2023 NCAA Division II football season#Postseason
{{Short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA Division II season
| year = 2023
| image = NCAA logo.svg
| image_caption =
| number_of_teams = 163
| regular_season = {{nowrap|August 31 – November 11, 2023}}
| playoffs = {{nowrap|November 18 – December 16, 2023}}
| championship = McKinney Independent School District Stadium
McKinney, TX
December 16, 2023
| champion = Harding
| hill = Zach Zebrowski, QB, Central Missouri
}}
The 2023 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, began on August 31 and ended on December 16 with the Division II championship at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas. Harding won the title, defeating Colorado Mines, 38–7.
D-II team wins over FCS teams
September 2: Bowie State 22, Delaware State 11
September 2: Virginia State 33, Norfolk State 24
September 2: Central State (OH) 24, Mississippi Valley State 21
September 8: Barton 33, Davidson 31
September 9: Colorado Mesa 28, San Diego 21 OT
September 9: Miles 21, Alabama State 17
September 16: Delta State 35, Mississippi Valley State 7
Conference changes and new programs
| class="wikitable sortable"
! School !! Former conference !! New conference | ||
| Alderson Broaddus Battlers | Mountain East | School closed |
| Bluefield State Big Blues | Independent (D-II) | CIAA |
| Chowan Hawks | CIAA | Gulf South |
| Lincoln (MO) Blue Tigers | MIAA | GLVC |
| Simon Fraser Red Leafs | Lone Star | Dropped program |
| Thomas More Saints | Mid-South (NAIA) | G-MAC |
| Upper Iowa Peacocks | Northern Sun | GLVC |
Headlines
- January 14 – At the 2023 NCAA Convention, the D-II football membership approved a change to redshirt rules to allow freshmen to play in up to three games without losing a season of athletic eligibility.{{cite press release |url=https://www.ncaa.org/news/2023/1/14/media-center-dii-adopts-football-proposals-providing-more-season-of-competition-flexibility-spring-scrimmage-opportunities.aspx |title=DII adopts football proposals providing more season-of-competition flexibility, spring scrimmage opportunities |publisher=NCAA |date=January 14, 2023 |access-date=October 16, 2023}}
- January 26 – Conference Carolinas announced that Shorter University would join from the Gulf South Conference in 2024. This gave the conference 6 football sponsoring members, and accordingly, it was announced that they would begin sponsoring football again effective for the 2025 season, a sport they had previously discontinued in 1975. Inaugural members of the new league would be Barton and Erskine, who currently play in the South Atlantic Conference; UNC Pembroke, who plays in the Mountain East Conference; and Chowan, North Greenville, and Shorter, who all play in the Gulf South Conference.{{cite press release|url=https://conferencecarolinas.com/news/2023/1/25/general-conference-carolinas-unveils-addition-of-shorter-university-and-return-of-football-in-2025.aspx |title=Conference Carolinas Unveils Addition of Shorter University and Return of Football in 2025 |publisher=Conference Carolinas |date=January 26, 2023 |access-date=January 28, 2023}}
- December 14 – The NCAA Division II Championships Committee approved a restructuring of the football super regions effective for the 2025 season once Conference Carolinas begins sponsoring football. The new super region alignment is as follows:{{cite report |date=December 14, 2023 |title=December 2023 Report |url=https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/committees/d2/champs/DEC2023D2CC_Report.pdf |publisher=NCAA Division II Championships Committee |access-date=December 14, 2023}}
- Super Region 1: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Mountain East Conference, Northeast-10 Conference, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
- Super Region 2: Conference Carolinas, Gulf South Conference, South Atlantic Conference, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
- Super Region 3: Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Great Lakes Valley Conference, Great Midwest Athletic Conference, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
- Super Region 4: Great American Conference, Lone Star Conference, Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Rankings
{{main|2023 NCAA Division II football rankings}}
The top 25 from the AFCA Coaches' Poll.
