FHSU Sports Information Department
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The much-anticipated matchup between Fort Hays State and Central Missouri next Saturday has been selected by the MIAA Television Network as the Game of the Week. Postseason opportunities will be on the line as the Tigers host the Mules Saturday (Nov. 14) at 2:30 pm.
The game was originally scheduled for 2 pm but has moved to 2:30 now that it will be televised. Check the chart at the bottom of this story for where to watch the game.
Looking at the standings a few weeks back, the Tigers and Mules have been on a collision course for a huge battle in the final week that has postseason implications for both teams. Central Missouri is currently tied for second in the MIAA with Emporia State at 8-2 while the Tigers are a game back at 7-3.
Fort Hays State will be looking for its first eight-win season since 1995 on Saturday. A win could also vault the Tigers into their first postseason game since the same year.
The Tigers were not in the most recent edition of the Super Region 3 Rankings, but they have been on the outside looking in and the No. 9 team in the region rankings lost Saturday. Find out Monday if the Tigers have cracked the region rankings. Central Missouri was No. 8 in the most recent poll. The top seven teams are selected to the NCAA Playoffs.
Even if the Tigers come up short of a playoff selection, a win could possibly secure a Bowl Game bid. The highest finisher in the MIAA standings that does not make the playoffs gets an automatic selection to the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Mo. A win would at least tie the Tigers for third place in the standings, and possibly second pending on what happens with Emporia State on Saturday when it hosts Nebraska-Kearney.
Last year, Central Missouri was selected at-large for the Texarkana Bowl. The Tigers pulled even with the Mules for fourth in the MIAA standings last year by defeating UCM in the final week 45-17. Missouri Western also tied for fourth. The selection was not automatic like the Mineral Water Bowl. In fact, among the three teams to tie for fourth last year at 7-4, Central Missouri went 0-2. Missouri Western may have been the most deserving of the selection since it defeated FHSU and UCM while the Tigers went 1-1 among the three-way tie. So, with that said, there is no guarantee of a bowl game outside of the team that gets the automatic selection to the Mineral Water Bowl.
A win Saturday should put the Tigers in a great position for a postseason opportunity. A loss would most likely leave the Tigers with no guarantees.
Channels That Carry MIAA TV Network Game of the Week
KSMO-TV (Kansas City) – 100% of KC’s DMA. Broadcast over the air on Channel 62. Check local cable/satellite programming guides for specific channel number.
Cox Channel KS – Channels 22 and 2022 (HD).
Cox Oklahoma – On Channel 703 in Oklahoma City and Chanel 1333 in the Tulsa Market.
KGCS-TV (Joplin) – Broadcast over the air on channel 22. It will also be available on Channel 6 for CableOne subscribers. Check other cable providers for availability/specific channel number.
News-Press NOW Channel (Northwest MO) – The News-Press NOW Channel is broadcast over the air on 26.2 and channel 3 and 603 (HD) on Suddenlink cable.
Eagle Communications (Western KS) – Channels 204 and 601 on Eagle Television. Channel 204 is in Eagle Digital package and 601 is in high definition.
Nex-Tech Television (Western KS) – Channels 109 and 609 on Nex-Tech Television. Channel 109 is in Nex-Tech’s Premiere package and 609 is in high definition