HAMILTON, N.Y. (11/25/08) – The #16 ranked Colgate football team (9-2) will open first round action in the NCAA FCS Division I Championship on Saturday, when the Raiders travel to #6 Villanova (9-2).  Kickoff is 1 p.m. at Villanova Stadium.

 

Colgate is making its eighth appearance in the playoffs, and first since the 2005 season.  The Raiders received the Patriot League’s automatic berth after defeating Holy Cross 28-27 Saturday for the league’s championship.  The eight playoff appearances are more than any other program in the Patriot League.

 

Colgate and Villanova will be meeting for the fifth time with the Wildcats leading the overall series, 3-1, including three straight wins. These two teams met once before in the playoffs with Villanova winning 49-28 in 1997.  Colgate’s only victory in the series was the first meeting in 1978, 20-14.

 

The Raiders come into the game riding an eight-game winning streak which trails only No. 1 James Madison and No. 2 Appalachian State in consecutive wins.  Villanova has won four straight games.

 

The winner of the Colgate-Villanova contest will face the winner of the matchup between Wofford and No. 1 seed James Madison in the quarterfinals.