Of the 94 NAIA football programs, 20 will compete for the so-called “Red Banner”, awarded by the NAIA to the national champion in each of its 29 sanctioned sports, in the 70th Football National Championship. That number increased from 16 for the 2023 season, and with the larger field came a different criteria for the selection committee.

Barring a surprise, No. 22 Saint Francis (7-2, 2-1 MSFA Midwest League) will need to earn one of seven at-large berths, as Marian (8-1, 3-0) holds a one-game lead and the tiebreaker over the Cougars for the Midwest League’s automatic berth. USF can bolster its chances for a return trip to the playoffs with a win in Joliet, Illinois, Saturday against Saint Francis (Ill.) (3-5, 1-2).

“I’m hoping that we’re starting to push our way toward peaking at the rig

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