The NCAA has announced the playoff field for Division II football. In the Northeast region, the top seed is California-Pennsylvania (10-0) from the PSAC followed by Sheperd (9-1) from the WVIAC. The first two seeds in each region receive a first round bye week. The third and sixth seeds will meet in a PSAC batte when West Chester (9-2) hosts Indiana-Pennsylvania (8-2) for the right to travel to Sheperd. California will to host the winner of the Northeast-10 battle of fourth seeded Southern Connecticut (8-3) takes on the fifth seed Bryant (8-2).

The Northwest Region has top seed and NCC champion Nebraska-Omaha (10-0) standing to host the winner of fellow NCC foe North Dakota (9-1) and NSIC champion Winona State (10-1). Two-time defending national champion and current GLIAC champion Grand Valley (10-0) is the second seed and awaits the winner of Central Washington (8-2) from the NCC and Ashland (8-1) from the GLIAC.

The Southeast Region is led by three Gulf South Conference schools. Top seeded Valdosta State (9-1) will host the winner of SAC co-champion Catawba (10-1) and SAIC representative Albany State (8-2). North Alabama (9-1) was awarded the second seed and awaits the winner of GSC champion Delta State (9-1) and CIAA representative Shaw (8-3). This region was probably the most interesting of the selection process as ‘Earned Access’ came in to affect the situation and has been widely debated in the media and on the Internet. Original fifth seed Carson-Newman (10-1) was left out of the playoffs for 10th seeded Shaw. NCAA DII Championship policy states that a conference will earn access to the playoffs if it’s highest ranked member institution is within the Top 10 of the Regional Rankings.

The Southwest Region has top seed and RMAC champion, Chadron State (11-0), waiting to host the winner of Abilene Christian (9-2) from the LSC and Independent Mesa State (10-1). The second seed and MIAA champion, Northwest Missouri State, will be second-round host to the winner of LSC champion West Texas A&M (11-0) and Washburn (8-3) of the MIAA.

The winners of the second round will meet in the regional finals. The winner of each region will faceoff and will feature the Northeast vs. Southeast and Northwest vs. Southwest. The semi-final winners will meet in the Division II National Championship Game on December 15. North Alabama serves as the host as the event at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama.