INDIANAPOLIS -- Kutztown University football didn't have to wait long to hear its name announced as part of the 28-team NCAA Division II Championship tournament, Sunday evening. The Golden Bears were awarded the No. 3 seed in Super Region One and will host Virginia Union in a first round game at Andre Reed Stadium next Saturday, Nov. 18.
Winners of nine straight games, Kutztown (9-2) will be making its third national playoff appearance in the last four seasons and sixth overall (2010, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023).
Jim Clements' team won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship for the third time in program history with a resounding 31-7 victory over previously unbeaten and fourth-ranked Slippery Rock yesterday.
Virginia Union (10-1) will be a first-time opponent for the Maroon and Gold. The Panthers crossed over into the SR1 bracket from Super Region Two after defeating Fayetteville State, 21-10, for their first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) title in 22 years.
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Tiffin received the No. 1 seed in SR1 and will have an opening round bye. Mountain East Conference (MEC) champion Charleston (W.Va.) drew the No. 2 seed and a first round matchup with New Haven. The Golden Bears jumped ahead of Slippery Rock to claim the No. 3 seed, while The Rock fell to No. 4, but will still have a first round home game against East Stroudsburg. Shepherd also got into the playoffs from the PSAC and SR1, but were sent into the SR2 portion of the bracket, where they'll face SR2 No. 2 seed Lenoir-Rhyne on the road.
Kutztown is 3-5 all-time in NCAA playoff games. In their last appearance, back in 2021, the Golden Bears were the top seed in SR1 and defeated New Haven in the second round, before falling to Shepherd on a last-second touchdown pass in the national quarterfinals.
Be sure to check KUBears.com throughout the week for ticket information and a game preview.
