INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA Division II Football Committee announced today the field of 32 teams for the 2025 NCAA Division II Football Championship.
The 2025 championship field was expanded to 32 teams, the largest since the tournament’s inception in 1973. With the added teams also came automatic qualifiers from each of the 16 conferences that sponsor Division II football.
Sixteen first-round games will be conducted on the campus of one of the competing institutions. The first-round winners will all advance to the second round with games on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Second-round winners will meet in the quarterfinals at various campus sites. Quarterfinal winners will advance to play in the semifinals on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Eight teams in each super region were selected to make up the field of 32 teams and nullification impacted selections.
First-Round Dates, Sites and Pairings
November 22 at Kutztown, Pennsylvania: Bentley (7-3) at Kutztown (11-0)
November 22 at Indiana, Pennsylvania: Assumption (8-2) at Indiana (Pennsylvania) (7-3)
November 22 at Charlotte, North Carolina: Frostburg State (9-2) at Johnson C. Smith (10-1)
November 22 at Richmond, Virginia: California (Pennsylvania) (8-3) at Virginia Union (9-2)
November 22 at Albany, Georgia: Valdosta State (6-4) at Albany St. (Georgia) (10-1)
November 22 at Wingate, North Carolina: Benedict (9-2) at Wingate (9-2)
November 22 at Pensacola, Florida: North Greenville (7-4) at West Florida (9-1)
November 22 at Newberry, South Carolina: Kentucky State (9-2) at Newberry (9-1)
November 22 at Big Rapids, Michigan: Northwood (9-2) at Ferris State (11-0)
November 22 at Ashland, Ohio: Minnesota Duluth (10-1) at Ashland (9-2)
November 22 at Findlay, Ohio: Minnesota State Mankato (8-3) at Findlay (10-1)
November 22 at Indianapolis, Indiana: Truman State (8-3) at UIndy (10-1)
November 22 at Searcy, Arkansas: Northwest Missouri State (9-2) at Harding (11-0)
November 22 at Pittsburg, Kansas: Chadron State (8-3) at Pittsburg State (9-2)
November 22 at Ellensburg, Washington: Western Colorado University (9-2) at Central Washington (10-1)
November 22 at Pueblo, Colorado: The University of Texas Permian Basin (9-2) at Colorado State University Pueblo (10-1)
*All contests shall start at 1 p.m. local time. Other times may be established if approved by the committee.*
Ferris St. defeated Valdosta St. 49-14 in the 2024 national championship game to claim the NCAA title.
The championship game will be played December 20, at 4 p.m. Eastern time at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 HD.
Automatic Qualifiers
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Central Intercollegiate — Johnson C. Smith
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Conference Carolinas — North Greenville
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Great American — Harding
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Great Lakes Intercollegiate — Ferris State
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Great Lakes Valley — UIndy
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Great Midwest Athletic — Findlay
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Gulf South — Valdosta State
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Lone Star — Central Washington
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Mid-America Intercollegiate — Pittsburg State
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Mountain East — Frostburg State
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Northeast-10 — Bentley
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Northern Sun — Minnesota Duluth
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Pennsylvania State Athletic — Kutztown
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Rocky Mountain — Colorado State University Pueblo
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South Atlantic — Newberry
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Southern Intercollegiate — Albany St. (Georgia)
