There is just one week of the DII football regular season remaining, and we may have just seen the wildest weekend yet. Ferris State nearly went down in what would have been the upset of the decade, Minnesota State upset undefeated Augustana (SD), Chadron State outlasted Western Colorado in a major RMAC upset, and Power 10 teams like Kutztown and CSU Pueblo were taken to the wire by some surprising, unranked opponents.
DII football 101: Week 9 Power 10 | Player of the year watchlist | DII in the NFL
Let's get right to it. Remember, the DII football rankings are my rankings that tries to blend selection metrics — like KPI, strength of schedule and common opponents, just to name a few —with what is happening in real time on the field. There is no voting committee like the other polls; this is simply a look at the DII football landscape in the current moment.
The DII football Power 10: Week 10
No. 1 Ferris State | Previous: 1. That was an impressive showing by Saginaw Valley State. The Cardinals took the Bulldogs to double overtime, where Ferris State prevailed 51-45. The Bulldogs improved to 10-0 on the season, locked up their fourth GLIAC title in the past six seasons (and an automatic bid to the tournament), and will look for yet another perfect regular season next week against Davenport. This week, Chase Carter came on in relief for Wyatt Bower after Bower's three early interceptions and had the first four-touchdown passing game of his career... on nine total completions. Talk about efficient.
No. 2 Harding | Previous: 2. If these Power 10 rankings were purely based on selection metrics, these Bisons would be No. 1. They trump Ferris State in several of said metrics, like KPI and strength of schedule. However, the defending national champs are undefeated and get to hold the top spot for now. This week, the Bisons improved to 10-0 and each of those 10 wins have come by three or more scores. This week, the Bisons ran for more than 500 yards for the third week in a row, a first for this record-setting rushing attack. It was Braden Jay who led the way this week with more than 100 yards on just six carries while scoring three times in a 52-14 win.
No. 3 Kutztown | Previous: 3. The Golden Bears had a close one against 2-8 Bloomsburg, winning 35-27. The 27 points were the most the Golden Bears' vaunted defense has allowed since the 2023 season. Kutztown was also outgained by Bloomsburg in total yards, another rarity for DII's No. 2 defense. This time of year, though, all that matters is that you keep winning. The Golden Bears will face off against Indiana (PA) in the PSAC championship game next week with the conference's automatic bid on the line.
No. 4 West Florida | Previous: 4. The Argos were on a bye this week, so remain one of five undefeated DII football programs. Valdosta State awaits, fresh off its upset of Delta State. The Blazers would love to play spoiler to their GSC rivals, so expect the Argos to be ready. ;
No. 5 Central Washington | Previous: 6. It was another dominating win for the Wildcats, rolling Sul Ross State 73-7. They scored at least two touchdowns in every quarter and are now a perfect 9-0 in DII play. They have a big game against Western Oregon next week that could determine the Lone Star Conference and Western Oregon's fate. Quarterback Kennedy McGill is a winner, and Central Washington is one of a few teams that, as of right now, look like they can go all the way.
No. 6 Pittsburg State | Previous: 5. A 21-point third quarter helped the Gorillas pull away from Central Missouri's scoring machine, and move to 8-2 on the season. They will face Northwest Missouri State next week in what turned out to be the MIAA championship game with the automatic bid on the line. You wouldn't think a team that allowed 35 points this week was sound defensively, but the Gorillas made big plays when it mattered with five sacks and three interceptions. That's what these Gorillas have done over this most recent run, just find ways to win. The Gorillas look to capture their third MIAA title in the last four years.
No. 7 CSU Pueblo | Previous: 7. The ThunderWolves came off last week's big win over Western Colorado and needed some time to shake a few cobwebs off. They fell behind 31-13 in the third quarter before storming back and defeating Colorado School of Mines 41-34 in overtime. Reggie Retzlaff looked like his old self playing a pivotal role in the comeback, reeling in eight receptions for 82 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner from quarterback Roman Fuller. They will face Chadron State next week for the RMAC title and automatic bid to the tournament.
