INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA Division II Football Committee released the 2024 championship bracket Sunday afternoon and both Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne will represent North Carolina in the race for the championship, continuing the South Atlantic Conference's strong football tradition.
The Wingate Bulldogs (9-1) earned the No. 2 seed in Super Region Two and will host Virginia Union (8-3) in the first round on November 23 at Irwin Belk Stadium. Meanwhile, Lenoir-Rhyne (9-2) will travel to face third-seeded West Alabama (9-1) in Livingston, Alabama.
Wingate enters postseason play as one of the hottest teams in the country, riding a seven-game winning streak that includes three shutouts. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 222-50 over their last seven games, culminating with Saturday's 28-13 victory over #19 Carson-Newman in the SAC title game. The victory secured Wingate's third SAC championship in program history.
The Bulldogs' success has been built on one of the nation's most dominant defenses. Wingate leads the nation in third-down defense while ranking second nationally in total defense and red zone defense. They're third in pass defense, fifth in scoring defense and eighth in tackles for loss. Reigning SAC and Region Defensive Player of the Year Marquise Fleming leads the nation in tackles for loss. The defense has held six different opponents to their lowest point total of the season this year.
For Lenoir-Rhyne, the path to the playoffs included bouncing back from an early October loss to Emory & Henry. The Bears responded by winning five of their final six games, with their only loss coming in a tight 14-10 battle against Wingate on November 2. They closed the regular season strong with victories over Catawba (33-14) and Anderson (27-24).
The Bears were particularly effective through the air, with quarterback Jalen Ferguson throwing for 2,613 yards and 14 touchdowns. The team showed good balance, adding 1,349 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns for the season, led by Alex Boyd and Zayvion Turner-Knox. The Bears' defense was a significant strength, forcing 19 interceptions and recording 20 sacks while holding opponents to under 17 points a game.
The two North Carolina schools could potentially meet again in the second round. If Wingate defeats Virginia Union, they would host the winner of the West Alabama-Lenoir-Rhyne matchup on November 30 at Irwin Belk Stadium.
Valdosta State (10-0) earned the top seed in Super Region Two and receives a first-round bye. Miles (9-2) rounds out the region's representation, hosting Carson-Newman (9-2) in the first round.
First-round games are scheduled for 1 p.m. local time on November 23, unless otherwise approved by the committee. The tournament will continue with second-round games on November 30, quarterfinals on December 7, and semifinals on December 14, leading up to the national championship game in McKinney, Texas on December 21. The championship game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 HD.
NCAA DII football championship history
Harding, which won its first-ever DII football championship last season by defeating Colorado School of Mines 38-7, enters the tournament looking to become the first repeat winner since Ferris State captured back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.
| Year | Champion | Coach | Score | Runner-Up | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Harding | Paul Simmons | 38-7 | Colorado School of Mines | McKinney, Texas |
| 2022 | Ferris State | Tony Annese | 41-14 | Colorado School of Mines | McKinney, Texas |
| 2021 | Ferris State | Tony Annese | 58-17 | Valdosta State | McKinney, Texas |
| 2020 | Canceled due to Covid-19 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2019 | West Florida | Pete Shinnick | 48-40 | Minnesota State | McKinney, Texas |
| 2018 | Valdosta State | Kerwin Bell | 49-47 | Ferris State | McKinney, Texas |
| 2017 | Texas A&M-Commerce | Colby Carthel | 37-27 | West Florida | Kansas City, Kan. |
| 2016 | Northwest Missouri State | Adam Dorrel | 29-3 | North Alabama | Kansas City, Kan. |
| 2015 | Northwest Missouri State | Adam Dorrel | 34-7 | Shepherd | Kansas City, Kan. |
