December 11th, 2025 12:00pm
By D2Football.com staff
Saturday’s national semifinal in Kutztown features two programs that have grown accustomed to deep playoff runs in recent years. Harding, the 2023 national champion, has advanced to at least the national quarterfinals in each of the past three seasons and now makes its second semifinal appearance in three years. Kutztown, meanwhile, is in the semifinals for just the second time in school history—both trips coming within the last three seasons.
Both teams have established themselves as dominant forces in their respective conferences. Kutztown recently secured its third consecutive PSAC championship and fourth in the past five years. Harding claimed outright GAC titles in 2021, 2023, and 2025, and shared the crown in 2024. Since 2021, Harding owns a 10-2 playoff record, while Kutztown stands at 7-3.
This matchup will showcase two of the nation’s premier defenses. Harding leads all Division II programs in scoring defense and is the only team allowing fewer than 10 points per game (9.64). The Bisons are also the only defense to have surrendered fewer than 20 total touchdowns (19). Kutztown is close behind, ranking second nationally in scoring defense at 11.64 points per game and allowing just two more touchdowns than Harding (21).
As evenly matched as the defenses are, the offenses are just as close. Harding ranks third in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 44.7 points per game, while Kutztown sits fourth at 44.0 points per game.
Full name: Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Mascot: Golden Bears
Location: Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Conference affiliation: Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)
Enrollment: 7,367
Record: 14-0
Head Coach Jim Clements leads the Golden Bears in his 11th season at the helm of the Maroon and Gold. He is the program’s all-time leader in both total wins and winning percentage. Entering this weekend’s national semifinal, Clements holds a 105-29 record at Kutztown and has guided the team to four PSAC Championships. This fall, he earned PSAC East Coach of the Year honors for the sixth time overall and third consecutive season. Additionally, he was named AFCA Division II Region One Coach of the Year for the third straight year and fifth time in his career.
Players to watch
QB Judd Novak – Harlon Hill Award Finalist , PSAC East offensive player of the year, First team All-Super Region One
OL Ryan Schernecke – Gene Upshaw Award finalist, First team All-Super Region One, First team All-PSAC East
RB Steven Burkhardt – First team All-PSAC East
LB Brandon Hile – First team All-Super Region One, PSAC East defensive player of the year
DL Freddie Retter – First team All-Super Region One, 2024 PSAC East defensive player of the year
DL Kyree Butler – First team All-PSAC East
DB Lee Coleman – Second team All-Super Region One
Schedule
Sept. 4 Assumption (W, 51-14)
Sept. 13 at Edinboro (W, 34-0)
Sept. 20 Gannon (W, 46-7)
Sept. 27 at Shepherd (W, 49-10)
Oct. 4 Shippensburg (W, 49-0)
Oct. 11 at Lock Haven (W, 34-7)
Oct. 18 Millersville (W, 43-14)
Oct. 25 at West Chester (W, 41-7)
Nov. 1 East Stroudsburg (W, 49-6)
Nov. 8 at Bloomsburg (W, 35-27)
Nov. 15 IUP (W, 28-23)
Round 1: Bentley (W, 52-0)
Round 2: Assumption (W, 56-19)
Round 3: Frostburg State (W, 51-29)
Harding profile
Full name: Harding University
Mascot: Bisons
Location: Searcy, Arkansas
Conference affiliation: Great American Conference
Enrollment: 4,608
Record: 14-0
Head Coach Paul Simmons has led the Bisons since 2017. A former All-American defensive player at Harding, Simmons joined the staff in Searcy in 2006 and served as defensive coordinator from 2010 to 2016 before being promoted to head coach. Under his leadership, Harding has compiled an impressive 91-15 record, captured four GAC championships, made six playoff appearances, and won the 2023 national championship. Simmons is a three-time GAC Coach of the Year and was named National Coach of the Year in 2023.
Players to Watch
QB Cole Keylon – 50-4 record as a starting quarterback for the Bisons
RB Andrew Miller – Harlon Hill Award finalist, First team All-Super Region Four, second in the nation in total rushing yards
RB Braden Jay – GAC Offensive player of the year, Division II record 12.2 yards per carry for the season to date
OL Jake Mitchell – Gene Upshaw Award finalist, First team Al-Super Region Four
LB Clark Griffin – GAC Defensive player of the year, First team All-Super Region Four
DB Ty Dugger – First team All-Super Region Four
DL Justin Sobczak – First team All-GAC, Second team All-Super Region Four, team leader in sacks
Schedule
Sept. 4 at Northwestern Oklahoma (W, 49-7)
Sept. 11 Southwestern Oklahoma (W, 55-0)
Sept. 20 at Southern Arkansas (W, 31-12)
Sept. 27 Ouachita Baptist (W, 24-7)
Oct. 4 East Central (W, 65-0)
Oct. 9 at Southeastern Oklahoma (W, 35-7)
Oct. 18 at Henderson State (W, 35-10)
Oct. 25 Arkansas-Monticello (W, 55-0)
Nov. 1 Oklahoma Baptist (W, 69-0)
Nov. 8 at Southern Nazarene (W, 52-14)
Nov. 15 at Arkansas Tech (W, 47-13)
Round 1: Northwest Missouri State (W, 38-16)
Round 2: Pittsburg State (W, 37-21)
Round 3: UT Permian Basin (W, 34-28)
The winner advances to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game in McKinney, Texas on December 20.