The clock for Saint Francis’ 63-20 Senior Day victory over Judson at Bishop D’Arcy Stadium ticked to 0:00 right around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The Cougars then had nearly 28 agonizing hours to await word on whether or not they had been selected for an at-large berth in the 70th annual NAIA Football Championship Series. USF made its return to the NAIA postseason last year for the first time since 2019 after winning the MSFA Midwest League’s automatic bid.

Inside the Parkview Physicians Group Auditorium at Saint Francis’ Achatz Hall of Science, the players and coaches gathered Sunday evening to watch the selection show. When rival Marian, this year’s Midwest League champion, was announced as the No. 6 seed, a chorus of boos rang out. A second round of boos arrived when another MSFA team, Mideas

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