2025 NCAA Division II football season

Last updated
2025 NCAA Division II football season
NCAA logo.svg
Total No. of teams161
Regular seasonAugust 28 – November 15, 2025
PlayoffsNovember 22 – December 20, 2025
National Championship McKinney Independent School District Stadium
McKinney, TX
December 20, 2025
Champion Ferris State
Harlon Hill Trophy Curtis Allen, RB, Virginia Union

The 2025 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, began on August 28 and ended on December 20 with the Division II championship at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas.

Contents

Conference changes and new programs

SchoolFormer conferenceNew conferenceRef
Barton Bulldogs SAC Carolinas [1]
Chowan Hawks Gulf South Carolinas [1]
Erskine Flying Fleet Gulf South Carolinas [1]
Ferrum Panthers ODAC (D-III) Carolinas [2]
Jamestown Jimmies North Star (NAIA) NSIC [3]
Limestone Saints SAC School closed [4] [5]
Mississippi College Choctaws Gulf South Dropped program [6]
New Haven Chargers NE-10 Northeast (FCS) [7]
North Greenville Trailblazers Gulf South Carolinas [1]
Shorter Hawks Independent (D-II) Carolinas [1]
UNC Pembroke Braves Mountain East Carolinas [1]

Headlines

Rankings

Conference standings

Super Region 1

2025 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 16 Johnson C. Smith y$^ 71  102 
No. 9 Virginia Union y^ 71  102 
Fayetteville State  61  64 
Virginia State  43  64 
Elizabeth City State  43  46 
Livingstone  34  55 
Winston-Salem State  25  46 
Bluefield State  25  37 
Bowie State  25  37 
Shaw  25  28 
Lincoln (PA)  07  010 
Championship: Johnson C. Smith 45, Virginia Union 21
  • $ Conference champion
  • y Championship game participant
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Mountain East Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 24 Frostburg State +^ 71  102 
Charleston (WV) + 71  83 
Glenville State  53  65 
Wheeling  53  65 
West Virginia State  44  56 
Fairmont State  35  65 
West Liberty  35  38 
Concord  26  47 
West Virginia Wesleyan  08  011 
  • + Conference co-champions
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Northeast-10 Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Assumption +^ 61  93 
Bentley +^ 61  74 
Franklin Pierce  52  64 
Saint Anselm  43  55 
Southern Connecticut  43  46 
American International  25  28 
Post  16  46 
Pace  07  011 
  • + Conference co-champions
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 4 Kutztown xy$^ 70  141 
Shepherd  61  74 
East Stroudsburg  52  83 
Lock Haven  43  65 
Shippensburg  34  38 
West Chester  25  47 
Bloomsburg  16  38 
Millersville  07  011 
West Division
IUP xy^ 51  74 
Edinboro x 51  74 
California (PA) ^ 33  94 
Slippery Rock  33  64 
Clarion  24  65 
Seton Hill  24  47 
Gannon  15  110 
Championship: Kutztown 28, IUP 23
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll

Super Region 2

2025 Conference Carolinas football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
North Greenville y$^ 60  74 
No. 25 UNC Pembroke y 51  83 
Ferrum* 33  47 
Barton  33  38 
Chowan  24  47 
Shorter  15  29 
Erskine  15  110 
Championship: North Greenville 34, UNC Pembroke 20
  • $ Conference champion
  • y Championship game participant
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • * – Ferrum ineligible for postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division III
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 3 West Florida +^ 21  102 
Valdosta State +^ 21  65 
Delta State  12  73 
West Alabama  03  54 
  • + Conference co-champions
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 South Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 19 Newberry $^ 81  122 
Wingate ^ 72  93 
Emory & Henry  63  83 
Carson–Newman  63  73 
Catawba  54  74 
Lenoir–Rhyne  54  65 
Mars Hill  45  56 
Anderson (SC)  36  56 
UVA Wise  18  19 
Tusculum  09  19 
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 17 Albany State y$^ 80  122 
No. 23 Benedict y^ 71  103 
Kentucky State ^ 71  93 
Allen  53  65 
Edward Waters  44  55 
Fort Valley State  44  46 
Savannah State  35  46 
Tuskegee  35  47 
Morehouse  35  37 
Central State (OH)  35  37 
Miles  35  38 
Clark Atlanta  26  37 
Lane  08  010 
Championship: Albany State 22, Benedict 16
  • $ Conference champion
  • y Championship game participant
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll

