Division II football continues to be one of the strongest tiers of college football in North Carolina. Case in point: Lenoir-Rhyne (2023) and Wingate (2024) each finished in the top spot of our final Fabulous 15 rankings the past two years, while seven D2 programs posted winning records last season.
With 13 teams from the Old North State spread out across the CIAA, South Atlantic Conference and the newly revived Conference Carolinas, big things could be in the works again for 2025. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that North Carolina teams win all three league championships.
While conference play will shape the postseason, non-conference games set the tone — and in some cases, the national stage. From early-season measuring sticks to rivalry renewals, here are the 10 most intriguing non-conference matchups involving North Carolina D2 teams this fall — counting down to the one we’re most excited for.
10. Virginia State (7-4) at Barton (3-8)
Thursday, Aug. 28 | 7 p.m.
The 2024 CIAA runners-up will visit Truist Field in Wilson to kick off the 2025 season. Barton featured a youthful, rebuilding squad a year ago but should be ready to take big steps forward this fall. This will be a good early gauge of the Bulldogs’ progress.
9. Mary Hardin-Baylor (9-4) at Mars Hill (5-4)
Saturday, Sept. 27 | TBA
A unique opponent jumps onto Mars Hills’ non-conference slate a month into the season. Mary Hardin-Baylor, from Belton, Texas, competes at the Division III level. But don’t be fooled by their level. The Crusaders are top-notch in non-scholarship football, advancing to the D3 playoff quarterfinals a year ago.
8. Elizabeth City State (3-7) at Hampton (5-7)
Saturday, Sept. 6 | 6 p.m.
There has been a lot of buzz around Elizabeth City State as new coach Adrian Jones sets the table for his debut. This game will be a huge step-up in weight class as the Vikes challenge an FCS opponent. The teams have played twice before, with Hampton winning both games by large margins, 65-7 in 2019 and 36-13 in 1995.
7. Livingstone (6-4) at Charleston (11-1)
Thursday, Aug. 28 | 7 p.m.
The Blue Bears were sneaky good a year ago, ending a long losing drought against Fayetteville State and spoiling Johnson C. Smith’s chances for making the CIAA title game. Charleston finished undefeated in the regular season in 2024, claiming the Mountain East title. Can Livingstone start the new season with another notable upset?
6. Fayetteville State (4-5) at North Carolina Central (8-3)
Saturday, Sept. 13 | TBA
These former CIAA rivals haven’t met since 2012, but both have built strong HBCU legacies in the years since. North Carolina Central won a Celebration Bowl championship, while Fayetteville State advanced to six consecutive CIAA title games. The last time the Broncos beat NCCU? A dramatic 2008 game that saw FSU block a punt for a touchdown and return a fumble for another.
5. Winston-Salem State (7-3) at Mars Hill (5-4)
Saturday, Sept. 6 | TBA
We love this matchup — even if it came from unfortunate circumstances. With Limestone University shutting down its football program, Mars Hill had a gap to fill, and Winston-Salem State stepped in to raise the stakes. Both teams enter 2025 with playoff potential and conference title hopes, making this a must-watch September clash between two perennial contenders.
4. Fayetteville State (4-5) at UNC Pembroke (6-5)
Saturday, Sept. 6 | 6 p.m.
The recently revived Two Rivers Classic has produced barn-burners the past three seasons. Fayetteville State clipped the Braves 35-31 a year ago, getting the winning touchdown from Demari Daniels with 17 seconds left. Ty Woods kicked the winning field goal for UNCP with nine seconds to go in 2023, lifting the Braves to a 19-17 triumph. Fayetteville State rallied late for a 15-13 victory in ‘22. What will the next chapter have in store?
3. UNC Pembroke (6-5) at Wingate (9-2)
Saturday, Aug. 30 | 6 p.m.
Another budding instate rivalry will pit two legitimate conference championship contenders to open the season. UNCP has moved into Conference Carolinas for 2025. Wingate will be defending its SAC crown. Wingate held UNC Pembroke to just 12 points in last year’s opener, but the Braves emerged from there to become one of the most prolific offensive teams in 2024. It’ll be high-octane offense vs. lockdown defense once again — a perfect tone-setter for 2025.
2. Valdosta State at Johnson C. Smith (8-2)
Saturday, Sept. 6 | 12 p.m.
Johnson C. Smith made history in 2024, winning its first eight before getting clipped by old rivals Fayetteville State and Livingstone. While there was deep disappointment at not making the D2 playoffs, maybe 2024 was just the scene-setter for bigger things this fall? The Golden Bulls will have an early chance to provide a bold statement. Valdosta State has been among the nation’s most successful D2 programs the past quarter century, capturing four national championships between 2004-18 and advancing to the title game a year ago.
1. Lenoir-Rhyne (10-3) at West Florida (7-3)
Friday, Aug. 29 | 6 p.m.
A pair of D2 heavyweights will launch the season under the Friday night lights in Pensacola. Both teams have been to the D2 dance multiple times over the past decade. Lenoir-Rhyne made a final four run in 2023. West Florida advanced to the semifinals in 2022.
The Bears may feel they have a score to settle with the Argos. West Florida clipped an undefeated Lenoir-Rhyne team 43-38 in the D2 quarterfinals in 2019 on their way to a national championship. The Bears had won 15 straight at Moretz Stadium and had rallied from a 40-24 deficit in the fourth quarter. They got the ball back late with a chance for the go-ahead score, but West Florida picked off a pass to seal it.
Relive this game by reading Lenoir-Rhyne’s official game recap, posted hours after the contest in 2019.
📌 More D2 Schedule News and Notes
Winston-Salem State will face Tuskegee in the annual Red Tails Classic on Sunday, Aug. 31 in Montgomery, Ala. The game honors the Tuskegee Airmen, who played a pivotal role in World War II. The contest is slated to be broadcast on ESPNU.
A scheduling agreement between Conference Carolinas and the Gulf South Conference will give three challenging non-conference games to Chowan. The Hawks will host both West Alabama and Valdosta State in September, and will travel to West Florida in October. All three are perennial D2 playoff contenders. Chowan played in the Gulf South the past two seasons.
Chowan will open the season against its northeastern NC rival Elizabeth City State on Saturday, Aug. 30. The two teams competed in the CIAA together for many years until Chowan ended its association with the conference after 2022.