=Preseason Poll=
| style="vertical-align:top;"
| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| Ranking
!Team |
|---|
| 1
| align="left"| Ferris State (29) |
| 2
| align="left"| Colorado Mines |
| 3
| align="left"| Grand Valley State |
| 4
| align="left"| Pittsburg State |
| 5
| align="left"| Angelo State |
| 6
| align="left"| NW Missouri State |
| 7
| align="left"| West Florida |
| 8
| align="left"| Ouachita Baptist |
| 9
| align="left"| Minnesota State |
| 10
| align="left"| Delta State |
| 11
| align="left"| Bemidji State |
| 12
| align="left"| Ashland |
| 13
| align="left"| Shepherd |
| 14
| align="left"| Harding |
| 15
| align="left"| Slippery Rock |
| 16
| align="left"| IUP |
| 17
| align="left"| Benedict (1) |
| 18
| align="left"| Virginia Union |
| 19
| align="left"| Emporia State |
| 20
| align="left"| Indianapolis |
| 21
| align="left"| Wingate |
| 22
| align="left"| West Georgia |
| 23
| align="left"| Assumption |
| 24
| align="left"| Newberry |
| 25
| align="left"| Lenoir–Rhyne |
|}
Conference standings
=Super Region 1=
| cellpadding="5"
|valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Mountain East Conference football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Northeast-10 Conference football standings}} |
| valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings}}
|valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 NCAA Division II Super Region 1 independents football records}} |
=Super Region 2=
| cellpadding="5"
|valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Gulf South Conference football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 South Atlantic Conference football standings}} |
| valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings}} |
=Super Region 3=
| cellpadding="5"
|valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Great American Conference football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings}} |
| valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings}}
|valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 NCAA Division II Super Region 3 independents football records}} |
=Super Region 4=
| cellpadding="5"
|valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Lone Star Conference football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings}} |valign="top" width=25em|{{2023 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings}} |
Postseason
{{see also|List of NCAA Division II Football Championship appearances by team}}
=Qualifiers=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;" | |||||
| colspan="6" style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|National Collegiate Athletic Association|color=white}} |Playoff teams | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|National Collegiate Athletic Association|color=black}}
! Super Region | School | Conference | Record | Appearance | Last bid |
| rowspan=7| Super Region 1
| Tiffin | G-MAC |align=center| 11–0 |align=center| 2nd |align=center| 2019 | |||||
| Charleston (WV)
|align=center| 9–1 |align=center| 2nd |align=center| 2015 | |||||
| Kutztown
| PSAC |align=center| 9–2 |align=center| 6th |align=center| 2021 | |||||
| Slippery Rock
| PSAC |align=center| 10–1 |align=center| 11th |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| East Stroudsburg
| PSAC |align=center| 9–2 |align=center| 5th |align=center| 2009 | |||||
| Virginia Union*
| CIAA |align=center| 10–1 |align=center| 11th |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| New Haven
|align=center| 8–2 |align=center| 9th |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| rowspan=7| Super Region 2
| Benedict | SIAC |align=center| 11–0 |align=center| 2nd |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| Delta State
|align=center| 9–1 |align=center| 11th |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| Valdosta State
|align=center| 10–1 |align=center| 19th |align=center| 2021 | |||||
| Lenoir–Rhyne
| SAC |align=center| 10–1 |align=center| 7th |align=center| 2021 | |||||
| Shepherd*
| PSAC |align=center| 9–2 |align=center| 15th |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| Limestone
| SAC |align=center| 8–3 |align=center| 2nd |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| West Florida
|align=center| 8–3 |align=center| 5th |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| rowspan=7| Super Region 3
| Harding | GAC |align=center| 11–0 |align=center| 6th |align=center| 2021 | |||||
| Grand Valley State
| GLIAC |align=center| 9–1 |align=center| 22nd |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| Pittsburg State
| MIAA |align=center| 10–1 |align=center| 20th |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| Central Missouri
| MIAA |align=center| 10–1 |align=center| 5th |align=center| 2019 | |||||
| Henderson State
| GAC |align=center| 9–2 |align=center| 4th |align=center| 2015 | |||||
| Indianapolis
