Incarnate Word football has opted out of its game against Iowa State on Dec.1. The Cardinals had an opt-out in the contract if it made the FCS playoffs, or if Iowa State made the Big 12 championship game.

“I talked to Eric [Morris] and he is laser-focused on Saturday’s game at Montana State,” UIW athletic director Dr. Brian Wickstrom said. “We want him to be able to stay focused on the FCS Playoffs and making it to the next round, so Iowa State has found another opponent to play on Dec. 1.”

The Cardinals qualified for the FCS playoffs for the first time in program history under first-year head coach Eric Morris after winning a share of the Southland Conference. Incarnate Word only started its football program in 2009 as a Division II school. The Cardinals moved up to FCS during the 2013 season, and joined the Southland Conference in 2014.

UIW will face Montana State in the first round of the FCS playoffs at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Mont. If the Cardinals can pull off its first playoff win, they will likely earn a date with No. 1 overall seed North Dakota State in the second round of the playoffs on Dec. 1. 

Iowa State announced that it scheduled Drake on Dec. 1 to take UIW’s place. The Cyclones were scheduled to pay UIW $300,000 for the matchup.