There were upsets and last-gasp heroics galore in the opening round of the NCAA Division II football playoffs last weekend.

Now, with first-round byes out of the way and the top-seeded teams in each of the four Super Region brackets ready to start their postseason journeys, those favorites will be hoping that the trend of playoff shocks won’t continue.

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At the same time, however, multiple surprise teams will be looking to play spoiler in the second round and book their places in next week’s quarterfinals, with none of the eight matchups on the docket Saturday looking on paper like surefire wins one way or the other.

This is all to say that this weekend in D-II football is going to be a lot of fun, so buckle up for the ride ahead.

Here’s a look ahead at all eight Division II playoff games this weekend — along with predictions for the entirety of the second round:

Super Region 1 Predictions

No. 4 Slippery Rock at No. 1 Kutztown

Winners of 20 consecutive regular season games and now back-to-back Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champions, Kutztown will face another PSAC power in its playoff opener, a testament to how much the league stood head and shoulders above the rest of Super Region 1 rankings-wise all season. 

Yet to play The Rock this season as they did not win the PSAC West (that honor went to California (Pennsylvania)), the Golden Bears enter Saturday afternoon’s showdown with a four-game winning streak over Slippery Rock, and they’ll meet one week after the latter got through a scrappy New Haven in a low-scoring, 14-7 first-round tussle. 

KU’s defense is ferocious, being second nationally at 8.8 points allowed per game and fourth nationally at 69.1 rushing yards allowed per game, but The Rock had no problems going up against a similarly stout rushing defense in New Haven last week, opting to frequently go to the air instead through All-American quarterback Brayden Long (21-for-34 passing, 270 yards, one touchdown). It’ll be a close one, but the Bears will narrowly get the nod and reach their third quarterfinal in four seasons.

The pick: Kutztown

Ashland at No. 3 California (Pennsylvania)

Where in the world did Ashland come from? 

The final team to make the Super Region 1 bracket — and, metrically speaking, one of the weakest teams to be in the D-II playoff field — had a 40-point defeat to Ferris State and a loss to a Walsh team that finished under .500 on its resume going into the playoffs. 

Yet despite all that, it still went to previously unbeaten, No. 2-seeded Charleston (West Virginia) in the first round and shocked the Golden Eagles by challenging them to a shootout and coming out on top by a 40-38 margin. Ashland quarterback Trevor Bycznski (435 passing yards, four total touchdowns) was the star of the first round, and it was an eye-opening performance for an Eagles squad that many were probably taking lightly going into the postseason. 

If the magic runs out against the Vulcans, who toppled PSAC rival East Stroudsburg 30-27 by way of a game-winning field goal as time expired, Ashland will have nothing to be ashamed of, but we like the Eagles to keep their mojo going, and be the bracket’s “Cinderella” team, especially considering that Cal lost to Charleston in its season opener.                                

The pick: Ashland

Super Region 2 Predictions

No. 4 Miles at No. 1 Valdosta State

In what was overall a chaotic D-II regular season, Valdosta State was an example of stability — and in one of the toughest conferences in the country, no less. 

The unbeaten Gulf South Conference champion, the Blazers won all but one game by multiple touchdowns as one of only two teams nationally (along with Harding) ranked in the top six in D-II in scoring offense (43.1 points scored per game) and defense (9.1 points allowed per game). 

Quarterback Sammy Edwards has been brilliant, throwing 23 touchdowns to two interceptions and for nearly 2,500 yards despite VSU playing one fewer regular-season game than most of his peers; the Blazers’ scheduled game against West Alabama in September was canceled due to the potential impact of Hurricane Helene. 

Miles is on a historic roll, recording its 10th win in a season for the first time in program history and notching its first-ever D-II playoff victory in last weekend’s first round against Carson-Newman, but every standout Blazers performance makes it more apparent that this might be a season of destiny for VSU.

The pick: Valdosta State

Virginia Union at Lenoir-Rhyne

Virginia Union has already toppled one South Atlantic Conference team on the road this postseason, and the Panthers are roaring to go in trying to take down another in the second round. 