| GLVC |align=center| 9–1 |align=center| 8th |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| Ferris State
| GLIAC |align=center| 8–2 |align=center| 14th |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| rowspan=7| Super Region 4
| RMAC |align=center| 11–0 |align=center| 9th |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| Western Colorado
| RMAC |align=center| 10–1 |align=center| 5th |align=center| 2021 | |||||
| Texas–Permian Basin
|align=center| 10–1 |align=center| 1st |align=center| — | |||||
| Augustana (SD)
| NSIC |align=center| 10–1 |align=center| 7th |align=center| 2021 | |||||
| Minnesota State
| NSIC |align=center| 9–2 |align=center| 14th |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| Bemidji State
| NSIC |align=center| 8–2 |align=center| 3rd |align=center| 2022 | |||||
| Central Washington
|align=center| 7–3 |align=center| 7th |align=center| 2021 |
=Bracket=
==Super Region 1==
{{3RoundBracket-Byes
| RD1=First Round
November 18, 2023
Campus sites
| RD2=Second Round
November 25, 2023
Campus sites
| RD3=Quarterfinals
December 2, 2023
Campus sites
| seeds = yes
| boldwinner = high
| byes = 1
| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3={{cfb link|year=2023|team=East Stroudsburg Warriors|title=East Stroudsburg}}
| RD1-score3= 14
| RD1-seed4=4
| RD1-team4={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Slippery Rock|title=Slippery Rock}}*
| RD1-score4= 45
| RD1-seed5=3
| RD1-team5={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Kutztown Golden Bears|title=Kutztown}}*
| RD1-score5= 38
| RD1-seed6=
| RD1-team6=Virginia Union
| RD1-score6= 15
| RD1-seed7=
| RD1-team7={{cfb link|year=2023|team=New Haven Chargers|title=New Haven}}
| RD1-score7= 44
| RD1-seed8=2
| RD1-team8={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Charleston Golden Eagles|title=Charleston (WV)}}*
| RD1-score8= 52
| RD2-seed1=1
| RD2-team1={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Tiffin Dragons|title=Tiffin}}*
| RD2-score1=35
| RD2-seed2=4
| RD2-team2={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Slippery Rock|title=Slippery Rock}}
| RD2-score2=45
| RD2-seed3=3
| RD2-team3={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Kutztown Golden Bears|title=Kutztown}}
| RD2-score3=32
| RD2-seed4=2
| RD2-team4={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Charleston Golden Eagles|title=Charleston (WV)}}*
| RD2-score4=31
| RD3-seed1=4
| RD3-team1={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Slippery Rock|title=Slippery Rock}}*
| RD3-score1=16
| RD3-seed2=3
| RD3-team2={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Kutztown Golden Bears|title=Kutztown}}
| RD3-score2=28
}}
==Super Region 2==
{{3RoundBracket-Byes
| RD1=First Round
November 18, 2023
Campus sites
| RD2=Second Round
November 25, 2023
Campus sites
| RD3=Quarterfinals
December 2, 2023
Campus sites
| seeds = yes
| boldwinner = high
| byes = 1
| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Shepherd Rams|title=Shepherd}}
| RD1-score3= 17
| RD1-seed4=4
| RD1-team4={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Lenoir–Rhyne Bears|title=Lenoir–Rhyne}}*
| RD1-score4= 63
| RD1-seed5=3
| RD1-team5={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Valdosta State Blazers|title=Valdosta State}}*
| RD1-score5= 62
| RD1-seed6=
| RD1-team6={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Limestone Saints|title=Limestone}}
| RD1-score6= 41
| RD1-seed7=
| RD1-team7={{cfb link|year=2023|team=West Florida Argonauts|title=West Florida}}
| RD1-score7= 14
| RD1-seed8=2
| RD1-team8={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Delta State Statesmen|title=Delta State}}*
| RD1-score8= 48
| RD2-seed1=1
| RD2-team1={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Benedict Tigers|title=Benedict}}*
| RD2-score1=25
| RD2-seed2=4
| RD2-team2={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Lenoir–Rhyne Bears|title=Lenoir–Rhyne}}
| RD2-score2=35
| RD2-seed3=3
| RD2-team3={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Valdosta State Blazers|title=Valdosta State}}
| RD2-score3=38
| RD2-seed4=2
| RD2-team4={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Delta State Statesmen|title=Delta State}}*
| RD2-score4=31
| RD3-seed1=4
| RD3-team1={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Lenoir–Rhyne Bears|title=Lenoir–Rhyne}}
| RD3-score1=35
| RD3-seed2=3
| RD3-team2={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Valdosta State Blazers|title=Valdosta State}}*
| RD3-score2=7
}}
==Super Region 3==
{{3RoundBracket-Byes
| RD1=First Round
November 18, 2023
Campus sites
| RD2=Second Round
November 25, 2023
Campus sites
| RD3=Quarterfinals
December 2, 2023
Campus sites
| seeds = yes
| boldwinner = high
| byes = 1
| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Henderson State Reddies|title=Henderson State}}
| RD1-score3= 14
| RD1-seed4=4
| RD1-team4=Central Missouri*
| RD1-score4= 56
| RD1-seed5=3
