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5 NCAA Division II Football Games With Major Playoff Implications

5 NCAA Division II Football Games With Major Playoff Implications

A ton of action is taking place in Division this weekend, but here are the five games with the most playoff implications.

Nov 14, 2024 by Cameron Belcher
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Over the years, the final week of the regular season has brought the biggest games of the year, which may significantly influence the playoffs.

This week for Division II will be no different. A handful of games this Saturday could impact not only the final rankings of the year but also the postseason with the selection show.

These are the five games with major playoff implications.

1. No. 1 Valdosta State Vs. No. 16 West Florida Football

  • This should come as no surprise, considering this game is almost certainly the game of the week, with two great teams on a hot streak.
  • Essentially, the winner of this game is for the Gulf South Conference title as the Blazers are looking for another undefeated season, their first since 2019, which is the last time they have won the national championship and back-to-back GSC titles.
  • If West Florida wins, it will knock off the top team in the division and, based on its win percentage in the Gulf South, win the conference title.

2. No. 2 Ferris State Football Vs. Davenport

  • The Bulldogs are currently at the top of the GLIAC due to the win last month on the road over Grand Valley State football in the Anchor-Bone Classic, and a win here against Davenport gives Ferris State the conference title and an automatic bid to the playoffs.
  • Davenport's win would be important, as it would give the Panthers more than enough of a right to make the playoffs. They are coming into the game with a 7-3 overall record, but it could be difficult, as only two teams are currently in the rankings with three losses.

3. Roosevelt Vs. No. 5 Grand Valley State Football

  • Just like Ferris State, GSVU is also looking for the GLIAC title, but of course, they have to win, and for the Bulldogs to lose, Ferris State just has to win. This is due to the result of the 2024 Anchor-Bone Classic with a more than convincing win from Ferris State.
  • In a battle with the Lakers, it's been the complete opposite. Grand Valley State has played well all year, coming into the game at 9-1, and Roosevelt has not performed well, with a 1-8 record. Still, they have the luxury of playing the final game of the regular season at home, which could upset GVSU and spoil some of his playoff plans.

4. No. 23 Wingate Vs. No. 19 Carson-Newman Football

  • Except this game will be an early taste of the playoffs. This will be as close as it gets to the playoffs, as this is a win-or-go-home scenario between two ranked teams. With both teams entertaining the game ranked toward of the bottom of the top 25 rankings, you can bet that the loser of this game will probably not make the postseason.
  • However, the loser could still qualify as a last-four team using the Super Region Two rankings, as Wingate is currently No. 2 while Carson-Newman is No. 4.

5. No. 17 California Vs. No. 3 Kutztown Football

  • Switching over to the Super Region One rankings, two top teams will face off against each other, with Kutztown going on the road against California. Although they are close to each other in the region rankings, they are a ways apart in the AFCA rankings, even with both teams having a good record. 

    That could change dramatically regardless of the result, as the two are playing for the PSAC championship and an automatic bid in the postseason; a win could significantly alter the rankings.

Where Every Ranked Division II Team Is Playing This Weekend

  • No. 16 West Florida vs No. 1 Valdosta State
  • Davenport vs No. 2 Ferris State
  • No. 17 California vs No. 3 Kutztown
  • Arkansas Tech vs No. 4 Harding
  • No. 5 Grand Valley State at Roosevelt 
  • West Virginia State vs No. 6 Charleston
  • No. 7 Colorado State-Pueblo at Chadron State
  • Emporia State vs No. 8 Central Oklahoma
  • No. 9 Ouachita Baptist at Henderson State
  • No. 10 Western Colorado at Colorado Mesa
  • Bloomsburg vs No. 11 Slippery Rock
  • Erskine vs No. 12 West Alabama
  • No. 13 Pittsburg State at Northwest Missouri State
  • No. 14 Indianapolis at Lincoln
  • No. 15 Augustana at Bemidji State 
  • No. 18 Minnesota State at Minnesota Duluth
  • No. 19 Carson-Newman at No. 23 Wingate
  • Anderson State vs No. 20 Lenoir-Rhyne
  • West Texas vs No. 21 Angelo State
  • No. 22 Findlay at Tiffin 
  • Fort Lewis vs No. 24 Colorado School of Mines
  • Western Oregon vs No. 25 Central Washington

AFCA NCAA Division II Football Rankings In Week 12

  1. Valdosta St. (Ga.) (25) 9-0
  2. Ferris St. (Mich.) (5) 9-1
  3. Kutztown (Pa.) 10-0
  4. Harding (Ark.) 9-1
  5. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 9-1
  6. Charleston (W.Va.) 10-0
  7. Colorado St.-Pueblo 9-1
  8. Central Oklahoma 9-1
  9. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 9-1
  10. Western Colorado 9-1
  11. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 8-1
  12. West Alabama 8-1
  13. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 7-2
  14. Indianapolis (Ind.) 9-1
  15. Augustana (S.D.) 8-2
  16. West Florida 7-2
  17. California (Pa.) 8-1
  18. Minnesota St. 8-2
  19. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 9-1
  20. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 8-2
  21. Angelo St. (Tex.) 8-2
  22. Findlay (Ohio) 9-1
  23. Wingate (N.C.) 8-1
  24. Colorado School of Mines 7-3
  25. Central Washington 7-3

Dropped Out: Emporia St. (Kan.) (20)

Others Receiving Votes: Central Missouri, 25; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 18; Southern Arkansas, 14; Emporia St. (Kan.), 9; New Haven (Conn.), 9; Miles (Ala.), 4; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 4; Virginia Union, 2; Davenport (Mich.), 1; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 1; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 1; Virginia St., 1.

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