Unbeaten Golden Bears earn top seed, opening bye in NCAA playoffs
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Following its first unbeaten regular season in the modern era, third-ranked Kutztown University will be the top seed in Super Region One for the NCAA Division II Football Championships.
The Golden Bears (11-0) are in the NCAA playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons and seventh time overall. This is the third time Kutztown has captured Super Region One’s top seed, having done so previously in 2010 and 2021.
The Golden Bears’ roster includes offensive linemen Adam Kase of Conrad Weiser and Jack Dendall of Wilson, placekicker Nate Millard of Daniel Boone, linebackers Brandon Strausser and Eden Johnson of Gov. Mifflin, and defensive lineman Kabine Toure of Gov. Mifflin.
In defeating No. 17 California 21-14 on the road Saturday for its second straight PSAC championship, Kutztown did enough to help its metrics and jump Mountain East Conference champion Charleston (W.Va.) for the top spot in SR1.
The Golden Eagles, who fell to KU in the second round of the 2023 DII playoffs, had been atop the regional rankings each of the last two weeks.
Kutztown, the defending Super Region One champion, receives a first-round bye and will face the winner of Slippery Rock and New Haven in a second round game at Andre Reed Stadium Nov. 30. The Golden Bears enter the postseason riding a Division II-best 20-game regular season winning streak. Charleston is the No. 2 seed; the Vulcans are No. 3. East Stroudsburg and Ashland also made the field from Super Region One.
Joining the Golden Bears as top seeds in their respective regions are Valdosta State (SR2), Ferris State (SR3) and Colorado State Pueblo (SR4).