No. 8 Northwest Missouri State | Previous: 8. The Bearcats locked up a share of the MIAA regular-season title, and I'm not sure anyone outside of Maryville saw that coming. It was a balanced attack per usual that led the way, as the offense totaled 495 yards and held Missouri Western to 178 in a lopsided 38-7 victory. Next week's Pittsburg State game is for the MIAA championship, and a Bearcats win would be one of the more amazing stories of the season.
No. 9 Minnesota Duluth | Previous: 9. The Bulldogs utterly dominated Bemidji State to stay in the hunt for the NSIC championship, especially after Augustana (SD)'s loss. Kyle Walljasper led the attack, throwing for 138 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 144 yards and two more touchdowns, but he wasn't alone. Ryder Patterson ran for 109 yards and a score while Luke Dehnicke caught six passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns to round out a trio of stars. The Bulldogs close with Minot State in a must-win situation.
No. 10 Findlay | Previous: First five out. This isn't simply the Oilers' debut in the 2025 Power 10 rankings... it is their first-ever appearance in this history of the DII football Power 10 rankings. Findlay entered the weekend allowing the third fewest points per game (12.0) and held nationally ranked Ashland to three points, winning on the road in Ashland, Ohio for the first time in 19 years. That gets the Oilers into the tournament and could have them as high as the No. 2 seed in Super Region Three. Findlay failed to gain 200 yards against one of DII's more formidable defenses, but held Ashland to just 254 yards and no touchdowns with two sacks and an interception. The Oilers will look to stay undefeated against a very tough Tiffin team next week.
The first five (ish) out (in alphabetical order)
- UIndy: Rinse, wash, repeat. It's the fifth-straight week the Greyhounds scored at least 49 points and third time this season they broke 60. Gavin Sukup threw for 387 yards and five touchdowns.
- Johnson C. Smith: That was a close one, but the Golden Bulls sneak into the Power 10 conversation thanks to a pair of losses by Augustana (SD) and Western Colorado. They'll be playing Virginia Union for the CIAA championship and an automatic bid to the tournament.
- Minnesota State: That big win over Augustana (SD) gets the Mavericks back in the conversation. Next week will be a must-win game against the high-flying MSU Moorhead offense.
- Newberry: You know, I had Wingate in the first five out for as long as I could, but the Wolves are a great story this year. After a 3-7 season, the Wolves are 9-1 and SAC champions, with a thrilling 43-42 victory over Wingate earlier this year. We'll see how they handle the spotlight in the bracket, but this team is rolling.
- Virginia Union: Curtis Allen broke Jada Byers' program record and sits at 2,085 yards rushing with 27 touchdowns. The Panthers could wrap up the No. 2 seed in Super Region One with a win over JCSU this weekend.
Players of the week
Northern Michigan's Noah Dobert.
Offensive players of the week: Caron Robinson, Edinboro. It wasn't simply the numbers Robinson put up; it was how he did it. Robinson led Edinboro in its 30-point stunner of an upset over nationally and regionally ranked Slippery Rock, likely bumping The Rock from the tournament (). But how about those numbers? Robinson ran for 273 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.
Defensive player of the week: Jamal Spiyee, Minnesota State. As with Robinson, it wasn't simply what Spiyee did, but the magnitude of when he did it. The Mavericks needed a win to stay in the tournament hunt, and Spiyee did his part in the upset of undefeated Augustana. He returned a fumble 24 yards for a touchdown and blocked an Augustana field goal attempt in the Mavericks' 14-0 third quarter to help them pull away. He also recorded an interception... talk about doing it all.
Freshman of the week: Noah Dobert, Northern Michigan. It is the second time in the last four weeks that Dobert has run for 243 yards. This week he added four touchdowns in a thrilling four-overtime victory over Davenport. On the season, the redshirt-freshman has 1,250 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns.
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