Redhawks football team to gather to learn playoff fate

The public is invited to join the Southeast Missouri State football team Sunday to watch the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) selection show.

Southeast players, coaches and other staff members will gather at Outback Steakhouse. The 20-team FCS playoff field and pairings will be announced at 9 a.m. on ESPNU.

Doors at Outback Steakhouse, located at 101 Cape West Parkway, will open at 8:40 a.m.

There is no admission charge for the event. A breakfast buffet and beverages will be available for $10 per person.

Southeast, ranked 10th nationally, finished the regular season 9-2 overall and 7-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play. It can do no worse than gain a share of the program's first OVC championship.

Southeast will claim the outright title if fourth-ranked Jacksonville State (9-1, 6-1) loses at Tennessee Tech on Saturday in the Gamecocks' regular-season finale.

Even if Southeast doesn't earn the OVC's automatic playoff berth -- Jacksonville State gets that if it beats Tennessee Tech -- it virtually is assured of an at-large playoff bid. Southeast never has appeared in the playoffs on any level.

One projection has the Redhawks among the top 12 squads for the 20-team playoff field, which would mean a first-round bye.

The top 12 teams don't play their first playoff game until Dec. 4.

The bottom eight teams play the weekend of Nov. 27.