INDIANAPOLIS, IN (November 12, 2023) - The NCAA Division II Football Committee announced the field of 28 teams for the 2023 NCAA Division II Football Championship Sunday evening and one Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) program, Virginia Union University, earned a bid in the D-II playoffs.  

Fresh off a victorious 2023 CIAA Conference Championship, the 10-1 Panthers are set to play Kutztown University on November 18th at 1pm in the first round of the D-II playoffs. The Bears, a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), earned a 9-2 overall record, including a conference championship victory over Slippery Rock University. 

The Panthers are led by the 2023 CIAA Coach of the Year, Dr. Alvin Parker and First-Team All-CIAA Selection Jada Byers. Byers averaged over 120 rushing yards per game ranking 10th overall in D-II. The Panthers steadfast defense has also played a pivotal role this season as the number one ranked rushing defense in D-II. 

Twelve first-round games will be conducted on the campus of one of the competing institutions. In addition, one team per super regional has earned a first-round bye. The first-round winners will all advance to the second round with games on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Second-round winners will meet in the quarterfinals at various campus sites. Quarterfinal winners will advance to play in the semifinals on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Seven teams selected per super regional make up the field of 28 teams. 

The full 28-team field for the NCAA Division II football playoffs can be seen at NCAA.com. 

About the CIAA

Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. In 2020, the conference celebrated the special 75th anniversary of its Championship Basketball Tournament - an event that has become a must-see in the African American community. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member-institutions: Bowie State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. Chowan University is an associate member in football. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

About the NCAA Division II

The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes have the opportunity to earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.

About NCAA Division II Football Playoffs

NCAA Division II football is broken down into four Super Regions. Since four conferences make up each Super Region, there are no automatic qualifiers in the DII football championship. Seven teams selected per super regional make up the field of 28 teams. The Super Region Two contains schools from the conferences of CIAA, GSC, SAC, and SIAC. Twelve first-round games will be conducted on the campus of one of the competing institutions. In addition, one team per super regional has earned a first-round bye. The first-round winners will all advance to the second round with games on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Second-round winners will meet in the quarterfinals at various campus sites. Quarterfinal winners will advance to play in the semifinals on the campus of one of the competing institutions. The 2022 championship game will be played December 17, at 1 p.m. Eastern time at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas and will be broadcast live on ESPNU HD.