The 2025 NCAA Division II football playoff field will be revealed tonight (Sunday, Nov. 16) at 6 p.m. on NCAA.com, as the bracket expands to a 32-team format. It’s a big night for North Carolina D2 football — with multiple teams in position to hear their names called on Selection Sunday.
Johnson C. Smith is a lock to get in. Wingate is a probable, but UNC Pembroke and Fayetteville State will have to sweat out the selection committee’s decision.
Super Region 1: CIAA Champion JCSU Leads the Pack
Teams from the CIAA land in Super Region 1 this season, and one North Carolina program enters Selection Sunday with no doubts.
- Johnson C. Smith (10-1) owns the CIAA’s automatic berth after winning its first league title since 1969. The Golden Bulls could land as high as the No. 2 seed after their historic season (most wins ever).
- Virginia Union, the team JCSU defeated Saturday, should also be a lock. The Panthers were ranked second in SR1 this past week, have a strong playoff résumé and may even host a first-round game.
- Fayetteville State is the wild card. The Broncos sat 8th in last week’s regional rankings, squarely on the bubble (each region bracket will have eight teams). FSU finished 6-4 overall, 6-1 in the CIAA, with their only conference loss coming to JCSU.
- Fayetteville State’s resume includes an FCS loss to North Carolina Central, plus setbacks against Benedict and UNC Pembroke — strong programs, but the overall profile leaves them hovering between “just in” and “just out.”
Super Region 2: Wingate Likely In; UNCP on the Bubble
Programs from the South Atlantic Conference and Conference Carolinas sit in Super Region 2, and the picture here is both promising and complicated.
- Wingate (9-2) looks safely in. The Bulldogs ranked 5th in the most recent regional rankings and have ripped off six straight wins since their midseason stumbles against Newberry and Carson-Newman. Hosting a first-round game could be on the table.
- UNC Pembroke (8-3) is the biggest question mark. The Braves entered the week 6th in the regional rankings and controlled their own destiny, but yesterday’s 34-20 loss to North Greenville in the Conference Carolinas Bowl forced them into at-large mode.
Complicating the matter for UNCP is that Valdosta State upset West Florida yesterday to claim the Gulf South’s auto bid. West Florida had been unbeaten against D2 competition, so they’ll still get in but one less spot is available in SR2.
GOLDEN DAY FOR JCSU: Read more about Johnson C. Smith’s CIAA title win, plus recaps of other D2 action from Nov. 15
CIAA ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS ANNOUNCED: See which North Carolina players and coaches earned honors
Recent North Carolina D2 Playoff History
- Lenoir-Rhyne reached the 2023 national semifinals, then returned to the field last year before falling to Virginia Union in Round 2.
- Wingate made last year’s field but was eliminated in the first round — also by VUU. The Bulldogs won a couple of rounds in the 2022 tournament.
- Johnson C. Smith, after starting 8-0 a season ago and narrowly missing the 2024 playoffs, now enters the bracket with a full redemption arc in hand.
Selection Show Details
- 📅 Tonight — Sunday, 6 p.m. ET
- 💻 Live on NCAA.com
- 🔢 32 teams, four super regions, automatic bids for conference champions
NC Football News will have full bracket details, first-round matchups and analysis for every North Carolina team when the field is announced and as we get closer to next Saturday’s games. View latest NCAA D2 Regional Rankings (NCAA.com).
…and then we have a show at 8pm Eastern. Put it on your calendar. https://t.co/OVfrMpAMpx
— Kris (@d2kferg) November 16, 2025
