The Illinois State University (9-2) football team is the number two seed after finishing as the co-champion of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
The Redbirds, the runner-up in last year’s national championship game, are making their sixth appearance in the championship.
The Panthers of Eastern Illinois will play Missouri Valley Conference member Northern Iowa Saturday evening at 5 pm with the winner to move on to face sixth seeded Portland State.
As for Western Illinois, they will face Dayton, and the winner to face Illinois State.
Jacksonville State is the number-one overall seed.
>>Illinois State Blanks South Dakota in Regular Season Finale
Marshaun Coprich rushed for 251 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns in a snowstorm as Illinois State blanked South Dakota 46-0 to claim a share of its second straight Missouri Valley Football Conference championship Saturday.
Tre Roberson ran for 121 yards and a touchdown as the Redbirds (9-2, 7-1) earned a share of the title with four-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State.
Leading just 3-0 after a quarter with a snowy gale blowing at their backs, the Redbirds scored 20 points into the wind in the second quarter and never looked back.
Coprich had 122 yards and two scores in the first half as the Redbirds took a 23-0 lead into halftime. Coprich's TD runs covered 12, 12, 45 and 74 yards.
Roberson completed just two passes in the game, but one was a 20-yard TD to Christian Gibbs with 2:49 left in the half to go up 16-0.
>>Seven Turnovers Allows Eastern Illinois To End Regular Season With Win
Malik Harrison and Jalen Whitlow each ran for one touchdown, and Eastern Illinois forced seven turnovers in a 21-7 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.
Whitlow opened the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. On Eastern Kentucky's first possession of the second half, Nick Horne returned a fumble for a 62-yard touchdown. Harrison's 9-yard touchdown run made it 21-0 with 4:35 left in the third.
Harrison had 13 carries for 79 yards for Eastern Illinois (7-4, 7-1 Ohio Valley). Whitlow was 8-of-21 passing for 72 yards and added 26 yards rushing.
Tyler Swafford threw for 99 yards and was intercepted four times for Eastern Kentucky (6-5, 5-3). Six of the Colonels' turnovers came in the second half, including two fumbles.
Tyrell Curry returned a blocked punt 35 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
>>Leathernecks Need Double-OT To Dispense South Dakota State
Sean McGuire ran for a touchdown in the second overtime to give Western Illinois a 30-24 win over South Dakota State on Saturday.
McGuire finished with 19-of-40 passing for 282 yards and a score for the Leathernecks (6-5, 5-3 Missouri Valley Conference). Nikko Watson ran for 178 yards and a touchdown. Devon Moore also ran for a score.
But it was McGuire's touchdown run in the second overtime that made the difference against the fifth-ranked Jackrabbits (8-3, 5-3).
With the score tied 24-24 in the second overtime, South Dakota State's Jay Carlson missed a 35-yard field goal, setting up McGuire's 7-yard keeper four plays later for the win.
Western Illinois trailed 10-3 at the break but Moore ran for a score late in the third quarter and McGuire threw for another early in the fourth to give the Leathernecks a 17-10 lead.
Zach Lujan was 21-for-37 for 246 yards for the Jackrabbits.
