The TSU Tigers (11-0) and the Aggies (10-1, 8-0 MEAC) will enter the playoffs as automatic qualifiers. Tennessee State won the Ohio Valley Conference title while A&T claimed the MEAC crown.
The FAMU Rattlers received an at-large entry for the third consecutive yearafter finishing the regular season at 8-3 overall and 7-1 in the MEAC. For the first time since 1994, all 16 teams have previous Division I-AA tournament experience.
Tennessee State will be making its second straight appearance and fifth overall. N.C. A&T will be making its third appearance, while Florida A&M will make its fifth trip.
Last year, Tennessee State visited Appalachian State and lost 45-31. FAMU hosted and won their first-round game over Southland Conference member Troy State 27-17 in Tallahassee.
Tennessee State is 2-4 in playoff action with victories over Eastern Illinois (1982) and Jackson State (1986). Florida A&M is 3-3 in playoff action. They went 2-0 in their national championship year beating Jackson State, 15-10, and Massachusetts, 35-28. Only four teams participated in the inaugural Division I-AA Playoffs.
Since that time, the Rattlers have been 1-3 beating Troy State, 27-17 in Tallahassee, last year.
N.C. A&T is winless in the playoffs having lost to Georgia Southern, 52-21, in 1986 and The Citadel, 44-0, in 1992.
Conferences receiving automatic-qualifying berths were the Atlantic-10Conference, Big Sky Conference, Gateway Football Conference, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Patriot League, SouthernConference and the Southland Football Conference.
Following are the seeds and match-ups for the first round ofcompetition to be played Saturday, November 27. The 1999 NCAA Division I-AAChampionship game is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. (EST), Saturday, December18, at W. Max Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
| >The 1999 Championship Field of 16 consists of: | |
|---|---|
| >Automatic Qualifiers: (8) | |
| Team | Conference |
| Colgate | Patriot League |
| Furman | Southern Conference |
| Illinois State | Gateway Football Conference |
| James Madison | Atlantic 10 Conference |
| Montana | Big Sky Conference |
| N.C. A&T State | Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference |
| Tennessee State | Ohio Valley Conference |
| Troy State | Southland Football Conference |
| >At-Large Qualifiers: (8) | |
| Team | Conference |
| Appalachian State | Southern Conference |
| Florida A&M | Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference |
| Georgia Southern | Southern Conference |
| Hofstra | Independent |
| Lehigh | Patriot League |
| Massachusetts | Atlantic 10 Conference |
| Northern Arizona | Big Sky Conference |
| Youngstown State | Gateway Football Conference |
