoffs, click HERE

To view the complete NCAA Division II Playoff Bracket, click HERE

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