The Northwest Missouri State University football team has been selected as an at-large participant into the 2025 NCAA Div. II football playoffs.
Northwest will travel to Searcy, Ark., to take on the Harding University Bisons Saturday, Nov. 22. The kick time will be announced Monday. The game will be available on the radio on the Bearcat Radio Network and through TV/streaming on ESPN+.
Tickets will be available Tuesday at noon on HardingTickets.com. $10 for adults and $5 for students.
This season Northwest produced a record of 9-2 and gained the program's 32nd MIAA regular season title with an 8-1 league mark. Harding is 11-0, all Great American Conference games, and is the top seed in Super Region 4. The Bisons have won 21 consecutive home games.
Super Region 4 NCAA Playoff Matchups
Northwest Mo. St. (9-2) at No. 1 Harding (11-0)
Chadron State (8-3) at No. 4 Pittsburg State (9-2)
Western Colorado (9-2) at No. 2 Central Washington (10-1)
UT Permian Basin (9-2) at No. 3 CSU-Pueblo (10-1)
Northwest and Harding have met four previous times in the NCAA Div. II playoffs. Northwest is 4-0 all-time vs. Harding. Northwest is 3-0 vs. Harding in Maryville, Mo., and 1-0 vs. the Bisons in Searcy, Ark.
Northwest vs. Harding NCAA Playoff Results
Northwest 35, Harding 0 (Nov. 17, 2012 – Maryville, Mo.) – First Round
Northwest 35, Harding 0 (Dec. 3, 2016 – Maryville, Mo.) - Quarterfinal
Northwest 7, Harding 6 (Nov. 23, 2019 – Maryville, Mo.) – First Round
Northwest 28, Harding 6 (Nov. 27, 2021 – Searcy, Ark.) – Second Round
It is an NCAA-record extending 27th playoff appearance for the Bearcat football program. Northwest owns an NCAA Div. II-best mark of 53 playoff victories. The rest of the current members of the MIAA have combined to win 45 playoff games.
Most Div. II Playoff Appearances
Northwest Mo. St. 27
Grand Valley State 23
Pittsburg State 22
North Alabama 21
Valdosta State 21
Indiana (Pa.) 20
UC Davis 18
Carson-Newman 17
North Dakota State 17
Ferris State 16
Minnesota State 16
Albany State 15
North Dakota 14
West Chester 14
Most Division II Playoff Victories
Northwest Mo. St. 53
Grand Valley St. 40
North Alabama 35
Valdosta St. 34
Ferris St. 30
North Dakota St. 30
Pittsburg St. 27
Indiana (Pa.) 22
Carson-Newman 20
Minnesota St. 18
North Dakota 18
Delta St. 17
The Bearcats (.726) also rank No. 2 in highest winning percentage in the Division II playoffs (minimum of 10 games played).
Div. II Playoff Win Percentage
West Florida 12-4 .750
Northwest Mo. St. 53-20 .726
Ferris State 30-12 .714
North Dakota State 30-12 .714
Tex. A&M-Commerce 9-4 .692
Valdosta State 34-16 .680
Grand Valley State 40-19 .678
North Alabama 35-18 .660
Delaware 7-4 .636
Northern Colorado 12-7 .632
minimum of 10 games played
Northwest has captured six NCAA Div. II national championships – the most national titles by any Division II program. Northwest won national championships in 1998, 1999, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
NCAA Division II National Titles
Northwest Mo. St. 6
North Dakota State 5
Grand Valley State 4
Valdosta State 4
North Alabama 3
Ferris State 3
Minnesota Duluth 2
Northern Colorado 2
Pittsburg State 2
Texas State 2
Troy 2
15 others have one national title