| RD1-team5={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Pittsburg State Gorillas|title=Pittsburg State}}*
| RD1-score5= 35
| RD1-seed6=
| RD1-team6={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Indianapolis Greyhounds|title=Indianapolis}}
| RD1-score6= 14
| RD1-seed7=
| RD1-team7=Ferris State
| RD1-score7= 14
| RD1-seed8=2
| RD1-team8=Grand Valley State*
| RD1-score8= 21
| RD2-seed1=1
| RD2-team1=Harding*
| RD2-score1=35
| RD2-seed2=4
| RD2-team2=Central Missouri
| RD2-score2=34
| RD2-seed3=3
| RD2-team3={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Pittsburg State Gorillas|title=Pittsburg State}}
| RD2-score3=21
| RD2-seed4=2
| RD2-team4=Grand Valley State*
| RD2-score4=24
| RD3-seed1=1
| RD3-team1=Harding*
| RD3-score1=7
| RD3-seed2=2
| RD3-team2=Grand Valley State
| RD3-score2=6
}}
==Super Region 4==
{{3RoundBracket-Byes
| RD1=First Round
November 18, 2023
Campus sites
| RD2=Second Round
November 25, 2023
Campus sites
| RD3=Quarterfinals
December 2, 2023
Campus sites
| seeds = yes
| boldwinner = high
| byes = 1
| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Minnesota State Mavericks|title=Minnesota State}}
| RD1-score3= 24
| RD1-seed4=4
| RD1-team4={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Augustana University Vikings|title=Augustana (SD)}}*
| RD1-score4= 51
| RD1-seed5=3
| RD1-team5=Texas–Permian Basin*
| RD1-score5= 3
| RD1-seed6=
| RD1-team6={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Bemidji State Beavers|title=Bemidji State}}
| RD1-score6= 10
| RD1-seed7=
| RD1-team7={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Central Washington Wildcats|title=Central Washington}}
| RD1-score7= 16
| RD1-seed8=2
| RD1-team8={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Western Colorado Mountaineers|title=Western Colorado}}*
| RD1-score8= 13
| RD2-seed1=1
| RD2-team1=Colorado Mines*
| RD2-score1=56
| RD2-seed2=4
| RD2-team2={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Augustana University Vikings|title=Augustana (SD)}}
| RD2-score2=10
| RD2-seed3=
| RD2-team3={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Bemidji State Beavers|title=Bemidji State}}*
| RD2-score3=17
| RD2-seed4=
| RD2-team4={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Central Washington Wildcats|title=Central Washington}}
| RD2-score4=21
| RD3-seed1=1
| RD3-team1=Colorado Mines*
| RD3-score1=38
| RD3-seed2=
| RD3-team2={{cfb link|year=2023|team=Central Washington Wildcats|title=Central Washington}}
| RD3-score2=14
}}
=Semifinals & Championship=
Teams were re-seeded prior to semifinals.
{{2RoundBracket
| RD1=Semifinals
December 9, 2023
{{small|Hosted by higher seeded team}}
| RD2=Championship
December 16, 2023
McKinney, Texas
| seeds = yes
| boldwinner = high
| RD1-seed1= 1
| RD1-team1= Colorado Mines
| RD1-score1= 35
| RD1-seed2= 4
| RD1-team2= {{cfb link|year=2023|team=Kutztown Golden Bears|title=Kutztown}}
| RD1-score2= 7
| RD1-seed3= 3
| RD1-team3= {{cfb link|year=2023|team=Lenoir–Rhyne Bears|title=Lenoir–Rhyne}}
| RD1-score3= 14
| RD1-seed4= 2
| RD1-team4= Harding
| RD1-score4= 55
| RD2-seed1= 1
| RD2-team1= Colorado Mines
| RD2-score1= 7
| RD2-seed2= 2
| RD2-team2= Harding
| RD2-score2= 38
}}
=Bowl games=
There were four bowl games, which featured teams that did not qualify for the Division II postseason tournament.
The schedule included the inaugural edition of the Florida Beach Bowl, contested between teams from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), two conferences mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).{{cite news |url=https://www.intermiamicf.com/news/drv-pnk-stadium-to-host-inaugural-florida-beach-bowl-on-dec-13 |title=DRV PNK Stadium to Host Inaugural Florida Beach Bowl on Dec. 13 |publisher=Inter Miami CF Communications Department |website=intermiamicf.com |date=October 9, 2023 |accessdate=November 22, 2023}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" |
| Date
!Time (EST) !Game !Site !Television !Teams !Affiliations !Results |
|---|
| Dec. 1
|7:00 p.m. |Hammond Central High School |rowspan=3|No broadcast |Ashland 23 |
| Dec. 2
|1:00 p.m. |Arkansas High School |Southern Arkansas (9–2) |Southern Arkansas 43 |
| Dec. 2
|1:00 p.m. |Tiger Stadium |Southern Nazarene (6–5) |Emporia State 55 |
| Dec. 13
|7:30 p.m. |DRV PNK Stadium |HBCU Go |Johnson C. Smith (7–3) |Fort Valley State 23 |
Coaching changes
= Preseason and in-season =
This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2023, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games.
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| School
! Outgoing coach ! Date ! Reason ! Replacement ! Previous position |
|---|
| Clark Atlanta
|October 2, 2023 |Clark Atlanta offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2022–2023) |
| St. Augustine's
|October 13, 2023 |St. Augustine's defensive coordinator (2023) |
=End of season=
This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season.