MIAC champion Bethel received a first-round bye for the Division III football playoffs and two NSIC teams were awarded berths in the Division II playoffs, the NCAA announced Sunday.
St. John’s, the MIAC runner-up, and UMAC champion Crown join Bethel in the 40-team Division III bracket. St. John’s also got a first-round bye.
NSIC champion Minnesota Duluth and NSIC South Division co-champion Minnesota State Mankato are in the 32-team Division II bracket.
In the first round of the Division II playoffs Saturday, UMD will travel to Ashland (Ohio), while MSU will travel to Findlay (Ohio). UMD is making its first playoff appearance since 2021. Mankato reached the semifinals last season.
St. John’s and Monmouth will meet in the second round of the Division III playoffs in Collegeville on Nov. 29 after both got first-round byes.
Crown will make its first appearance in the Division III playoffs by traveling to Wheaton (Ill.).
Four teams from the WIAC received berths in the bracket — WIAC champion Wisconsin-River Falls, UW-La Crosse, UW-Platteville and UW-Whitewater. River Falls, which received a first-round bye after winning its first outright WIAC title since 1985, will be making its first appearance in the Division III playoffs since 1998.
