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NCAA Division II Football Preseason Playoff Projections: The Field of 28

NCAA Division II Football Preseason Playoff Projections: The Field of 28

Only 28 teams from the four Super Regions can make it to the D-II playoffs, here are some preseason NCAA Division II football playoff projections for 2024.

Aug 19, 2024 by Briar Napier
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We’re down to single-digit days before college football is back on our screens, and with fall camps in full bloom and programs ready for action, the wait is almost over.

 Over in Division II, a first-time champion rose to power in 2023 and is looking to pull off a repeat for 2024. But plenty of perennial powers are looking to try and stop it.

 Only 28 teams from the four Super Regions can make it to the D-II playoffs, with only one team from there being able to hold the national championship aloft in December in McKinney, Texas.

 Here are my preseason NCAA Division II football playoff projections ahead of the 2024 campaign:

Want more information about how the unique D-II playoff format works? FloFootball created a handy guide last year for that.

Super Region 1 Playoff Predictions

Slippery Rock (PSAC)

Almost always a strong squad, The Rock should have little issue getting to the playoffs for the sixth consecutive time, especially with Harlon Hill Trophy finalist Brayden Long back to slinging the pigskin at quarterback and a pair of lethal transfers in running back Idris Lawrence (Notre Dame College) and wideout Rashawn Harvey (West Liberty) running with him.

Kutztown (PSAC)

The Golden Bears are coming off of the best season in program history, winning 12 consecutive games and making it to the playoff semifinals after an 0-2 start. The pieces for Kutztown to make a similarly-seismic postseason run in 2024 — the most notable of which is electric redshirt sophomore quarterback Judd Novak — are definitely there.

East Stroudsburg (PSAC)

The Warriors broke the longest drought between appearances for a team in last year’s playoff field, qualifying for the field for the first time since 2009. With 16 returning starters back in the mix, back-to-back playoff appearances are most certainly on the table for ESU, too. Watch out for an All-PSAC tandem in tailback Tyriq Lewis and left tackle Tim Kinney in the run game.

Indiana (Pennsylvania) (PSAC)

With no losing seasons since 2009, the 2022 PSAC champion Crimson Hawks are consistently strong in a tough league, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if IUP bounced back from a 6-5 season last year and jumped right back into the conference title conversation. Getting All-American linebacker Garrett Cox (114 tackles in 2023) in the portal from in-conference foe Millersville should help with that.

Charleston (West Virginia) (Mountain East)

The Golden Eagles got some great news when running back Chavon Wright, who ran for over 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore last season, opted to return to UC after putting his name in the transfer portal in the offseason. His impact should help Charleston win the MEC title and make a trip to the playoffs yet again.

Findlay (Great Midwest)

In a highly-competitive G-MAC which has had five different schools earn a conference championship in seven seasons, the Oilers narrowly earn the nod to be the league’s top representative in Super Region 1. Offensive line play through stars Te’Jamere Nash and Yoseph Carter will be key for a run game that tallied almost 2,000 yards in all last season.

New Haven (NE10)

The Chargers will be the favorites to take the NE10 again and return to the playoffs for the fifth time in six years, with a crucial season-opening game at Slippery Rock likely to be a measuring stick for the program’s aspirations in 2024. Don’t be shocked if New Haven’s star corner and reigning NE10 Defensive Player of the Year, Giye Jenkins, gives The Rock’s passing attack some trouble, though.

First team out: Shepherd (PSAC)

Super Region 2 Playoff Predictions

Valdosta State (Gulf South)

Slingin’ Sammy Edwards will be looking to follow up on his breakout campaign as the Blazers’ starting quarterback, in which he finished third in Harlon Hill Trophy voting and led VSU to the national quarterfinals. Now firmly in a groove under third-year coach Tremaine Jackson, the mission for the Blazers now is simple — win a fifth national championship since 2004.

West Florida (Gulf South)

There’s no more Peewee Jarrett under center (and coach Kaleb Nobles is keeping silent about his replacement for now), but there is what should be a stacked defense featuring impact players like linebacker Ralph Ortiz, defensive lineman Traevon Mitchell and defensive back Donovan Barnes. Watch out for D-III transfer Da’Mani Brown at receiver, who had consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns at Loras College.

Delta State (Gulf South)

Six of a possible 13 spots on offense on this year’s Preseason All-GSC Team went to Statesmen, which says a lot about DSU’s depth and how they had more last season than just the now-gone two-time GSC Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Patrick Shegog. Three of DSU’s preseason All-GSC selections went to linemen, and they should open up plenty of running lanes for tailback Kelvin Smith.

Lenoir-Rhyne (South Atlantic)

National semifinalists last season, the Bears will be challenged to keep on surging along with a new coach in Doug Socha, who previously built a NAIA power from the ground-up at Keiser. The nation’s tackles-for-loss leader in Andre Jefferson is back to terrorize opposing offensive lines, as is dynamic receiver/return man DeAree Rogers — both of whom are among the best in their roles in all of D-II.

Wingate (South Atlantic)

Like their SAC rivals above, the Bulldogs are also adjusting to a new coach as the Rashaan Jordan era begins, with the longtime coordinator succeeding Joe Reich after he stepped down to become the school’s athletic director. Playoff quarterfinalists in 2022, Wingate just missed out on the postseason in 2023 but does get the nation’s sack leader from a year ago in Marquise Fleming back to anchor its D-line.

