Kutztown Goes Back-To-Back In The PSAC

Kutztown (Pa.) completed their first undefeated regular season in the modern era by beating then-No. 17 California (Pa.), 21-14, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) title game. The Golden Bears are 11-0 on the season and received a first-round bye in the NCAA Division II playoffs. They become just the second PSAC team to win back-to-back conference titles since the championship game was reborn in 2008 (Slippery Rock (Pa.), 2014-15). Kutztown ends the regular season at No. 3 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, presented by Hudl.       

No. 1 Valdosta State (Ga.), No. 2 Ferris State (Mich.) and No. 7 Colorado State-Pueblo received the other three first-round byes as being the top seed in their respective regions. In all, 21 of the top 25 teams made the NCAA playoffs with five first-round games being ranked matchups. No. 4 Harding (Ark.) starts defense of their 2023 national title at No. 13 Pittsburg State (Kan.) while No. 5 Grand Valley State (Mich.) will play host to Great Lakes Valley Conference champion and No. 14 Indianapolis (Ind.).

In other action, No. 8 Central Oklahoma, who won the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title, will host a playoff game for the first time since 1998 when No. 9 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) comes to town. The final two top 25 matchups have No. 10 Western Colorado hosting No. 19 Central Washington while No. 12 West Alabama will host No. 15 Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.).

Dropped Out: Minnesota St. (18), Findlay (Ohio) (22)

Others Receiving Votes: Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 65; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 45; Virginia Union, 38; Miles (Ala.), 36; Minnesota St., 34; New Haven (Conn.), 21; Findlay (Ohio), 18; Bemidji St. (Minn.), 9; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 4; Davenport (Mich.), 3; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Glenville St. (W.Va.), 1.