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NCAA Division 3 Football Playoff 2024 Brackets Are Out. Here's What To Know

NCAA Division 3 Football Playoff 2024 Brackets Are Out. Here's What To Know

The NCAA Division III football playoffs are underway with the brackets now set for what promises to be a thrilling postseason. Here's what to know.

Nov 17, 2024 by Andy Schamma

The 2024 NCAA Division III football playoffs are officially underway, with the brackets now set for what promises to be another thrilling postseason. Recently expanded to 40 teams, 28 were made up of each Division III football conference winner while the remaining 12 teams were decided at-large.

The field is stacked with not only powerhouse programs but also unexpected teams looking to make a deep run and etch their spot in the history books.

With everything on the line, each team will need to bring their best in order to survive and advance, knowing that one misstep could mean the end of their championship dreams.

In this article, we've compiled all of the most important information for keeping up with the 2024 NCAA Division III football playoffs.

NCAA Division 3 Football Playoff Bracket

The 2024 NCAA Division III football playoff bracket is here:

The #D3fb bracket is here!🏈🏆

🔗 https://t.co/N7oglN0t0I #WhyD3 pic.twitter.com/8lyT8aX5NX
— NCAA Division III (@NCAADIII) November 17, 2024

NCAA Division 3 Football Playoff Schedule

Here is the link to the bracket:

First round: Saturday, Nov. 23

Wisconsin-La Crosse vs Northwestern-St. Paul
Coe vs Bethel (MN)
Endicott vs Alfred St.
Whitworth vs Pomona-Pitzer
John Carroll vs Mt. St. Joseph
King's (PA) vs Ursinus
Berry vs Maryville (TN)
Trinity (TX) vs Mary Hardin-Baylor

Second Round: Saturday, Nov. 30

St. John's (MN) vs Wis.-La Crosse/Northwestern St. Paul
Susquehanna vs Hobart
Wartburg vs Wisconsin-Platteville
Lake Forest vs Coe/Bethel (MN)
Cortland vs Endicott/Alfred St.
Springfield vs UMass Dartmouth
Hope vs Aurora
North Central (IL) vs Whitworth/Pomona/Pitzer
Mount Union vs John Carroll/Mt. St. Joseph
Carnegie-Mellon vs Centre
Randolph-Macon vs Washington & Jefferson
Salisbury vs King's (PA)/Ursinus
Depauw vs Berry/Maryville (TN)
Johns Hopkins vs Grove City
Hardin-Simmons vs Trinity/Mary Hardin-Baylor
Linfield vs Texas Lutheran

How To Qualify For NCAA Division 3 Football Playoffs

In 2024, a total of 40 teams will make the Division III football playoffs. The vast majority of the teams—28 in total—earn automatic bids by winning their respective conferences. All Division III conferences are considered except for the New England Small College Athletic Conference, which chooses not to participate in the Division 3 football playoffs.

In addition to the automatic bids, 12 teams receive at-large invitations. These are granted to teams that did not win their conference but still have strong records and resumes. Criteria like winning percentage, strength of schedule, and quality wins are considered.

In 2024, teams are to be divided into a new 40-team bracket. The playoff field is split into four regions, each consisting of 10 teams.

When are the NCAA Division 3 Football Playoffs?

Selection Show: Sunday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. ET on NCAA.com
First Round: Saturday, Nov. 23
Second Round: Saturday, Nov. 30
Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 7
Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 14
National Championship: Sunday, Jan. 5

AFCA NCAA Division III Football Rankings In Week 12

North Central (Ill.) (38) 9-0
Cortland (N.Y.) (11) 9-0
Mount Union (Ohio) (1) 9-0
St. John’s (Minn.) 9-0
Hardin-Simmons (Tex.) 9-0
Susquehanna (Pa.) 8-1
Salisbury (Md.) 9-0
DePauw (Ind.) 9-0
Wisconsin-Platteville 8-1
Whitworth (Wash.) 9-0
Wartburg (Iowa) 8-1
Endicott (Mass.) 8-1
Aurora (Ill.) 9-1
Linfield (Ore.) 8-1
Hope (Mich.) 9-0
Carnegie Mellon (Pa.) 8-1
Grove City (Pa.) 8-1
Johns Hopkins (Md.) 8-1
Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) 8-1
Springfield (Mass.) 9-0
Wisconsin-La Crosse 6-3
Randolph-Macon (Va.) 8-1
Wisconsin-Oshkosh 6-3
Marietta (Ohio) 8-1
Lake Forest (Ill.) 9-0

NCAA Division 3 Football National Champions.

