CLEVELAND — After a two-year absence, Delta State is back in the playoffs.

The Statesmen (8-3) received a bid to the NCAA Division II football postseason on Sunday. They will be the No. 5 seed in Super Region II and go on the road to play Bowie State (9-1) in the first round. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. Saturday.

The Statesmen are making their second appearance in the postseason under coach Todd Cooley and their first since 2014. It’s the program’s ninth appearance in the playoffs.

“I’m extremely proud to have our program back in the NCAA playoffs,” Cooley said. “Our team had had to overcome a lot this year and I’m excited to have the opportunity to take these guys on the road to Bowie State.”

Twenty-one teams, including four from the Gulf South Conference, received playoff berths.

West Alabama (9-2) received the No. 1 seed and first round bye out of Super Region II. The winner of the Bowie State-Delta State game will travel to Livingston, Ala., for the second round.

The other GSC teams to get in were West Georgia and West Florida. West Georgia will play Virginia State, and West Florida will play Wingate in the first round.