Super Region 3

2025 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 1 Ferris State $^ 70  160 
Grand Valley State  52  73 
Saginaw Valley State  52  65 
Michigan Tech  43  74 
Davenport  43  55 
Northern Michigan  25  38 
Roosevelt* 16  28 
Wayne State (MI)  07  011 
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • * – Roosevelt ineligible for postseason play due to transition from NAIA
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 10 Indianapolis $^ 80  112 
Truman ^ 71  84 
Upper Iowa # 62  93 
Missouri S&T  44  65 
Quincy  44  65 
McKendree  44  47 
Southwest Baptist  26  37 
William Jewell  17  38 
Lincoln (MO)  08  29 
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # - Albanese Candy Bowl participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 8 Findlay +^ 81  102 
No. 20 Ashland +^ 81  103 
Northwood ^ 72  93 
Tiffin  63  74 
Hillsdale # 54  66 
Walsh  45  65 
Ohio Dominican  45  55 
Lake Erie  27  29 
Thomas More  18  110 
Kentucky Wesleyan  09  011 
  • + Conference co-champions
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # - Albanese Candy Bowl participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
North
No. 11 Minnesota Duluth x$^ 91  102 
MSU Moorhead  73  83 
Northern State  64  74 
Bemidji State  46  47 
Mary  37  47 
Minot State  37  38 
Jamestown* 19  19 
South
No. 13 Augustana (SD)  82  92 
No. 14 Minnesota State x^ 73  104 
Wayne State (NE) x 73  74 
Sioux Falls  64  74 
Winona State  64  65 
Concordia–St. Paul  28  29 
SW Minnesota State  19  110 
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • * – Jamestown ineligible for postseason play due to transition from NAIA
Rankings from AFCA poll

Super Region 4

2025 Great American Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 2 Harding $^ 110  151 
Southern Arkansas  83  83 
Henderson State  83  83 
Ouachita Baptist  74  74 
Arkansas Tech # 74  75 
East Central # 65  66 
SW Oklahoma State  65  65 
SE Oklahoma State  56  56 
Arkansas–Monticello  29  29 
Oklahoma Baptist  29  29 
NW Oklahoma State  29  29 
Southern Nazarene  29  29 
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 13 Central Washington $^ 90  102 
No. 5 UT Permian Basin ^ 72  113 
Western Oregon  72  83 
West Texas A&M # 72  84 
Angelo State  45  65 
Texas A&M–Kingsville  45  56 
Eastern New Mexico  36  38 
Midwestern State  36  38 
Western New Mexico  18  29 
Sul Ross* 09  011 
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Heritage Bowl participant
    * – Sul Ross ineligible for postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division III
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2025 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 7 Pittsburg State +^ 81  92 
No. 12 NW Missouri State +^ 81  92 
Central Oklahoma  63  65 
Fort Hays State  54  65 
Central Missouri  54  56 
Nebraska–Kearney  45  65 
Emporia State  45  56 
Missouri Western  27  38 
Washburn  27  38 
Missouri Southern  18  38 
  • + Conference co-champions
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2025 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 5 CSU Pueblo $^ 90  102 
No. 22 Chadron State ^ 81  84 
No. 18 Western Colorado ^ 72  103 
Colorado Mines  54  74 
Colorado Mesa  54  65 
New Mexico Highlands  45  65 
Black Hills State  36  38 
South Dakota Mines  36  38 
Fort Lewis  18  29 
Adams State  09  011 
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 NCAA Division II independents football records
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Northeastern State #   93 

Postseason

Bracket

* - Host team

Super Region 1

First Round
November 22, 2025
Campus sites
Second Round
November 29, 2025
Campus sites
Quarterfinals
December 6, 2025
Campus sites
         
