For the 17th straight season, the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat football program has secured an NCAA Division II playoff bid.
 
Northwest ranks No. 1 all-time in Division II playoff appearances with 25.
 
Northwest (9-1 overall) was pegged as the No. 3 seed in Super Region Three and earned a home playoff game. Northwest will play host to the Central Washington University Wildcats (8-2 overall) Saturday, Nov. 20, at 1 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium in the opening round of the 2021 NCAA Division II playoffs.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
(Note: The first 175 Northwest students that show up on game day with a valid student ID will receive free admission to the playoff game courtesy of the Bearcat Booster Club at the southeast stadium entrance.)
 
The Bearcats captured the program's 31st MIAA regular season title with a 35-7 win over Emporia State on Saturday. It is Northwest's 21st outright MIAA and first one since 2016. Bearcat head coach Rich Wright claimed his third MIAA title and first outright league crown since taking over the program in 2017.
 
Northwest and Central Washington met once previously in the 2009 NCAA Division II playoffs. Northwest pulled out a 21-20 victory over CWU in the quarterfinals of the 2009 playoffs in Ellensburg, Wash. Bearcat senior Tyler Roach blocked an extra point with six seconds left in the game to preserve Northwest's one-point victory. Northwest would go on to win the 2009 NCAA Division II national championship with wins over California (Pa.) and Grand Valley State.
 
Most NCAA Division II Playoff Appearances
Northwest Missouri State      25
North Alabama                        21
Grand Valley State                 20
Indiana (Pa.)                            19
Pittsburg State                         18
UC Davis                                  18
Valdosta State                         18

Northwest has reached the NCAA Division II national championship game 10 times. Northwest owns six national championships (1998, 1999, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016). The Bearcats are 50-18 all-time in the playoffs, which marks the most victories in Division II playoff history.

Most Division II Playoff Victories
Northwest Missouri State      50
Grand Valley State                 35
North Alabama                        35
North Dakota State                 30
Valdosta State                         26
Pittsburg State                         25
Indiana (Pa.)                            22
Carson-Newman                    20
North Dakota                           18
Ferris State                              17
Delta State                               15
Jacksonville State                   15
Texas A&M-Kingsville           15
UC Davis                                  15
 
Consecutive Div. II Playoff Appearances
Northwest Missouri State      17 (2004-pres.)
Grand Valley State                 10 (2001-2010)
Pittsburg State                         9 (1989-1997)
Albany State                            8 (2004-2011)
Texas A&M-Kingsville           7 (1992-1998)
Carson-Newman                    7 (1993-1999)
UC Davis                                  7 (1996-2002)
North Alabama                        7 (2005-2011)
 
MIAA Playoff Records
Northwest Missouri State      50-18 (24 years)
Pittsburg State                         25-16 (18 years)
Central Oklahoma                  4-5 (5 years)
Emporia State                          3-4 (4 years)
Northeastern State                 2-2 (2 years)
Central Missouri                      2-3 (4 years)
Missouri Western                    2-4 (4 years)
Washburn                                1-3 (3 years)
Nebraska-Kearney                 1-4 (4 years)
Fort Hays State                       0-4 (4 years)
Missouri Southern                  0-1 (1 year)
 
24 STRAIGHT HOME PLAYOFF VICTORIES
Northwest has recorded 24 straight home playoff victories. The Bearcats are 31-3 all-time at home in the playoffs.

Northwest's Home Playoff Games
1997 - W, 39-28 vs. North Dakota State
1997 - L, 25-19 vs. Northern Colorado
1998 - W, 28-14 vs. Nebraska-Omaha
1998 - W, 42-17 vs. Northern Colorado
1998 - W, 49-34 vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville
1999 - W, 20-13 vs. North Dakota
1999 - W, 20-12 vs. Indiana (Pa.)
2000 - L, 31-17 vs. North Dakota State
2002 - W, 45-41 vs. Minnesota Duluth
2002 - L, 23-12 vs. Northern Colorado
2004 - W, 34-14 vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville
2006 - W, 27-0 vs. Midwestern State
2006 - W, 28-21 vs. Chadron State
2006 - W, 33-3 vs. Bloomsburg
2007 - W, 56-28 vs. West Texas A&M
2007 - W, 34-16 vs. Grand Valley State
2008 - W, 38-35 vs. Pittsburg State
2008 - W, 41-7 vs. North Alabama
2009 - W, 35-10 vs. Abilene Christian
2009 - W, 56-31 vs. California (Pa.)
2010 - W, 28-24 vs. Missouri Western
2010 - W, 37-20 vs. Central Missouri
2012 - W, 35-0 vs. Harding
2013 - W, 45-21 vs. Minnesota Duluth
2013 - W, 59-21 vs. St. Cloud State
2013 - W, 27-13 vs. Grand Valley State
2015 - W, 54-7 vs. Humboldt State
2015 - W, 38-17 vs. Emporia State
2015 - W, 38-23 vs. West Georgia
2016 - W, 44-13 vs. Emporia State
2016 - W, 35-0 vs. Harding
2016 - W, 35-20 vs. Ferris State
2019 - W, 7-6 vs. Harding
2019 - W, 63-7 vs. Lindenwood