Here is every NCAA Division III Football Champion

*Year, champion, coach, score, runner-up, site

2022 North Central (IL) Brad Spencer 28-21 Mount Union Annapolis, Maryland
2021 Mary Hardin-Baylor Pete Fredenburg 57-24 North Central Canton, Ohio
2020 Canceled due to Covid-19 -- -- -- --
2019 North Central (IL) Jeff Thorne 41-14 Wisconsin-Whitewater Shenandoah, Texas
2018 Mary Hardin-Baylor Pete Fredenburg 24-16 Mount Union Shenandoah, Texas
2017 Mount Union Vince Kehres 12-0 Mary Hardin-Baylor Salem, Va.
2016 Mary Hardin-Baylor Pete Fredenburg 10-7 Wisconsin-Oshkosh Salem, Va.
2015 Mount Union Vince Kehres 49-35 St. Thomas (Minn.) Salem, Va.
2014 Wisconsin-Whitewater Lance Leipold 43-34 Mount Union Salem, Va.
2013 Wisconsin-Whitewater Lance Leipold 52-14 Mount Union Salem, Va.
2012 Mount Union Larry Kehres 28-10 St. Thomas (Minn.) Salem, Va.
2011 Wisconsin-Whitewater Lance Leipold 13-10 Mount Union Salem, Va.
2010 Wisconsin-Whitewater Lance Leipold 31-21 Mount Union Salem, Va.
2009 Wisconsin-Whitewater Lance Leipold 38-28 Mount Union Salem, Va.
2008 Mount Union Larry Kehres 31-26 Wisconsin-Whitewater Salem, Va.
2007 Wisconsin-Whitewater Lance Leipold 31-21 Mount Union Salem, Va.
2006 Mount Union Larry Kehres 35-16 Wisconsin-Whitewater Salem, Va.
2005 Mount Union Larry Kehres 35-28 Wisconsin-Whitewater Salem, Va.
2004 Linfield Jay Locey 28-21 Mary Hardin-Baylor Salem, Va.
2003 St. John's (Minn.) John Gagliardi 24-6 Mount Union Salem, Va.
2002 Mount Union Larry Kehres 48-7 Trinity (Texas) Salem, Va.
2001 Mount Union Larry Kehres 30-27 Bridgewater (Va.) Salem, Va.
2000 Mount Union Larry Kehres 10-7 St. John's (Minn.) Salem, Va.
1999 Pacific Lutheran Frosty Westering 42-13 Rowan Salem, Va.
1998 Mount Union Larry Kehres 44-24 Rowan Salem, Va.
1997 Mount Union Larry Kehres 61-12 Lycoming Salem, Va.
1996 Mount Union Larry Kehres 56-24 Rowan Salem, Va.
1995 Wisconsin-La Crosse Roger Harring 36-7 Rowan Salem, Va.
1994 Albion Pete Schmidt 38-15 Washington & Jefferson Salem, Va.
1993 Mount Union Larry Kehres 34-24 Rowan Salem, Va.
1992 Wisconsin-La Crosse Roger Harring 16-12 Washington & Jefferson Bradenton, Fla.
1991 Ithaca Jim Butterfield 34-20 Dayton Bradenton, Fla.
1990 Allegheny Ken O'Keefe 21-14 Lycoming Bradenton, Fla.
1989 Dayton Mike Kelly 17-7 Union (N.Y.) Phenix City, Ala.
1988 Ithaca Jim Butterfield 39-24 Central (Iowa) Phenix City, Ala.
1987 Wagner Walkt Hameline 19-3 Dayton Phenix City, Ala.
1986 Augustana (Ill.) Bob Reade 31-3 Salisbury Phenix City, Ala.
1985 Augustana (Ill.) Bob Reade 20-7 Ithaca Phenix City, Ala.
1984 Augustana (Ill.) Bob Reade 21-12 Central (Iowa) Kings Island, Ohio
1983 Augustana (Ill.) Bob Reade 21-17 Union (N.Y.) Kings Island, Ohio
1982 West Georgia Bobby Pate 14-0 Augustana (N.Y.) Phenix City, Ala.
1981 Widener Bill Manlove 24-10 Dayton Phenix City, Ala.
1980 Dayton Rick Carter 63-0 Ithaca Phenix City, Ala.
1979 Ithaca Jim Buttersfield 14-10 Wittenberg Phenix City, Ala.
1978 Baldwin-Wallace Lee Tressel 24-10 Wittenberg Phenix City, Ala.
1977 Widener Bill Manlove 39-36 Wabash Phenix City, Ala.
1976 St.John's (Minn.) John Gagliardi 31-28 Towson Phenix City, Ala.
1975 Wittenberg Dave Maurer 28-0 Ithaca Phenix City, Ala.
1974 Central (Iowa) Ron Schipper 10-8 Ithaca Phenix City, Ala.
1973 Wittenberg Dave Maurer 41-0 Juniata Phenix City, Ala.

When Is The NCAA Division III Football Championship Game? Also Known As The Stagg Bowl

The Stagg Bowl is in Houston, TX at Shell Energy Stadium on Jan. 4, 2025.

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