1 Kutztown* 52
Bentley 0
1 Kutztown* 56
Assumption 19
4 IUP* 20
Assumption 23
1 Kutztown* 51
Frostburg State 29
2 Johnson C. Smith* 7
Frostburg State 21
Frostburg State 23
California (PA)* 21
3 Virginia Union* 24
California (PA) 27

Super Region 2

First Round
November 22, 2025
Campus sites
Second Round
November 29, 2025
Campus sites
Quarterfinals
December 6, 2025
Campus sites
         
1 Albany State* 35
Valdosta State 30
1 Albany State* 14
Benedict 12
4 Wingate* 24
Benedict 25
1 Albany State* 24
3 Newberry 31
2 West Florida* 43
North Greenville 19
2 West Florida* 17
3 Newberry 24
3 Newberry* 45
Kentucky State 24

Super Region 3

First Round
November 22, 2025
Campus sites
Second Round
November 29, 2025
Campus sites
Quarterfinals
December 6, 2025
Campus sites
         
1 Ferris State* 65
Northwood 14
1 Ferris State* 56
4 Ashland 24
4 Ashland* 32
Minnesota Duluth 7
1 Ferris State* 52
Minnesota State 29
2 Findlay* 14
Minnesota State 37
Minnesota State 35
3 Indianapolis* 27
3 Indianapolis* 57
Truman 14

Super Region 4

First Round
November 22, 2025
Campus sites
Second Round
November 29, 2025
Campus sites
Quarterfinals
December 6, 2025
Campus sites
         
1 Harding* 38
NW Missouri State 16
1 Harding* 37
4 Pittsburg State 21
4 Pittsburg State* 21
Chadron State 17
1 Harding* 34
UT Permian Basin 28
2 Central Washington* 20
Western Colorado 27
Western Colorado* 15
UT Permian Basin (OT)21
3 CSU Pueblo* 24
UT Permian Basin 37

Semifinals & Championship

Teams are re-seeded prior to semifinals.

Semifinals
December 13, 2025
Hosted by higher seeded team
Championship
December 20, 2025
McKinney, Texas
      
1 Ferris State 49
4 Newberry 17
1 Ferris State 42
3 Harding 21
2 Kutztown 27
3 Harding 49

Bowl games

Three bowl games were held which featured teams that did not qualify for the Division II postseason tournament. This was up from only two bowls in the 2024 season, with the addition of the First Americans Bowl.

DateTime (EST)GameSiteTelevisionTeamsAffiliationsResults
Dec 61:00 pm Heritage Bowl Tiger Stadium
Corsicana, Texas
Livestream Arkansas Tech
West Texas A&M
GAC
LSC
West Texas A&M 28
Arkansas Tech 27
2:00 pm Albanese Candy Bowl Hobart High School
Hobart, Indiana
Upper Iowa
Hillsdale
GLVC
GMAC
Upper Iowa 37
Hillsdale 28
First Americans Bowl Doc Wadley Stadium
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
East Central
Northeastern State *
GAC
Independent
Northeastern State 56
East Central 21

* – Host team

Coaching changes

Preseason and in-season

This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2025, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games.

SchoolOutgoing coachDateReasonReplacementPrevious position
Seton Hill Daniel Day June 6, 2025Resigned Kevin May [10] Seton Hill defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2019–2024)
Edward Waters Toriano Morgan July 16, 2025Hired as co-offensive coordinator by Tennessee State [11] Brian Jenkins (interim; named full-time on September 19, 2025) [12] [13] Edward Waters offensive coordinator and associate head coach (2019–2024)
Mars Hill Tim Clifton August 11, 2025Retired [14] Kevin Barnette [15] Mars Hill defensive coordinator (1989–2024)
Millersville J. C. Morgan October 6, 2025Fired [16] Brian Ferguson (interim) Millersville offensive coordinator (2025)
Northern Michigan Shane Richardson November 7, 2025Resigned [17] Billy Lindquist (interim) Northern Michigan offensive coordinator and associate head coach (2023–2025)

End of season

This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season.

