The Missouri Valley Football Conference tied an NCAA record with five selections to the FCS Playoffs.

The MVFC also had five bids in 2014 and 2015, while the Colonial Athletic Association accomplished the feat in 2007, 2008 and 2011.

North Dakota State (2), the automatic qualifier after winning the league title, and South Dakota State (5) received first-round byes as top-8 seeds.

Northern Iowa, Western Illinois and South Dakota – for the first time in its Division I era – also made the 24-team field.

It marks the eighth FCS Playoffs appearance for the Bison, who won five consecutive championships between 2011-15. NDSU advanced to the quarterfinals in 2010 and the semifinals in 2016, falling 27-17 to eventual champion and this season’s top-seed James Madison.

NDSU is 24-2 in the postseason, including 18-1 at home.

The Jackrabbits have qualified seven times, including each of the past six seasons.

SDSU had four notable program firsts a year ago – first-round bye, second-round home game, second-round win and quarterfinal appearance. The Jackrabbits beat Villanova 10-7 in the second round but fell 36-10 to the Bison in the Fargodome.

SDSU is 4-6 (2-0 home) in the FCS Playoffs.

The Panthers extended their league record with their 19th playoff bid. They are 22-18 all-time, including a 17-5 mark at home.

UNI has been to the semifinals seven times and advanced to the final in 2005, falling 21-16 to Appalachian State.

The Leathernecks have qualified 11 times and own an all-time record of 7-10. They made it as far as the semifinals once – 1998.

This is the 23rd consecutive season the MVFC has had at least two bids. It has had 19 teams qualify in the past four years.

The Valley has seven national champions and 11 title game appearances.

In addition to NDSU’s five crowns, Youngstown State won the title in 1997 and Western Kentucky, which is now in the FBS, was victorious in 2002.

Overall, the Penguins are 4-3 in title games (1-2 as an MVFC member), including a 28-14 loss to the Dukes last year. They won three championships prior to joining the MVFC.

NDSU beat fellow league member Illinois State 24-21 in the 2014 final.

The Valley has 75 playoff qualifiers since forming in 1985.

Its overall record is 92-63 – third in wins behind the Southern Conference (106-70) and the Colonial (100-92). The FCS Playoffs began in 1978.

This decade, the MVFC is 44-19, while the CAA is second-best at 31-26.

Head-to-head in the FCS Playoffs, the Valley has a losing record against two conferences – Patriot League (2-3) and Southern (9-14). Notably, the MVFC is 16-12 versus the CAA, 17-13 against the Big Sky and 17-2 versus the Ohio Valley Conference.

The 2017 FCS Playoffs get underway Saturday.

Northern Iowa (7-4) plays host to Big South Conference runner-up Monmouth (9-2) at 4 p.m. in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The winner faces No. 5 South Dakota State (9-2) in the second round on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m. in Brookings

Western Illinois (8-3) takes on Big Sky Conference co-champion Weber State (9-2) at 3 p.m. in Ogden, Utah. The winner advances to take on No. 8 Southern Utah (9-2), the other Big Sky co-champ, on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. in Cedar City, Utah.

The Coyotes (7-4) match up with Nicholls State (8-3), which tied for third in the Southland, at 3 p.m. in Thibodaux, La. The winner then faces No. 6 seed and Southland runner-up Sam Houston State (10-1) on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m. in Huntsville, Texas.

No. 2 North Dakota State (10-1) plays host to the winner of the San Diego (9-2, Pioneer champ)/Northern Arizona (7-4, tie-third Big Sky) on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 2:30 p.m. in Fargo, N.D. The Toreros and Lumberjacks play at 7 p.m. in Flagstaff, Ariz.