In an overtime classic at No. 2 Wingate in the first round, VUU won the first playoff game in its history thanks to a legendary fill-in shift from quarterback RJ Rosales, who came in under center in the fourth quarter and threw a game-tying touchdown pass with 20 seconds left in regulation before running in the game-winning score in overtime. 

Being without starting quarterback Mark Wright (2,167 passing yards, 20 touchdowns this season) this weekend would hurt, but VUU can also rely on one of the best running backs in the country in Jada Byers, who is second nationally with 1,762 rushing yards on the year. 

Don’t think for a second that the Bears can’t run with the Panthers in a shootout, however. They proved that in another dramatic first-round win against West Alabama over the weekend, with Jalen Ferguson throwing for a school-record 411 yards in a 37-34 win and top wideout Adonis McDaniel catching seven balls for 202 yards and two scores in the process. 

A massive day from Byers could get the Panthers over the hump in Hickory, though we’ll pick the Bears to get one step closer to potential back-to-back semifinal appearances.

The pick: Lenoir-Rhyne

Super Region 3 Predictions

No. 4 Central Oklahoma at No. 1 Ferris State

It’s a classic case of unstoppable force vs. immovable object in this one — and it’s going to be a ton of fun to watch. Central Oklahoma has been one of the biggest surprise teams in all of D-II this season, going from being picked seventh in its conference in the preseason to being league champion and the host of a first-round playoff game with an explosive offense (46.7 points per game, second nationally). 

The Bronchos’ overtime victory against Ouachita Baptist last weekend was cinematic, with UCO marking its first playoff trip in 21 years with a win led by another standout day from quarterback Jett Huff (371 yards, three touchdowns). 

Meanwhile, Ferris State — well-rested from a first-round bye and well-accustomed to playoff atmospheres — brings to the table the fourth most-stingiest defense in D-II (11 points allowed per game) ahead of its 10th straight playoff appearance. Teams are rarely able to go into Big Rapids and bother the Bulldogs, especially in the postseason, and while UCO has the offense to play with anyone in the land, FSU frequently hits another level in win-or-go-home scenarios.

The pick: Ferris State

Harding at No. 2 Grand Valley State

Welcome to what could very well be the game of the weekend. 

Just in case we all forgot that Harding is both the defending national champion and runs perhaps the finest option offense at any level of college football today, the Bisons reminded us all in the first round that they are not to be messed with. 

Harding stunningly demolished No. 3 Pittsburg State in a 48-3 beatdown on the road, running for a school playoff record 518 yards on the ground as it ripped the Gorillas to shreds. GVSU, meanwhile, took the chaotic path to the No. 2 seed as injuries at quarterback have prevented it from building a consistent flow on offense, but Ike Udengwu (223 yards, two touchdowns) had a solid game in the Lakers’ first-round win over Indianapolis. 

GVSU is also in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense (13.7 points allowed per game) even while facing a brutal schedule, but will it be enough to get it over the line against a ruthless Bisons run game? After how it completely dismantled Pitt State, it’s hard to pick against Harding.

The pick: Harding

Super Region 4 Predictions

Minnesota State at No. 1 Colorado State-Pueblo

As if you needed another example of how wacky the first round of the D-II playoffs was, Minnesota State probably had the most unlikely road to the second round considering how most of the Mavericks’ game against No. 4 Augustana (South Dakota) went. 

Down 19-10 with under two minutes left in the game, MSU scored on a 33-yard touchdown pass, then proceeded to recover an onside kick and boot through a game-winning field goal try as time expired to stun the Vikings and get back to the second round. Their reward for their heroics is a date with Colorado State-Pueblo, which themselves had a bit of a shaky last game entering this weekend as the ThunderWolves came back from 14 points down against Chadron State in their regular-season finale to win the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title outright and lock up Super Region 4’s top seed. 

Still, CSUP is a load to handle and must be respected, especially considering that RMAC Offensive Player of the Year Reggie Retzlaff (64 catches, 1,169 yards, 12 touchdowns) is one of the most unrecoverable wideouts in all of D-II. The ThunderWolves, who’ve been tested often this year in a tough schedule that’s included showdowns with Grand Valley State and Western Colorado, will roll in this one. 