SchoolOutgoing coachDateReasonReplacementPrevious position
Arkansas–Monticello Hud Jackson November 9, 2025Resigned (became school's athletic director, effective at season's end) [18] Gary Goff [19] McNeese head coach (2022–2024)
Winston-Salem State Robert Massey November 9, 2025Fired [20] Tory Woodbury [21] Norfolk State special teams coordinator (2025)
West Liberty Roger Waialae November 10, 2025Retired (effective at season's end) [22] Chad Salisbury [23] California (PA) offensive coordinator (2017–2025)
Shippensburg Mark Maciejewski November 10, 2025Retired (effective at season's end) [24] Drew Gallardy [25] Shippensburg offensive coordinator and offensive line coach (2024–2025)
Savannah State Aaron Kelton November 14, 2025Resigned [26] Thomas Howard [27] Fayetteville State defensive coordinator (2025)
Concordia–St. Paul Shannon Currier November 17, 2025Fired [28]
Eastern New Mexico Kelley Lee November 17, 2025Fired [29] Art Briles [30] Guelfi Firenze  [ it ] head coach (2022–2025)
Glenville State Mike Kellar November 18, 2025Contract not renewed [31] Jake Casteel [32] West Virginia linebackers coach (2025)
Northwestern Oklahoma State Ronnie Jones November 18, 2025Fired [33] Jerry Partridge [34] UT Martin assistant head coach and defensive coordinator (2025)
West Virginia Wesleyan Dwayne Martin November 20, 2025Fired [35] Mike Kellar [36] Glenville State head coach (2019–2025)
Bowie State Kyle Jackson November 21, 2025Contract not renewed [37]
Saginaw Valley State Ryan Brady December 3, 2025Fired [38]
Central Washington Chris Fisk December 12, 2025Hired as head coach by Portland State [39]
Findlay Kory Allen December 14, 2025Resigned [40] Tyler Johns [41] Gardner–Webb offensive coordinator (2024–2025)
Albany State Quinn Gray December 15, 2025Hired as head coach by Florida A&M [42] David Bowser [43] Johnson C. Smith linebackers coach & director of player personnel (2023–2025)
UT Permian Basin Kris McCullough December 23, 2025Hired as head coach by Gardner–Webb [44]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Conference Carolinas Unveils Addition of Shorter University and Return of Football in 2025" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. January 26, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  2. "Conference Carolinas Unveils Addition of 16th Member in Ferrum College" (Press release). Conference Carolinas. April 5, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  3. "NSIC extends invitation to the University of Jamestown" (Press release). Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. November 21, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  4. Keener, Julia; Meadows, Eriana; Johnson, Joanna; Martin, Isabel (April 29, 2025). "Limestone University board announces closure of school". WSPA-TV . Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  5. "Limestone University Board Votes To Close The School, Discontinuing Both On-Campus & Online Degree Programs". Limestone University. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  6. "Important Message from Mississippi College". mc.edu. Mississippi College. November 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  7. "Charging Ahead: University of New Haven accepts Northeast Conference membership invite". newhavenchagers.com. New Haven Chargers. May 6, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  8. "Division II approves automatic-qualification privileges for football". NCAA (Press release). January 17, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  9. "DII Executive Board approves football bracket expansion, $2.5 million in budget requests". NCAA (Press release). April 23, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  10. "Football's Day Steps Down; DC Kevin May Promoted to Head Coach" (Press release). Seton Hill Griffins Athletics. June 6, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  11. "Barlow Adds Experienced, Championship-Caliber Coaches to 2025 Staff" (Press release). Tennessee State Tigers Athletics. July 19, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  12. "Edward Waters University Names Brian Jenkins Interim Head Football Coach Ahead of Promising 2025 Campaign" (Press release). Edward Waters Tigers Athletics. July 16, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  13. "Edward Waters Promotes Brian Jenkins to Head Football Coach After Historic 3-0 Start" (Press release). Edward Waters Tigers Athletics. September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  14. "End of an Era: Tim Clifton retires after 32 seasons" (Press release). Mars Hill Lions Athletics. August 11, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  15. "Kevin Barnette named Head Football Coach" (Press release). Mars Hill Lions Athletics. August 12, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  16. "Millersville makes change at head football coach" (Press release). Millersville Marauders Athletics. October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  17. "Northern Michigan Announces Football Leadership Change" (Press release). Northern Michigan Wildcats Athletics. November 7, 2025. