Kutztown University earns preseason national ranking by Lindy’s Sports

Defending Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion and national semifinalist Kutztown University will open the season ranked No. 9 in the nation in Division II by Lindy’s Sports College Football Preview magazine.

Kutztown opens the season Thursday, Sept. 5, at home against Assumption, the only team it lost to last year during the regular season.
It will be hard for the Golden Bears to top the 2023 season, arguably their best season in program history. They finished 12-3, a program-best for victories. They recorded a program-record 12-game winning streak to claim their sixth PSAC Eastern Division title, third PSAC championship, and first Super Region 1 crown.

The Golden Bears advanced to the national semifinal round for the first time in program history. Kutztown finished No. 7 in the final American Football Coaches Association Division II national poll, highest ever for the program.
KU recorded wins against five nationally-ranked opponents, including four in a row in the postseason before falling to No. 1 Colorado School of Mines in the national semifinals.

Kutztown’s roster includes PSAC first-team selection Adam Kase of Conrad Weiser and Nate Millard of Daniel Boone, as well as Gov. Mifflin’s Brandon Strausser and Eden Johnson

Defending national champion Harding sits atop the Lindy’s Sports poll, followed by Central Missouri, Pittsburg State, Ferris State and Valdosta State. School of Mines is sixth with Grand Valley State, Central Washington, Kutztown, and Slippery Rock rounding out the top 10.

KU and Rock are the lone teams ranked from the PSAC.
The Maroon and Gold are looking for their third PSAC title in the last four seasons and fourth divisional crown in five seasons.

Along with PSAC East and Super Region I Coach of the Year Jim Clements, KU returns East Freshman of the Year Judd Novak (Manheim Central), PSAC first-teamer Kurtis Ravenel Jr. (Carlisle)  and second -team picks Novak and Billy Everitt (Abington).