The NCAA Division II football playoffs kick off today (Nov. 22), and North Carolina will have two representatives in the 32-team field. Johnson C. Smith and Wingate both will host D2 football playoff games, bringing a double dose of post-season excitement to the Charlotte metro area.
We’re tracking Johnson C. Smith vs. Frostburg State and Wingate vs. Benedict. Refresh this page often for score updates and recaps once games are complete.
🏆 Full Statewide Scoreboard: Check all scores involving North Carolina college teams
Game 1 — Frostburg State at Johnson C. Smith
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Location: Eddie C. McGirt Field, Charlotte, NC
| TOTAL | ||||||||
| Frostburg St | 1 p.m. | |||||||
 | JCSU | ESPN+ |
What’s At Stake?
The winner advances to the second round of Super Region 1, facing either Virginia Union or California (PA) on Saturday, Nov. 29.
Other Super Region 1 Games: Saturday, Nov. 22
California (PA) at (3) Virginia Union
Bentley at (1) Kutztown
Assumption at (4) Indiana (PA)
How to watch Johnson C. Smith vs. Frostburg State? All D2 football playoff games will be carried on ESPN+.
Game 2 — Benedict at Wingate
Kickoff: 2 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Location: Irwin Belk Stadium, Wingate, NC
| TOTAL | ||||||||
| Benedict | 2 p.m. | |||||||
 | Wingate | ESPN+ |
What’s At Stake?
The winner advances to the second round of Super Region 2, facing either top-seeded Albany State or Valdosta State on Saturday, Nov. 29.
Other Super Region 2 Games: Saturday, Nov. 22
Valdosta State at (1) Albany State
North Greenville at (2) West Florida
Kentucky State at (3) Newberry
How to watch Wingate vs. Benedict? All D2 football playoff games will be carried on ESPN+.
⭐ D2 Playoff Fast Facts
Johnson C. Smith is in the midst of an unprecedented season, winning 10 games for the first time in program history and earning its first CIAA championship since 1969.
JCSU and Frostburg State, champions of the Mountain East Conference, are making their first-ever appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Wingate will make its sixth D2 playoff appearance in the past eight seasons. The Bulldogs beat Benedict in the 2022 post-season.
Quarterback Elijah Holmes directs a potent Wingate offense. The first-year starter from Charlotte (Olympic HS) has amassed 2,776 passing yards, 22 TDs and only four INTs.
Wingate boasts both a 1,000-yard rusher (Xavier Pugh) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Jaylen Himes).
Kelvin Durham from Johnson C. Smith was voted the CIAA Quarterback of the Year, while Jamari Mason was named the league’s Lineman of the Year and Bobby Smith earned CIAA Offensive Rookie of the Year. Maurice Flowers was a deserving recipient of the conference’s Coach of the Year award.
NC Football News Game Previews:
About the 2025 Division II Football Playoffs
The 2025 NCAA Division II Football Championship will be played on December 20, 2025, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas. This year marks a structural shift for Division II, as the playoff field expands from 28 to 32 teams and introduces automatic bids for all conference champions — 16 automatic qualifiers and 16 at-large selections.
Teams are divided into four eight-team super regions, with higher seeds hosting through the regional rounds. Winners advance to the national semifinals, with the championship game once again staged in Texas.
Defending champion: Ferris State, which defeated Valdosta State 49-14 in the 2024 title game.
🏆 NCAA Division II Football Championship | Printable Bracket
