CHARLESTON, Ill.  – Eastern Illinois football will find out its opponent and first game location this Sunday, Nov. 18 as the selections for the 2012 FCS playoffs are announced live on ESPNU at 12:30 p.m.  The football team will watch the selection show from the EIU Student Rec. Center on campus.  The public is welcome to join the selection viewing with doors opening to the EIU Student Rec. Center at 12 Noon.

EIU will be making its 14th FCS playoff appearance after winning the Ohio Valley Conference title last weekend with a 39-20 win over Southeast Missouri.  The Panthers finished the conference season at 6-1 and will wrap up the regular season this Saturday evening with a 5 p.m. game at Central Arkansas.  EIU is 7-3 overall and ranked No. 24 in this week's FCS Top 25 poll.

The Panthers are under the direction of first year head coach Dino Babers who has led the program from a last place finish in 2011 to a first place finish this season in the OVC.  The Panthers offense is led by two Walter Payton Award candidates – junior quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and junior wide receiver Erik Lora.  The defense has been sparked by the play of four senior defensive lineman – Artavious Dowdell, Roosevelt Holliday, Greg Mahan and Pat Wertz.