NCAA Div. II Football is down to the final four, and a long journey that began in August culminates in two games to decide which teams advance to McKinney Texas.

The national semifinals on Dec. 14 will feature two programs that have combined to win six national championships in the last 20 years and two programs seeking their first Div title. II crown.

Is the div. Is the II National Championship Game set for a Ferris State-Valdosta State trilogy, pitting the Bulldogs and Blazers against each other for the third time since 2018? Or can Minnesota State or Slippery Rock advance to Texas?

Get ready for the 2024 Division. II. National Semifinals with the following introduction.

Valdosta State Football vs. Minnesota State

Saturday, December 14, 12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT

Valdosta, Georgia, became a title town in 2004 when the Blazers broke Grand Valley State’s run of four national championships. After falling short in the title game against GVSU in 2002, Chris Hatcher and Valdosta State broke through in 2004, defeating Pittsburg State 36-31 in a classic.

The Blazers won the national championship again in 2007, 2012 and 2018, with the crowns split between the coaching regimes of David Dean and Kerwin Bell. Tremaine Jackson could become the fourth national championship coach in program history if the 12-0 Blazers go undefeated for another two weeks.

Jackson’s tenure at Valdosta State got off to a rocky start. The 2022 Blazers went just 5-6, including 2-5 in the Gulf South Conference, leaving them tied for seventh place near the conference cellar. It was unfamiliar territory for one of the most dominant programs of the last two decades and made the following two seasons all the more impressive.

Valdosta State has won 12 games in each of the last two seasons and enters Saturday’s national semifinals having faced little resistance while compiling a perfect record. The Blazers were successful in their first two playoff games, defeating Miles College 33-17 in the 2nd round; and Virginia Union in the quarterfinals, 49-14.

Sammy Edwards was electric against VUU, needing just 13 completions to rush for 302 yards with four touchdown passes. After throwing for more than 4,200 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2023, Edwards has taken his production to new levels in 2024 as one of the most reliable playmakers in all of football.

He reaches the semifinals after throwing 28 touchdowns with just two interceptions all year. Edwards’ mastery of the passing game pairs well with the one-two of Blake Hester and Alfonso Franklin.

Hester would pass the 1,000-yard mark for the season with 955 yards in the semifinals. He also scored 13 rushing touchdowns while Franklin rushed for 14 touchdowns and 706 yards.

But while an offense scoring more than 42 points per game is somewhat standard at Valdosta State, a program that fostered the rise of the Air Raid offense generations ago, the Blazers’ stifling defense is laying down opponents at a historic pace.

VSU has allowed just 10.2 points per game while opponents averaged just 130.2 passing yards per game. Safety Larry Elder was a linchpin for the Blazers’ defense, doing a little bit of everything: He leads the way with 84 tackles; He recorded 11 tackles for a loss and forced a remarkable four fumbles.

The veteran Elder is also one of four Blazers with 3.5 sacks or more, along with Jemarrlowe Sykes (4.5), Caden Campolieti (5.5) and Sterling Roberts (3.5). VSU’s ability to apply pressure in opposing backfields promises to be a test for a Minnesota State offense that relies on the balance between passing and running.

Mavericks quarterback Hayden Ekern reaches the national semifinals throwing for fewer than 3,000 yards, right in line with the Blazers’ Edwards. Ekern also plays an important role in the ground attack, as he is one of three Minnesota State ball carriers with at least 500 yards rushing this season.

Ekern’s 483 yards complemented Christian Vasser’s 532 on 118 carries and Sam Backer’s 908 on 173 carries. Ekern also scored a team-leading 14 touchdowns, with both Backer and Vasser scoring five times.

While Minnesota State’s offense has shown its ability to score, the common denominator in the Mavericks’ 11 wins and three losses has been defense. Minnesota State gave up at least 30 points in each of its three losses, including 34 to conference rival Augustana State.