Virginia Union (CIAA)

Don’t know of Jada Byers yet? Get to know him. The Panthers’ star running back is a 5-foot-7 bowling ball and the heart and soul of VUU, which has made back-to-back playoff appearances in its past two seasons for the first time since 1990-91. It has never made it past the first round in 10 playoff trips, but nine starters returning from a defense that only gave up three rushing scores all year will be determined to change that.

Albany State (SIAC)

Ready to end Benedict’s reign of supremacy across the SIAC, the Golden Rams are the preseason favorites to take the league title after Benedict (which hasn’t lost a regular-season or conference championship game in two years) lost its head coach, Chennis Berry, to the FCS level. Reigning SIAC Freshman of the Year and running back Freddrick Gaines could be bound for a big year in the backfield.

First team out: Virginia State (CIAA)

Super Region 3 Playoff Predictions

Harding (Great American)

All three of the major pieces of the Bisons’ record-setting flexbone offense — running backs Blake Delacruz and Braden Jay plus quarterback Cole Keylon — are back to scamper all over opposing defenses once again and try and make it two straight national championships. One of the easiest predictions on this list.

Southern Arkansas (Great American)

After its first 10-win season since 1952 last year, the Muleriders are ready to take the leap and qualify for the playoffs for the first time since joining the NCAA in 1995. Jariq Scales is gunning for his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season in the backfield, while All-American cornerback Melvin Smith Jr. is one of the premier defensive talents in all of D-II.

Ferris State (GLIAC)

A down year by their lofty standards in 2023, the Bulldogs still made the playoffs for the ninth consecutive time and almost beat FCS runner-up Montana on the road in the regular season. Dynamic quarterback Carson Gulker should be running the show on offense after scoring a combined 45 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons.

Grand Valley State (GLIAC)

Even though the Lakers return 10 starters on offense and nine on defense, their major departures are big ones as quarterback Cade Peterson and linebacker Abe Swanson are both out the door. That being said, this is GVSU we’re talking about here — a program which rarely rebuilds and often reloads with another elite squad with fill-ins ready to go.

Central Missouri (MIAA)

The highest-scoring offense (49.4 points per game) in all of D-II last season should have no plans to slow down with heightened expectations surrounding them. Defending Harlon Hill Trophy winner Zach Zebrowski will be back under center for the Mules after shattering passing records in an incredible first season after transferring from FCS Southern Illinois.

Pittsburg State (MIAA)

First-year coach Tom Anthony will be trying to lead the Gorillas to their first outright MIAA title since 2011 — the same year that they won their last national championship. All-American Jack Barkley and First Team All-MIAA selection Alex Gaskill will be the driving forces at linebacker of a strong defense that allowed a league-low 16.7 points per game last season. 

Indianapolis (GLVC)

Winners of nine GLVC titles since the conference began sponsoring football in 2012, the Greyhounds will be the favorites once again to take the crown and make the playoffs for the third straight season. Junior quarterback Gavin Sukup is the reigning GLVC Offensive Player of the Year and a Harlon Hill Trophy nominee poised to continue his run of form, while safety Michael Brown is a three-time All-GLVC selection on the defensive end.

First team out: Ouachita Baptist (Great American)

Super Region 4 Playoff Predictions

Central Washington (Lone Star)

Ready to try and prove that its run to the national quarterfinals in 2023 was no fluke, CWU will be attempting to make it past a regional final for the first time in program history. Reigning Cliff Harris Award winner Tanner Volk will be holding it down in the secondary as the QB-RB tandem of Kennedy McGill and Tyler Flanagan looks to build off of their late-season success.

Texas Permian Basin (Lone Star)

Can the only playoff debutant in last year’s field make it two in a row? It’s possible, especially considering that the Falcons gave Lone Star Conference favorite Central Washington a 42-14 beatdown en route to the league title in 2023. Reigning LSC Receiver of the Year Jeremiah Cooley is one of the best skill players in the region and should cause plenty of damage once again.

Colorado School of Mines (RMAC)

Former Harlon Hill Trophy winner John Matocha is gone, leaving behind a huge amount of production to make up for whichever Orediggers quarterback earns the Week 1 start. Whoever that is, however, will have one of the best receiving tandems in the country to throw to in All-American Max McLeod and All-RMAC talent Flynn Schiele.

Western Colorado (RMAC)

The alma mater of star NFL running back Austin Ekeler will be pushing to try and pip a retooled Colorado Mines squad to the RMAC title, much like the Mountaineers did in 2021 when they shared it with the Orediggers. Linebacker Kendall Lightfoot should be one of the best defensive players in the region this season.

Minnesota State (NSIC)

Ranked as high as No. 3 in the country in 2023, the Mavericks still qualified for their 14th playoffs in program history but probably wanted a little bit more — especially after a first-round exit. Defensive lineman Maven Kretche, who has been turning heads after a 10.5-sack campaign last year, will be an obvious focal point, but the play of fourth-year starting quarterback Hayden Ekern may be just as important. 

Augustana (South Dakota) (NSIC)

Coming off of a massive year for the Vikings as they secured their first outright conference title since 1959, Augie has been cooking under coach Jerry Olszewski as he managed to lead the program past the first round this past season for the first time since 2010. Associated Press and AFCA All-American defensive back Peyton Buckley — who led the team with 78 tackles — should be primed for another strong season.

Minnesota Duluth (NSIC)

A perennial force in the NSIC, the Bulldogs haven’t qualified for the playoffs since 2021 despite a 17-5 record over the past two seasons. That will change this fall with Harlon Hill Award nominee Kyle Walljapser calling the shots at quarterback once again and tight end Sam Pitz (nine touchdowns a year ago) likely to keep turning heads as a potential pro prospect.

First team out: Angelo State (Lone Star)

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