For the first time since 2008, the University of Maine is headed to the Football Championship Series playoffs.

The Black Bears, ranked 13th in The Sports Network/Fathead.com Top 25 FCS poll, will face No. 9 Appalachian State in the second round of the playoffs on Dec. 3 in Boone, N.C.

The playoffs begin with the first round next Saturday.

The Black Bears are coming off of a 30-27 loss to rival New Hampshire on Saturday. They have lost two of their last three to finish the regular season at 8-3, 6-2 in the Colonial Athletic Conference.

This will be Maine’s fourth appearance in the FCS playoffs (2001, 2002 and 2008).

Perhaps best known for its upset victory over Michigan in 2007, Appalachian State is making its seventh consecutive appearance in the FCS playoffs, a run which started with three national titles in a row in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Maine was one of five CAA teams to reach the playoffs, the most of any conference to send teams to the 20-team tournament. Four of those teams were among the 10 at-large teams added by the NCAA selection committee.

New Hampshire and CAA champion Towson also received first-round byes. UNH (8-3), which will meet No. 7 Montana State, and Towson (9-2), which will host Lehigh. Both of those games are in the second round.

Headed to the first round are James Madison and Old Dominion, which is coached by former Maine assistant and Madison native Bob Wilder.

Sam Houston State, the only remaining unbeaten team in the FCS (11-0), earned the No. 1 seed.

Ticket information is available on by calling 581-BEAR or (800) 756-TEAM.