Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine football team (8-3, 7-1) earned the Colonial Athletic Association's (CAA) automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs via winning the league's outright title. On Sunday, the Black Bears learned that they have earned the No. 7 seed in the 2018 NCAA FCS tournament and will host the winner of Jacksonville State and East Tennessee in the second round on Saturday, Dec. 1 at noon at Alfond Stadium.

The announcement was made on the NCAA FCS Selection Show Sunday morning on ESPNU.

Maine, which earns a bye through the first round, will return to the NCAA FCS playoffs for the first time since 2013. In 2013, the Black Bears earned the No. 5 overall seed and hosted New Hampshire in the second round, falling to the No. 15 Wildcats, 41-27. Maine's last win in the NCAA playoffs came in 2011 when it defeated Appalachian State, 34-12 in the second round before falling at Georgia Southern in the NCAA quarterfinals.

Maine is 3-7 all-time in the NCAA FCS playoffs and have appeared in the postseason seven previous times (1987, '89, 2001, '02, '08, '11, '13).

The Black Bears' resume is a strong one as they finished the regular season with five wins over ranked opponents to go along with a road victory over Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Western Kentucky. Maine, which finished the year 4-0 at home, racked up its most league wins (7) and most overall wins (8) since 2013.

Tickets for Maine's postseason game will go on sale Monday, Nov. 19 at 8:30 a.m. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 207.581.BEAR, by visiting the Athletic Ticket office located at Alfond Arena during normal business hours (8:30-4:00 p.m.) or online at GoBlackBears.com/tickets. Ticket prices for the postseason will remain the same as they were for the regular season at $35 (Gold seating, chairbacks), $25 (Blue seating, bleachers) and $15 (White seating, bleachers near the end zones in grandstand). Day of game tickets will increase $5 per seat.

Season membership tickets holders will have priority for their seats but must purchase those seats by 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23. Following the Nov. 23 deadline, those seats will be made available for purchase to the general public.

Per NCAA guidelines, complimentary tickets are not available. However, the Office of Student Affairs will purchase tickets for students so they may attend the game free of charge. Students may present their MaineCard at the Athletic Ticket Office to obtain their ticket in advance if they choose. If availability allowed, student tickets can also be picked up on gameday. Student tickets are limited and are reserved on a first come, first serve basis.

-UMaine-