sportingnews
As the 2026 NCAA Division II football playoffs approach, the central question remains unchanged from recent seasons: can any team dethrone Ferris State? The Bulldogs have claimed the national championship in each of the past two years and in four of the last five, establishing themselves as the dominant force in Division II football.
Despite the impressive campaigns of several other D2 programs—most notably Harding, which reached the 2025 final and won the title in 2023—Ferris State enters the bracket as the clear target for every opponent. Thirty-two teams will begin the journey toward the December 19 championship game, which will again be held in McKinney, Texas.
The playoff field is composed of 16 automatic qualifiers and 16 at-large selections, distributed across four super regions. In each region, the top four teams are seeded.
Fans can follow all the action, with first-round through semifinal games streaming live on the ESPN app. The championship game on December 19 will be televised on ESPNU and can also be streamed via Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Playoff Schedule and Scores
The bracket will be revealed at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 15. The seeds listed below are for the top four teams in each super region.
First Round – Saturday, November 21
- No. 1 seed vs. TBD – Time TBD – ESPN app
- No. 4 seed vs. TBD – Time TBD – ESPN app
- No. 2 seed vs. TBD – Time TBD – ESPN app
- No. 3 seed vs. TBD – Time TBD – ESPN app
Round-by-Round Schedule
- First Round: November 21
- Second Round: November 28
- Quarterfinals: December 5
- Semifinals: December 12 (teams reseeded)
- Championship Game: December 19 (McKinney, Texas)
Recent Division II Football Champions
Below is a list of the last 10 Division II football champions. Note: There was no tournament in 2020.
- 2025: Ferris State defeated Harding
- 2024: Ferris State defeated Valdosta State
- 2023: Harding defeated Colorado School of Mines
- 2022: Ferris State defeated Colorado School of Mines
- 2021: Ferris State defeated Valdosta State
- 2019: West Florida defeated Minnesota State
- 2018: Valdosta State defeated Ferris State
- 2017: Texas A&M-Commerce defeated West Florida
- 2016: Northwest Missouri State defeated North Alabama
- 2015: Northwest Missouri State defeated Shepherd
Originally reported by sportingnews.