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  18. "Veteran Coach Hud Jackson to Step Down from Football, Transition to Full-Time Athletic Director" (Press release). Arkansas-Monticello Athletics. November 9, 2025. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  19. "Arkansas-Monticello Names Gary Goff 26th Head Football Coach" (Press release). Arkansas-Monticello Athletics. December 11, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  20. Gaither, Steven (November 9, 2025). "WSSU, Robert Massey parting ways" (Press release). HBCU Gameday. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  21. Gaither, Steven (December 4, 2025). "NFL vet, Super Bowl champ Tory Woodbury WSSU coaching hire" (Press release). HBCU Gameday. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  22. "West Liberty University Head Football Coach Roger Waialae to Retire After 2025 Season" (Press release). West Liberty Athletics. November 10, 2025. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  23. "West Liberty University Names Chad Salisbury as Head Football Coach" (Press release). West Liberty Athletics. December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  24. "Shippensburg University Head Football Coach Mark 'Mac' Maciejewski Announces Retirement" (Press release). Shippensburg Athletics. November 10, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  25. "Drew Gallardy '10 named Head Football Coach at Shippensburg University" (Press release). Shippensburg Athletics. December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  26. "Kelton Steps Down as Savannah State Head Football Coach" (Press release). Savannah State Athletics. November 14, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  27. "Savannah State Names Thomas Howard As Head Football Coach" (Press release). Savannah State Athletics. December 22, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  28. "CSP announces football coaching change" (Press release). Concordia–St. Paul Athletics. November 17, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  29. "ENMU announces leadership change in football program" (Press release). Eastern New Mexico Athletics. November 17, 2025. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  30. "Art Briles named head football coach at Eastern New Mexico University" (Press release). Eastern New Mexico Athletics. November 24, 2025. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  31. "Glenville State Announces Leadership Change with Football Program" (Press release). Glenville State Athletics. November 18, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  32. "Jake Casteel Named Glenville State Head Football Coach" (Press release). Glenville State Athletics. December 8, 2025. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  33. "Northwestern Announces Leadership Change in Football Program" (Press release). Northwestern Oklahoma State Athletics. November 18, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  34. "Jerry Partridge Named Head Coach of Northwestern Football" (Press release). Northwestern Oklahoma State Athletics. December 10, 2025. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  35. "WVWC Announces Change in Football Leadership Following Conclusion of 2025 Season" (Press release). West Virginia Wesleyan Athletics. November 20, 2025. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  36. "Wesleyan Welcomes New Head Football Coach Mike Kellar" (Press release). West Virginia Wesleyan Athletics. November 24, 2025. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  37. "Bowie State University Athletics Announces Leadership Change for Football Program" (Press release). Bowie State Athletics. November 21, 2025. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  38. "Statement from SVSU Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics John Lewandowski" (Press release). Saginaw Valley State Athletics. December 3, 2025. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  39. "Portland State Names Chris Fisk As New Head Coach Of The Vikings Football Program" (Press release). Portland State Athletics. December 12, 2025. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  40. "Head Football Coach Kory Allen Leaves Findlay After 20 Years" (Press release). Findlay Athletics. December 14, 2025. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  41. "Tyler Johns Named Head Football Coach" (Press release). Findlay Athletics. December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  42. "Quinn Fordham Gray Sr. returns home as Florida A&M names former Rattlers QB its 20th head football coach" (Press release). Florida A&M Athletics. December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  43. "Albany State University Names David Bowser Head Football Coach" (Press release). Albany State Athletics. December 24, 2025. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  44. "Gardner-Webb Announces Kris McCullough as New Head Football Coach" (Press release). Gardner–Webb Athletics. December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 23, 2025.