NCAA Division II Football Playoffs: Upsets and Thrilling Matchups

Hundreds of NCAA Division II football teams began their seasons back in August. Now, just eight remain. This year's playoff bracket has been full of surprises, with half of the remaining teams being unseeded. The final eight teams are a mix of former champions and hungry newcomers, setting the stage for an electrifying finish.

All four regional championships will be decided this weekend. Following these crucial games, teams will be reseeded for the semifinals, elevating the stakes even higher in the race to McKinney.

Super Region 1: Slippery Rock vs. California (PA)

Slippery Rock's journey to the quarterfinals has been anything but easy, but it certainly has been exciting. After defeating New Haven for the second time this season, they secured a highly anticipated matchup with Kutztown. While they lost to Kutztown in conference play, their playoff clash lived up to the hype, culminating in an all-time classic. In an unbelievable overtime finish, Slippery Rock clinched a 25-24 victory when quarterback Brayden Long connected with Logan Ramper for a touchdown, followed by a flawless hook-and-ladder play for the two-point conversion, executed by Idris Lawrence. This victory was a stunning upset over the previously undefeated Golden Bears.

Slippery Rock consistently finds a way to win when the pressure is on, but can they avenge their only loss of the season?

California (PA), also known as Cal, dominated Slippery Rock in their earlier encounter, winning 28-7 at Adamson Stadium. This weekend's rematch holds even greater significance, with a spot in the national semifinals on the line. This win marked Cal's first over Slippery Rock since 2016, their first nationally-ranked win in three seasons, securing their place in the PSAC Championship Game. Cal also survived a pair of nail-biting playoff wins, a three-point victory over East Stroudsburg and a one-point victory over Ashland. Quarterback Davis Black delivered four touchdowns, including the game-winning pass to Demonte Martin. However, the playoffs demand even thinner margins of error. Cal's four wins with margins of four points or fewer this season suggest they might be due for a game where their late-game magic runs out. A loss for Cal would be a victory for Slippery Rock, and our prediction is that the team from Super Region 1 advancing to the final four will be Slippery Rock.

The pick: Slippery Rock

Super Region 2: Virginia Union vs. Valdosta State

Virginia Union running back Jada Byers is already a program legend and is looking to add another incredible achievement this weekend. A victory would be the greatest in VUU history, just one week after their current greatest win. They reached the D-II quarterfinals for the first time ever by shocking playoff stalwart Lenoir-Rhyne with a resounding 44-12 win. Notably, they accomplished this while starting a backup quarterback, RJ Rosales, who has impressed since replacing Mark Wright in their first-round victory against Wingate.

Byers has been phenomenal this season with 307 carries for 1,952 yards and 26 touchdowns, averaging over 150 yards per game. Against Lenoir-Rhyne, he rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns, supported by Curtis Allen's 132 yards and two touchdowns, marking the first time two VUU teammates rushed for over 100 yards in the same game in three years. However, they face a tough test against Valdosta State.

The undefeated Valdosta State, champions of the Gulf South Conference, easily handled Miles in their playoff opener, leading 30-3 at one point. Their stingy defense, which allows just 9.8 points per game, held Miles to 83 rushing yards. VSU's rushing defense will face its toughest test yet against Byers, the nation's second-leading rusher. While Byers will undoubtedly make an impact, Valdosta State's quarterback Sammy Edwards (over 2,500 passing yards, 12:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio) provides a reliable arm. We predict Valdosta State will advance to the semifinals.

The pick: Valdosta State

Super Region 3: Ferris State vs. Harding

The winners of the last three D-II national championships haven't faced each other since 2018. This weekend's game in Big Rapids could be epic and decide the favorite to win this year's title. Ferris State, under coach Tony Annese, is making its seventh quarterfinal appearance in eight seasons (excluding the COVID-impacted 2020 season). Their route to the quarterfinals was impressive, as they generated 688 yards of offense in a 78-17 win over Central Oklahoma, with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss totaling five touchdowns and 319 total yards, and Kannon Katzer rushing for 200 yards and three scores. This is a significant turnaround from their season opener.

Harding, renowned for its powerful flexbone offense, also showcased its dominance in a second-round win over Grand Valley State, rushing 64 times for 475 yards and six touchdowns. Quarterback Cole Keylon only threw one pass. Andrew Miller led with 202 yards and three touchdowns. This performance followed their impressive 48-3 first-round win over Pittsburg State. This matchup is a toss-up between two exceptional programs. We predict a game-winning drive orchestrated by Chambliss, leading to a walk-off field goal for Ferris State.

The pick: Ferris State

Super Region 4: Minnesota State vs. Bemidji State

The presence of four unseeded teams in the quarterfinals is truly remarkable. The matchup between Minnesota State and Bemidji State from the same Super Region is another unexpected development. Minnesota State's playoff journey has been nail-biting. They survived two victories by a combined four points, including a last-second field goal against Augustana and another last-minute field goal against Colorado State-Pueblo.

Bemidji State, in their first-ever quarterfinal appearance, has been on a roll, winning five straight after a 5-3 start. Consecutive road victories over Angelo State and Western Colorado secured their place in the quarterfinals. Their defense shined in the Western Colorado game, securing a 79-yard scoop-and-score to turn the game around. This is a rematch from Week 2, where Minnesota State emerged victorious 31-29. Bemidji State's quarterback, Sam McGath, had a strong performance in that game. We believe Minnesota State's experience in handling playoff pressure will be the deciding factor.

The pick: Minnesota State

The NCAA Division II championship game will be held on December 21 in McKinney, Texas. The intensity is palpable, and the playoffs promise incredible competition and unexpected outcomes.