2025 NCAA Division II football season

2025 NCAA Division II football season
Total No. of teams161
Regular seasonAugust 28 – November 15, 2025
PlayoffsNovember 22 – December 20, 2025
National ChampionshipMcKinney 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, will begin on August 28 and will end on December 20 with the Division II championship at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas.


Conference changes and new programs

  • Conference Carolinas resumed sponsoring football in 2025, after they dropped the sport 50 years earlier prior to the 1975 season.
School Former conference New conference Ref
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

  • January 17 – At the 2025 NCAA Convention, Division II's football-sponsoring delegates approved a proposal to award automatic bids to the playoffs for the conference champion of each football-sponsoring conference, replacing the earned access model.[8]
  • April 23 – In accordance with Division II championship policy, which states that automatic qualifiers must make up no more than 50% of the playoff field, the Division II Executive Board approved the expansion of the football playoff bracket from 28 to 32 teams, effective with the 2025 season.[9]

Rankings

The top 25 from the AFCA Coaches' Poll.


Conference standings

Super Region 1

2025 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Bluefield State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Bowie State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Elizabeth City State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Fayetteville State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Johnson C. Smith   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Lincoln (PA)   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Livingstone   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Shaw   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Virginia State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Virginia Union   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Winston-Salem State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – 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  
Charleston (WV)   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Concord   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Fairmont State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Frostburg State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Glenville State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
West Liberty   0 – 0     0 – 0  
West Virginia State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
West Virginia Wesleyan   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Wheeling   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2025 Northeast-10 Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
American International   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Assumption   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Bentley   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Franklin Pierce   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Pace   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Post   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Saint Anselm   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Southern Connecticut   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – 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
Bloomsburg   0 – 0     0 – 0  
East Stroudsburg   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Kutztown   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Lock Haven   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Millersville   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Shepherd   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Shippensburg   0 – 0     0 – 0  
West Chester   0 – 0     0 – 0  
West Division
California (PA)   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Clarion   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Edinboro   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Gannon   0 – 0     0 – 0  
IUP   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Seton Hill   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Slippery Rock   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – 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  
Barton   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Chowan   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Erskine   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Ferrum   0 – 0     0 – 0  
North Greenville   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Shorter   0 – 0     0 – 0  
UNC Pembroke   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Gulf South Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Delta State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Valdosta State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
West Alabama   0 – 0     0 – 0  
West Florida   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 South Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Anderson (SC)   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Carson–Newman   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Catawba   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Emory & Henry   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Lenoir–Rhyne   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Mars Hill   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Newberry   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Tusculum   0 – 0     0 – 0  
UVA Wise   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Wingate   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – 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  
Albany State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Allen   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Benedict   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Central State (OH)   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Clark Atlanta   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Edward Waters   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Fort Valley State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Kentucky State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Lane   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Miles   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Morehouse   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Savannah State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Tuskegee   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – 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  
Davenport   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Ferris State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Grand Valley State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Michigan Tech   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Northern Michigan   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Roosevelt*   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Saginaw Valley State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Wayne State (MI)   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – 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  
Indianapolis   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Lincoln (MO)   0 – 0     0 – 0  
McKendree   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Missouri S&T   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Quincy   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Southwest Baptist   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Truman   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Upper Iowa   0 – 0     0 – 0  
William Jewell   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Ashland   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Findlay   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Hillsdale   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Kentucky Wesleyan   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Lake Erie   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Northwood   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Ohio Dominican   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Thomas More   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Tiffin   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Walsh   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Augustana (SD)   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Bemidji State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Concordia–St. Paul   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Jamestown   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Mary   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Minnesota Duluth   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Minnesota State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Minot State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
MSU Moorhead   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Northern State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Sioux Falls   0 – 0     0 – 0  
SW Minnesota State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Wayne State (NE)   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Winona State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll

Super Region 4

2025 Great American Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Arkansas–Monticello   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Arkansas Tech   0 – 0     0 – 0  
East Central   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Harding   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Henderson State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
NW Oklahoma State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Oklahoma Baptist   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Ouachita Baptist   0 – 0     0 – 0  
SE Oklahoma State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Southern Arkansas   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Southern Nazarene   0 – 0     0 – 0  
SW Oklahoma State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll
2025 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Angelo State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Central Washington   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Eastern New Mexico   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Midwestern State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Sul Ross*   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Texas A&M–Kingsville   0 – 0     0 – 0  
UT Permian Basin   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Western New Mexico   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Western Oregon   0 – 0     0 – 0  
West Texas A&M   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff 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  
Central Missouri   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Central Oklahoma   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Emporia State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Fort Hays State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Missouri Southern   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Missouri Western   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Nebraska–Kearney   0 – 0     0 – 0  
NW Missouri State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Pittsburg State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Washburn   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA Poll
2025 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Adams State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Black Hills State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Chadron State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Colorado Mesa   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Colorado Mines   0 – 0     0 – 0  
CSU Pueblo   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Fort Lewis   0 – 0     0 – 0  
New Mexico Highlands   0 – 0     0 – 0  
South Dakota Mines   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Western Colorado   0 – 0     0 – 0  
  • $ – 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   –     0 – 0  

Postseason

See also: List of NCAA Division II Football Championship appearances by team

Bracket

Super Region 1

First Round
November 22, 2025
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 29, 2025
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 6, 2025
Campus sites
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Super Region 2

First Round
November 22, 2025
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 29, 2025
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 6, 2025
Campus sites
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Super Region 3

First Round
November 22, 2025
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 29, 2025
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 6, 2025
Campus sites
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Super Region 4

First Round
November 22, 2025
Campus sites 		Second Round
November 29, 2025
Campus sites 		Quarterfinals
December 6, 2025
Campus sites
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Semifinals & Championship

Teams are re-seeded prior to semifinals.

Semifinals
December 13, 2025
Hosted by higher seeded team 		Championship
December 20, 2025
McKinney, Texas
      
 
 
 
 
 
 

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.

School Outgoing coach Date Reason Replacement Previous position
Seton Hill Daniel Day June 6, 2025 Resigned Kevin May[10] Seton Hill defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2019–2024)


See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "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.
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