Can anyone stop the North Central juggernaut in the NCAA Division III football playoffs?
The defending national champion has blown through the regular season, with only one opponent getting within 30 points of the Cardinals. After reaching the Stagg Bowl the last five years and lifting the trophy three times in that span, North Central has established itself as D3's top program.
That doesn't mean anyone will be rolling over for the Cardinals, though, and the most storied program in D3 football should be the top contender. Mount Union has 13 Division III titles, more than twice as many as any other school, and is looking to win the Stagg Bowl for the first time since 2017 after falling to North Central in the final last season.
The Purple Raiders will join a list of contenders including Johns Hopkins and Bethel hoping to find a way to solve North Central.
AllSportsPeople has all the details on the 2025 Division III football playoffs, including a complete schedule with live stream information.
How to watch NCAA D3 football playoffs
The first round through the semifinals will stream live on ESPN+.
Catch all your favorite ESPN+ action with ESPN Select! Just download the new ESPN app, sign in with your ESPN account, tap Subscribe to ESPN Select, and you're set to stream live sports, originals, and more—all in one place.
The Stagg Bowl championship game on Jan. 4 will be broadcast by ESPN and can also be streamed via Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
NCAA D3 football playoffs 2025 schedule, scores
Saturday, Nov. 22 - First round
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Muhlenberg vs. Union (NY) | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| LaGrange vs. Framingham State | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Susquehanna vs. Washington & Jefferson | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Springfield vs. Cortland | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Hanover vs. Grove City | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Concordia Wisconsin vs. Coe | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Wheaton (IL) vs. Crown (MN) | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Whitworth vs. Chapman | 3 p.m. | ESPN+ |
Saturday, Nov. 29 - Second round
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Union vs. Muhlenberg/Union (NY) | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| John Carroll vs. Randolph-Macon | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Berry vs. LaGrange/Framingham State | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Hope vs. Wisconsin-La Crosse | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Franklin & Marshall vs. Eastern | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Salisbury vs. Endicott | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Johns Hopkins vs. Springfield/Cortland | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Christopher Newport vs. Susquehanna/Wash. & Jeff. | 12 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Trinity (TX) vs. Hardin-Simmons | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| North Central (IL) vs. Hanover/Grove City | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Wisconsin-Platteville vs. Alma | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Bethel (MN) vs. Concordia Wisconsin/Coe | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Wartburg vs. Wheaton (IL)/Crown (MN) | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Wisconsin-Whitewater vs. DePauw | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Saint John's (MN) vs. Monmouth (IL) | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| UW-River Falls vs. Whitworth/Chapman | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ |
NCAA D3 football playoffs bracket 2025
The full bracket for this year's D3 playoffs is below:
The #D3fb bracket is HERE! 🏈🏆
— NCAA Division III (@NCAADIII) November 16, 2025
🔗 https://t.co/fXBTUFbC6f #WhyD3 pic.twitter.com/5EZcBvgUkA
D3 football playoffs round-by-round schedule 2025
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| First round | Nov. 22 |
| Second round | Nov. 29 |
| Third round | Dec. 6 |
| Quarterfinals | Dec. 13 |
| Semifinals | Dec. 20 |
| Final | Jan. 4 |
NCAA D3 football champions list
The last 10 Division II football champions are listed below.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | North Central (Ill.) | Mount Union |
| 2023 | Cortland | North Central (Ill.) |
| 2022 | North Central (Ill.) | Mount Union |
| 2021 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | North Central (Ill.) |
| 2019 | North Central (Ill.) | Wisconsin-Whitewater |
| 2018 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Mount Union |
| 2017 | Mount Union | Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| 2016 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Wisconsin-Oshkosh |
| 2015 | Mount Union | St. Thomas (Minn.) |
| 2014 | Wisconsin-Whitewater | Mount Union |