The pick: Colorado State-Pueblo

Bemidji State at No. 2 Western Colorado

Sitting at 5-3 and on the outside looking in for the playoffs a month ago, Bemidji State has gotten hot at just the right time. The Beavers proved that they belonged among the nation’s best in the postseason last weekend when they went on the road to Lone Star Conference champion and third-seeded Angelo State and won 24-14, emerging victorious in a first-round game for the fourth straight season and dashing the Rams’ nine-game winning streak with it. 

But can Bemidji State keep its form going on another long road trip to Western Colorado, of which its only loss on the year is to No. 1-seeded CSU Pueblo? 

That’s the big question, especially after the Mountaineers handled a tough first-round test against Central Washington this past Saturday and advanced with a 28-21 victory over the Wildcats. The Beavers’ defense has now held back-to-back ranked opponents to 14 points or less (also doing so in their regular-season finale against Augustana (South Dakota)), but WCU has also scored at least 34 points in nine of its 12 games, so something’s got to give. 

The Mountaineers will get the nod to go through by us, helped by the fact that quarterback Drew Nash — who was involved in all four Western touchdowns last week — only seems to play even better as the signal-caller when the pressure is on.

The pick: Western Colorado

When Are The NCAA Division II Football Playoffs?

• First round: Saturday, Nov. 23
• Second round: Saturday, Nov. 30 
• Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 7 
• Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 14
• National championship: Saturday, Dec. 21

When Is The NCAA Division II Championship Game?

The NCAA Division II championship game is set for Saturday, Dec. 21 in McKinney, Texas.

NCAA Division II Football Playoff Schedule

First Round: Saturday, Nov. 23

• Slippery Rock def. New Haven, 14-7
• Ashland def. Charleston (W.Va.), 40-38
• California (Pa.) def. East Stroudsburg, 30-27
• Miles def. Carson-Newman, 14-13
• Virginia Union def. Wingate, 34-31
• Lenoir-Rhyne def. West Alabama, 37-34
• Central Oklahoma def. Ouachita Baptist, 38-31
• Grand Valley State def. UIndy, 24-7
• Harding def. Pittsburg State, 48-3
• Minnesota State def. Augustana (S.D.), 20-19
• Western Colorado def. Central Washington, 28-21
• Bemidji State def. Angelo State, 24-14

Second Round: Saturday, Nov. 30

• Kutztown vs. Slippery Rock
• Ashland vs. California (Pa.)
• Valdosta State vs. Miles
• Virginia Union vs. Lenoir-Rhyne
• Ferris State vs. Central Oklahoma
• Grand Valley State vs. Harding
• CSU Pueblo vs. Minnesota State
• Western Colorado vs. Bemidji State

AFCA Division II Football Rankings

As of Nov. 18, 2024

1. Valdosta St. (Ga.) (27) 10-0
2. Ferris St. (Mich.) (3) 10-1
3. Kutztown (Pa.) 11-0
4. Harding (Ark.) 10-1
5. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 10-1
6. Charleston (W.Va.) 11-0
7. Colorado St.-Pueblo 10-1
8. Central Oklahoma 10-1
9. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 10-1
10. Western Colorado 10-1
11. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 9-1
12. West Alabama 9-1
13. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 8-2
14. Indianapolis (Ind.) 10-1
15. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 9-2
16. Angelo St. (Tex.) 9-2
17. Wingate (N.C.) 9-1
18. Colorado School of Mines 8-3
19. Central Washington 8-3
20. California (Pa.) 8-2
21. West Florida 7-3
22. Augustana (S.D.) 8-3
23. Southern Arkansas 9-2
24. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 9-2
25. Central Missouri 8-3

Dropped Out: Minnesota St. (18), Findlay (Ohio) (22).

Others Receiving Votes: Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 65; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 45; Virginia Union, 38; Miles (Ala.), 36; Minnesota St., 34; New Haven (Conn.), 21; Findlay (Ohio), 18; Bemidji St. (Minn.), 9; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 4; Davenport (Mich.), 3; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Glenville St. (W.Va.), 1.

To see the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, click here.

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