Slipping into the field before the bracket window closed means the Redbirds will play on the road. The one-loss-and-it's-over adventure begins Saturday against No. 14-ranked University of Central Arkansas in a 2 p.m. first-round game at Estes Stadium.
"We definitely think we deserve to be in it," said ISU quarterback Jake Kolbe. "We think we're better than our record. But we've got to prove that."
ISU stood at 2-4 through six games and regrouped to win four of its final five. The late-season charge and a September win over Big Ten Conference member Northwestern impressed the selection committee enough for a bid.