The postseason has arrived in the Division II ranks with Saturday seeing the kickoff of the first round of the National Championship tournament.
This year will be a historic affair as five HBCU teams will compete in the Division II playoffs, the most seen in a single year in the tournament’s 52-year history.
This comes a year after Virginia Union and Miles won their respective first round matchups, marking the first time two HBCUs advances past the opening round in the same year.
Here is each HBCU Division II playoff team’s Biggest Key to Victory in the opening round of the National Championship tournament.
Albany State: Take care of the football
Albany State begins the 2025 Division II Football Playoffs as the number-one seed in Super Region 2, hosting reigning National Championship runner-up Valdosta State in the opening round.
The Golden Rams enter the postseason with a perfect 10-0 record against Division II opponents, including a 22-16 win over Benedict in the SIAC championship game.
Albany State boasts a dynamic offense that led the SIAC in scoring, featuring reigning SIAC Offensive Player of the Year Isaiah Knowles and All-SIAC running back Tiant Wyche.
In addition, they finished second in the SIAC in total offense, compiling five games with over 400 offensive yards, including a match against Clark Atlanta that Knowles missed due to injury.
The SIAC champions will face a Valdosta State team, currently riding a four-game win streak after a 2-4 start to the season, thanks to some dominant defensive play.
During its four-game win streak, Valdosta State has forced 11 turnovers (compared to just seven through the first six games), leading to a miraculous turnaround and a selection to the DII playoffs.
If the Golden Rams want to advance past the first round, taking care of the ball will be a major key to getting the job done.
Johnson C. Smith: Fight strength with strength
For the first time in school history, the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls will play for a Division II National Championship after claiming their first CIAA title since 1969.
Johnson C. Smith will face a Frostburg State team, playing its first Division II playoff game in school history in its sixth season as a Division II institution.
The matchup to watch in this game is Johnson C. Smith’s pass offense against Frostburg State’s pass defense.
The Golden Bulls’ CIAA title win was highlighted by a season-high five-passing touchdown performance from All-CIAA quarterback Kelvin Durham, including two to All-CIAA receiver Deandre Proctor.
This has been the norm for JCSU, ranking in the top 25 in the country with 26 passing touchdowns, with three different receivers having at least five.
On the other hand, Frostburg State hangs its hat on its pass defense, ranking fourth in the country, allowing 152.7 passing yards per game.
Only two teams have passed for over 200 yards against them, and they are one of nine DII teams to allow fewer than 10 passing touchdowns this season.
Virginia Union: A balanced offense
For the fourth straight season, the Virginia Union Panthers will compete in the postseason, making them one of five Division II football programs to accomplish this feat.
Virginia Union’s bid for a third straight CIAA championship fell short against Johnson C. Smith after committing a season-high three turnovers, including two interceptions.
The Panthers have been a strong run team all season, led by CIAA Player of the Year Curtis Allen, who leads the country, averaging 205.3 rushing yards per game.
However, it is the passing game that will need to step up if Virginia Union wants to replicate its postseason success from last season.
After passing woes limited them in the first two playoff appearances of their streak, RJ Rosales and the Panthers’ passing game came through to deliver a run to the Regional Final last season.
Taking over in the second half of VUU’s opening-round game against Wingate, Rosales was a game-changer for the Panthers, contributing three passing touchdowns in two rushing touchdowns in the team’s three-game playoff run.
Going against a California (PA) team that has held four of its last five opponents to under 100 rushing yards, Rosales will need to have a similar impact to open run lanes for the offense and keep the defense honest.
Benedict: Limit big plays
Benedict returns to the Division II playoffs after a year’s absence, coming for revenge against Wingate, who eliminated them in the second round in 2022.
Despite a valiant effort, the Tigers could not complete the fourth-quarter comeback to claim the SIAC championship, falling to Albany State for the second time this season.
The Tigers’ defense has been the strength of the team all season, allowing just 16.9 points per game (tied for ninth in the country).
Starring in Benedict’s defensive unit are the All-SIAC duo of Israel Nwokocha and Ty’Metrius Patterson, each tallying 9.5 sacks and over 13 tackles for loss, respectively.
This defense will have its hands full against a Wingate offense that is tied for 15th in the country, scoring 37.7 points per game and 6.71 yards per play (ranked 14th).
Their most efficient method of scoring has been in the run game, with running back Xavier Pugh ranking second in Division II with 21 rushing touchdowns (27 as a team).
They are also the only team in Division II football this season that has a quarterback with 20 passing touchdowns and a running back with 20 rushing touchdowns.
Benedict’s ability to stop Wingate from making big plays will dictate whether or not they win this game.
Kentucky State: Make an impact defensively
The Kentucky State Thorobreds squeak into their first-ever Division II playoffs, completing their best performance in a season in 90 years.
They finished with a 9-2 overall record, capped by a nine-game win streak, including a 35-7 win in their season finale against Shorter that virtually clinched their playoff berth.
Kentucky State will have its hands full in the opening round when it goes on the road to face South Atlantic Conference champion Newberry.
The Thorobreds’ defense will be the key to victory against a Newberry team that ranks highly among the most efficient offensive units in the country.
Newberry has committed just three turnovers this season, the fewest among all Division II football programs.
This is highlighted by a passing attack led by quarterback Reed Chapria, who is averaging 268.2 passing yards per game on 70% completions, with 23 touchdowns to just one interception.
The Kentucky State secondary has shown great playmaking potential, finishing third in the SIAC with 15 interceptions, led by All-SIAC defensive back Navy Curry and Lawrence McConnell (four interceptions each).
However, this coincides with allowing a conference-high 235.5 passing yards per game.
The Thorobreds’ chances of winning this game will hinge on their ability to defend the pass and to get the Newberry offense off the field consistently.
