The field for the 2025 Division II Football Playoffs was announced and 5 HBCUs were amongst the 32-team field.
Albany State Golden Rams ( 10-1, 8-0)
The Golden Rams of Albany State are the No.1 seed in Super Region 2. Albany State won the SIAC Championship by defeating Benedict 22-16 on Saturday and claimed the automatic bid that went along with it. Albany State finished the regular season with a 10-1 record, with their only loss coming to a Division I opponent, Florida A&M, 33-25 on September 13. The Golden Rams lead the SIAC in scoring offense (35.5 ppg), scoring defense (11.9 ppg), total defense ( 257.5 yards per game), rushing offense ( 199 yards per game), rushing defense ( 74.7 yards per game), and red zone touchdowns (37).
Albany State will host Valdosta State on Saturday at 1pm EST. The Blazers have been the Golden Rams’ kryptonite, having defeated Albany State in nine of their last 10 meetings, including a 42-10 victory last season.
Benedict College (9-2, 7-1)
Benedict gets the postseason berth at No.5 in Super Region 2. The Tigers are coming off a solid season in the SIAC compiling an overall 9-2 record and 7-1 within the confines of the SIAC. Their only losses on the season came to SIAC champion Albany State, including a 22-16 defeat in the conference championship game on Saturday. This is the second time the Tigers have been in the postseason in the past four seasons.
Benedict will face Wingate University on Saturday at 1pm EST. The Bulldogs are a familiar postseason foe for the Tigers . In their last postseason appearance, Benedict was defeated by Wingate 23-6 in the second round of the 2022 Division II Playoffs
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Kentucky State (9-2, 7-1)
Kentucky State was the third SIAC to make the playoffs, a first in the history of Kentucky State football. Under the guidance of 2025 SIAC Coach of the Year, Felton Huggins Jr, Kentucky State posted a 9-2 overall record 7-1 in the SIAC, their best season since 1935. The Thorobreds join Albany State and Benedict in Super Region 2 at No.6. KSU concluded its regular season with a 35-7 win over Shorter on Saturday.
Kentucky State will face No. 3 seed Newberry Saturday, November 22 at 1 p.m. EST.
Johnson C. Smith (10-1, 6-1)
The Golden Bulls of Johnson C. Smith are the No.2 seed in Super Region One. The Golden Bulls defeated two-time defending champion Virginia Union 45-21 in the CIAA Championship game, which was their first conference crown since 1969. JCSU quarterback Kelvin Durham completed 16 of 29 passes for 286 yards and 5 touchdowns, while adding another on the ground. The 10 wins JCSU recorded this season were a program record.
The Golden Bulls will host Frostburg State on Saturday at 1 pm EST.
Virginia Union Panthers (9-2, 7-0)
Virginia Union enters the Division II Playoffs as the No.3 seed in Super Region One, the highest postseason seeding in the Dr. Alvin Parker era.
“Our body of work spoke for itself, so we felt good about our chances,” said Dr. Parker. “We felt good because of the way we played this season, especially near the end. A No. 3 seed is the highest seeding we’ve had since I’ve been here, and now we’ve been to the playoffs four consecutive times. That’s definitely something to feel good about.”
The Panthers are making their fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Playoffs. VUU enjoyed an undefeated run through the CIAA this season, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Johnson C. Smith, the No.2 seed in Super Region One, 45-21 in the CIAA Championship game.
Virginia Union will host California University of Pennsylvania on Saturday at 1 pm EST.