In a playoff rematch, the Mavericks held Augustana State to just 19 points by rendering the Vikings’ rushing game virtually non-existent. Linebacker Antonio Alzheimer was a key to Minnesota State’s defense against the rush, allowing just 14 total touchdowns this season.

The Mavericks may have to try to engage Valdosta State in a tough battle that also aims to force Edwards into uncharacteristic turnovers. It seems a difficult prospect.

PREDICTION: Valdosta State 38, Minnesota State 17

Ferris State Football vs. Slippery Rock

Saturday, December 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT

I would like to join Northwest Missouri State (2013-2016), Grand Valley State (2002-2006), North Alabama (1993-1995) and North Dakota State (1985-1988) in the exclusive atmosphere of the program with three NCAA Div. connect. Aiming for its second national championship in four seasons, Ferris State hosts Slippery Rock in the second semifinal on Saturday.

The Bulldogs are on a 12-game winning streak since losing their season opener at Pittsburg State on Aug. 31. And Ferris State hasn’t just won since that Week 0 setback – it has been absolutely dominant, outscoring all freshmen by an average of 50% and 38.3 points per game.

This also includes the first playoff opponent Central Oklahoma, against whom Ferris State scored an incredible 78 points with 61 points in the second round; and defending champion Harding. The Bulldogs harassed the 2023 title-winning Bison, passing Harding 452 yards to 193.

Trinidad Chambliss once again showed why he is arguably the most exciting player in the division. II football, where he passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more touchdowns against a Harding defense that was one of the best in the country the last two years.

Chambliss has passed for 2,551 yards with 22 touchdowns to just five interceptions and is also on a roll with 20 rushing touchdowns. His 817 rushing yards are just behind running back Kannon Katzer’s 866 to lead Ferris State.

Chambliss effectively distributed the ball to six different pass catchers who had at least 20 receptions, led by Emari O’Brien with 40. O’Brien is also one of seven Bulldogs with multiple touchdown receptions.

Trinidad Chambliss was unstoppable this year 👀

Chambliss and Ferris State football host Slippery Rock in the NCAA Division II semifinals this Saturday at Top Taggart Field. #GLIACFB | @FerrisFootball | @TrinidadChambl1 pic.twitter.com/BHesfIgKO9

— FloCollege | Football (@FloCollegeFB) December 12, 2024

Ferris State’s ability to be so effective on offense has resulted in them scoring 44.5 points per game. This is the second highest average in the division. II. The only more productive attack? Harding, who the Ferris State defense shut down.

In fact, Ferris State’s defense also shut down the third-best offense in these playoffs, with Central Oklahoma finishing its campaign averaging 44.4 points per game.

Given that the Bulldogs held the other two top-scoring teams in the country to a combined 24 points, Slippery Rock has a tough road ahead in the semifinals.

The Rock has a 12-1 record overall and three playoff wins. Slippery Rocky defeated New Haven 14-7 in a first-round defensive battle; Then he beat Kutztown 25:24 in overtime.

A 31-13 win over California in the quarterfinals was the first time in the postseason that Slippery Rock won with some breathing room. The Rock’s defense was at the forefront of its playoff victories, as it has been all season. Slippery Rock has held its opponents to 16.7 points per game with a pass defense that has nearly as many interceptions (10) as touchdowns allowed (14).

Michael Henwood’s three interceptions led the way, while Josh Stokes broke up 15 passes. The Rock secondary is able to take advantage of the constant pressure that the front seven puts on opposing quarterbacks, starting with lineman Todd Hill.

Hill had 8.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for a loss, while Munchie Johnson had 14 tackles for a loss. However, Slippery Rock replicating that kind of production against dynamic Chambliss and a strong Ferris State offensive line might prove to be too tall a task.

Look for the Bulldogs to return to the National Championship Game for the third time in four seasons and fourth time since 2018.

PREDICTION: Ferris State 52, Slippery Rock 14

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