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

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 will end 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$^  7 1   10 1  
No. 9 Virginia Union y^  7 1   10 1  
Fayetteville State  6 1   6 4  
Virginia State  4 3   6 4  
Elizabeth City State  4 3   4 6  
Livingstone  3 4   5 5  
Winston-Salem State  2 5   4 6  
Bluefield State  2 5   3 7  
Bowie State  2 5   3 7  
Shaw  2 5   2 8  
Lincoln (PA)  0 7   0 10  
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 +^  7 1   10 2  
Charleston (WV) +  7 1   8 3  
Glenville State  5 3   6 5  
Wheeling  5 3   6 5  
West Virginia State  4 4   5 6  
Fairmont State  3 5   6 5  
West Liberty  3 5   3 8  
Concord  2 6   4 7  
West Virginia Wesleyan  0 8   0 11  
  • + 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 +^  6 1   8 2  
Bentley +^  6 1   7 3  
Franklin Pierce  5 2   6 4  
Saint Anselm  4 3   5 5  
Southern Connecticut  4 3   4 6  
American International  2 5   2 8  
Post  1 6   4 6  
Pace  0 7   0 11  
  • + 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$^  7 0   11 0  
Shepherd  6 1   7 4  
East Stroudsburg  5 2   8 3  
Lock Haven  4 3   6 5  
Shippensburg  3 4   3 8  
West Chester  2 5   4 7  
Bloomsburg  1 6   3 8  
Millersville  0 7   0 11  
West Division
IUP xy^  5 1   7 3  
Edinboro x  5 1   7 4  
California (PA) ^  3 3   8 3  
Slippery Rock  3 3   6 4  
Clarion  2 4   6 5  
Seton Hill  2 4   4 7  
Gannon  1 5   1 10  
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$^  6 0   7 4  
No. 25 UNC Pembroke y  5 1   8 3  
Ferrum*  3 3   4 7  
Barton  3 3   3 8  
Chowan  2 4   4 7  
Shorter  1 5   2 9  
Erskine  1 5   1 10  
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 +^  2 1   9 1  
Valdosta State +^  2 1   6 4  
Delta State  1 2   7 3  
West Alabama  0 3   5 4  
  • + 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 $^  8 1   9 1  
Wingate ^  7 2   9 2  
Emory & Henry  6 3   7 3  
Carson–Newman  6 3   7 3  
Catawba  5 4   7 4  
Lenoir–Rhyne  5 4   6 5  
Mars Hill  4 5   5 6  
Anderson (SC)  3 6   5 6  
UVA Wise  1 8   1 9  
Tusculum  0 9   1 9  
  • $ 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$^  8 0   10 1  
No. 23 Benedict y^  7 1   9 2  
Kentucky State ^  7 1   9 2  
Allen  5 3   6 5  
Edward Waters  4 4   5 5  
Fort Valley State  4 4   4 6  
Savannah State  3 5   4 6  
Tuskegee  3 5   4 7  
Morehouse  3 5   3 7  
Central State (OH)  3 5   3 7  
Miles  3 5   3 8  
Clark Atlanta  2 6   3 7  
Lane  0 8   0 10  
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 $^  7 0   12 0  
No. 21 Grand Valley State  5 2   7 3  
Saginaw Valley State  5 2   6 5  
Michigan Tech  4 3   7 4  
Davenport  4 3   5 5  
Northern Michigan  2 5   3 8  
Roosevelt*  1 6   2 8  
Wayne State (MI)  0 7   0 11  
  • $ 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 $^  8 0   10 1  
Truman ^  7 1   8 3  
Upper Iowa #  6 2   8 3  
Missouri S&T  4 4   6 5  
Quincy  4 4   6 5  
McKendree  4 4   4 7  
Southwest Baptist  2 6   3 7  
William Jewell  1 7   3 8  
Lincoln (MO)  0 8   2 9  
  • $ 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 +^  8 1   10 2  
No. 20 Ashland +^  8 1   10 2  
Northwood ^  7 2   9 3  
Tiffin  6 3   7 4  
Hillsdale #  5 4   6 5  
Walsh  4 5   6 5  
Ohio Dominican  4 5   5 5  
Lake Erie  2 7   2 9  
Thomas More  1 8   1 10  
Kentucky Wesleyan  0 9   0 11  
  • + 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$^  9 1   10 1  
MSU Moorhead  7 3   8 3  
Northern State  6 4   7 4  
Bemidji State  4 6   4 7  
Mary  3 7   4 7  
Minot State  3 7   3 8  
Jamestown*  1 9   1 9  
South
No. 13 Augustana (SD)  8 2   9 2  
No. 14 Minnesota State x^  7 3   8 3  
Wayne State (NE) x  7 3   7 4  
Sioux Falls  6 4   7 4  
Winona State  6 4   6 5  
Concordia–St. Paul  2 8   2 9  
SW Minnesota State  1 9   1 10  
  • $ 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 $^  11 0   11 0  
Southern Arkansas  8 3   8 3  
Henderson State  8 3   8 3  
Ouachita Baptist  7 4   7 4  
Arkansas Tech #  7 4   7 4  
East Central  6 5   6 5  
SW Oklahoma State  6 5   6 5  
SE Oklahoma State  5 6   5 6  
Arkansas–Monticello  2 9   2 9  
Oklahoma Baptist  2 9   2 9  
NW Oklahoma State  2 9   2 9  
Southern Nazarene  2 9   2 9  
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • # – Heritage Bowl participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 5 Central Washington $^  9 0   10 2  
No. 10 UT Permian Basin ^  7 2   11 2  
No. 25 Western Oregon  7 2   8 3  
West Texas A&M #  7 2   7 4  
Angelo State  4 5   6 5  
Texas A&M–Kingsville  4 5   5 6  
Eastern New Mexico  3 6   3 8  
Midwestern State  3 6   3 8  
Western New Mexico  1 8   2 9  
Sul Ross*  0 9   0 11  
  • $ 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 +^  8 1   9 2  
No. 12 NW Missouri State +^  8 1   9 2  
Central Oklahoma  6 3   6 5  
Fort Hays State  5 4   6 5  
Central Missouri  5 4   5 6  
Nebraska–Kearney  4 5   6 5  
Emporia State  4 5   5 6  
Missouri Western  2 7   3 8  
Washburn  2 7   3 8  
Missouri Southern  1 8   3 8  
  • + 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 $^  9 0   10 1  
No. 22 Chadron State ^  8 1   8 3  
No. 18 Western Colorado ^  7 2   9 2  
Colorado Mines  5 4   7 4  
Colorado Mesa  5 4   6 5  
New Mexico Highlands  4 5   6 5  
Black Hills State  3 6   3 8  
South Dakota Mines  3 6   3 8  
Fort Lewis  1 8   2 9  
Adams State  0 9   0 11  
  • $ 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    8 3  

