BOZEMAN -- The Montana State Bobcats are relatively new to the FCS playoff scene in recent years, but for the second straight year they are hosting in the postseason.
But before last season's victory over Incarnate Word, the Bobcats didn't win a playoff game since 2012. However, this year they are one of the hottest teams coming into the postseason.
They face a tough test in the Great Danes, who are in the second round of the FCS Playoffs for the first time in program history. Albany quarterback Jeff Undercuffler leads the FCS with 39 passing touchdowns.
Even though the Cats have been in this situation before and they are coming in as the favorite, they aren't getting complacent with the Great Danes.
"Thinking like, 'Oh, we've been here before, we've won a game, we got this.' We have to keep in mind that it's still a football game and whatever happens between the white lines determines the game," said MSU senior defensive end Bryce Sterk.
Last year, Montana State fell in the second round to eventual national champion North Dakota State, but Sterk says this year is different because the Cats are coming into Saturday with more experience and rest.
"I think the big thing that was our Achilles heel last year is we didn't get that bye week," said Sterk. "We were really tired, especially since -- if you remember last year, we had an early bye week in the season, so we were playing a lot of football back to back to back. Definitely getting this bye week was the biggest thing that we needed for a successful playoff run."
Montana State and Albany kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.