| 2014 | Colorado State-Pueblo | John Wristen | 13-0 | Minnesota State-Mankato | Kansas City, Kan. |
| 2013 | Northwest Missouri State | Adam Dorrel | 43-28 | Lenoir-Rhyne | Florence, Ala. |
| 2012 | Valdosta State | David Dean | 35-7 | Winston-Salem State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2011 | Pittsburg State | Tim Beck | 35-21 | Wayne State (Mich.) | Florence, Ala. |
| 2010 | Minnesota-Duluth | Bob Nielson | 20-17 | Delta State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2009 | Northwest Missouri State | Mel Tjeersdma | 30-23 | Grand Valley State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2008 | Minnesota-Duluth | Bob Nielson | 21-14 | Northwest Missouri State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2007 | Valdosta State | David Dean | 25-20 | Northwest Missouri State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2006 | Grand Valley State | Chuck Martin | 17-14 | Northwest Missouri State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2005 | Grand Valley State | Chuck Martin | 21-17 | Northwest Missouri State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2004 | Valdosta State | Christ Hatcher | 36-31 | Pittsburg State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2003 | Grand Valley State | Brian Kelly | 10-3 | North Dakota | Florence, Ala. |
| 2002 | Grand Valley State | Brian Kelly | 31-24 | Valdosta State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2001 | North Dakota | Dale Lennon | 17-14 | Grand Valley State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2000 | Delta State | Steve Campbell | 63-34 | Bloomsburg | Florence, Ala. |
| 1999 | Northwest Missouri State | Mel Tjeersdma | 58-52 (4ot) | Carson-Newman | Florence, Ala. |
| 1998 | Northwest Missouri State | Mel Tjeersdma | 24-6 | Carson-Newman | Florence, Ala. |
| 1997 | Northern Colorado | Joe Glenn | 51-0 | New Haven | Florence, Ala. |
| 1996 | Northern Colorado | Joe Glenn | 23-14 | Carson-Newman | Florence, Ala. |
| 1995 | North Alabama | Bobby Wallace | 27-7 | Pittsburg State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1994 | North Alabama | Bobby Wallace | 16-10 | Texas A&M-Kingsville | Florence, Ala. |
| 1993 | North Alabama | Bobby Wallace | 41-34 | Indiana (Pa.) | Florence, Ala. |
| 1992 | Jacksonville State | Bill Burgess | 17-13 | Pittsburg State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1991 | Pittsburg State | Chuck Broyles | 23-6 | Jacksonville State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1990 | North Dakota State | Rocky Hager | 51-11 | Indiana (Pa.) | Florence, Ala. |
| 1989 | *Mississippi College | John Williams | 3-0 | Jacksonville State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1988 | North Dakota State | Rocky Hager | 35-21 | Portland State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1987 | Troy | Rick Rhoades | 31-17 | Portland State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1986 | North Dakota State | Earle Solomonson | 27-7 | South Dakota | Florence, Ala. |
| 1985 | North Dakota State | Earle Solomonson | 35-7 | North Alabama | McAllen, Texas |
| 1984 | Troy | Chan Gailey | 18-17 | North Dakota State | McAllen, Texas |
| 1983 | North Dakota State | Don Morton | 41-21 | Central State (Ohio) | McAllen, Texas |
| 1982 | Texas State | Jim Wacker | 34-9 | UC Davis | McAllen, Texas |
| 1981 | Texas State | Jim Wacker | 42-13 | North Dakota State | McAllen, Texas |
| 1980 | Cal Poly | Joe Harper | 21-13 | Eastern Illinois | Albuquerque, N.M. |
| 1979 | Delaware | Tubby Raymond | 38-21 | Youngstown State | Albuquerque, N.M. |
| 1978 | Eastern Illinois | Darrell Mudra | 10-9 | Delaware | Longview, Texas |
| 1977 | Lehigh | John Whitehead | 33-0 | Jacksonville State | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| 1976 | Montana State | Sonny Holland | 24-13 | Akron | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| 1975 | Northern Michigan | Gil Krueger | 16-14 | Western Kentucky | Sacramento, Calif. |
| 1974 | Central Michigan | Roy Kramer | 54-14 | Delaware | Sacramento, Calif. |
| 1973 | Louisiana Tech | Maxie Lambright | 34-0 | Western Kentucky | Sacramento, Calif |
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