Skip To Main Content

Kutztown University Athletics

nav separator
NCAA Semifinal  hosting graphic

Football Matt Heffelfinger, Sports Information Director

Golden Bears earn No. 2 seed, set to host No. 3 Harding in NCAA DII semifinals

KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Kutztown University will host a semifinal game in the NCAA Division II Football Championship for the first time in program history, the NCAA DII Football Championship Committee announced Saturday evening. The Golden Bears earned the No. 2 seed among the final four teams and will welcome No. 3 seed Harding (Ark.) to Andre Reed Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Kutztown advanced to the semifinals for the second time in program history with a 52-29 quarterfinal victory over 24th-ranked Frostburg State earlier Saturday to claim the Super Region 1 championship. The Golden Bears extended their program single-season record for wins to 14 (14-0) and surpassed 600 points scored on the season (618) with their third consecutive 50+ point performance in the playoffs.

Harding defeated the University of Texas Permian Basin, 34-28, to secure the Super Region 4 title and return to the national semifinals for the third time in program history. The Bisons also sport a 14-0 record and are one of three remaining unbeaten teams in Division II along with Kutztown and top seed Ferris State (14-0).

This will be the first-ever meeting between the Golden Bears and Bisons. Harding won the 2023 NCAA DII national championship over Colorado School of Mines, 38-7. Kutztown fell at Mines, 35-7, in its first semifinal appearance in program history that same season.

The winner of Saturday's semifinal game will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship game at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 20. Super Region 3 champion and No. 1 seed Ferris State hosts Super Region 2 champion and No. 4 seed Newberry in the other semifinal.

Kickoff time is expected to be announced by the NCAA on Sunday, Dec. 7. The game will air on ESPN+. More details, including ticket, parking and tailgate information will be released at KUBears.com and on the athletic department's social media channels (@KUGoldenBears) as they become available.
 
Print Friendly Version
Skip Sponsors