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*
Frostburg State
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*
3 Newberry
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*
Minnesota State
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*
UT Permian Basin
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
      
 
 
 
 
 
 

Bowl games

Three bowl games will be held which featured teams that did not qualify for the Division II postseason tournament. This 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
2:00 pm Albanese Candy Bowl Hobart High School
Hobart, Indiana
Upper Iowa
Hillsdale
GLVC
GMAC
First Americans Bowl Doc Wadley Stadium
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
TBD East Central
Northeastern State *
GAC
Independent

* – 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]
Winston-Salem State Robert Massey November 9, 2025Fired [19]
West Liberty Roger Waialae November 10, 2025Retired (effective at season's end) [20]
Shippensburg Mark Maciejewski November 10, 2025Retired (effective at season's end) [21]
Savannah State Aaron Kelton November 14, 2025Resigned [22]
Concordia–St. Paul Shannon Currier November 17, 2025Fired [23]
Eastern New Mexico Kelley Lee November 17, 2025Fired [24] Art Briles [25] Guelfi Firenze  [ it ] head coach (2022–2025)
Glenville State Mike Kellar November 18, 2025Contract not renewed [26]
Northwestern Oklahoma State Ronnie Jones November 18, 2025Fired [27]
West Virginia Wesleyan Dwayne Martin November 20, 2025Fired [28] Mike Kellar [29] Glenville State head coach (2019–2025)
Bowie State Kyle Jackson November 21, 2025Contract not renewed [30]
Saginaw Valley State Ryan Brady December 3, 2025Fired [31]

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. Gaither, Steven (November 9, 2025). "WSSU, Robert Massey parting ways" (Press release). HBCU Gameday. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  20. "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.
  21. "Shippensburg University Head Football Coach Mark 'Mac' Maciejewski Announces Retirement" (Press release). Shippensburg Athletics. November 10, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  22. "Kelton Steps Down as Savannah State Head Football Coach" (Press release). Savannah State Athletics. November 14, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  23. "CSP announces football coaching change" (Press release). Concordia–St. Paul Athletics. November 17, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  24. "ENMU announces leadership change in football program" (Press release). Eastern New Mexico Athletics. November 17, 2025. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  25. "Art Briles named head football coach at Eastern New Mexico University" (Press release). Eastern New Mexico Athletics. November 24, 2025. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  26. "Glenville State Announces Leadership Change with Football Program" (Press release). Glenville State Athletics. November 18, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  27. "Northwestern Announces Leadership Change in Football Program" (Press release). Northwestern Oklahoma State Athletics. November 18, 2025. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  28. "WVWC Announces Change in Football Leadership Following Conclusion of 2025 Season" (Press release). West Virginia Wesleyan Athletics. November 20, 2025. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  29. "Wesleyan Welcomes New Head Football Coach Mike Kellar" (Press release). West Virginia Wesleyan Athletics. November 24, 2025. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  30. "Bowie State University Athletics Announces Leadership Change for Football Program" (Press release). Bowie State Athletics. November 21, 2025. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  31. "Statement from SVSU Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics John Lewandowski" (Press release). Saginaw Valley State Athletics. December 3, 2025. Retrieved December 3, 2025.