Western Colorado will open its doors to Central Washington this weekend for some playoff football action, and the host Mountaineers will have redemption on their minds.

Saturday’s game will mark the second consecutive year the two programs are meeting in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship.

Central Washington won last year’s contest, the first meeting between the two teams, 16-13 in overtime.

Western Colorado will welcome the Wildcats back to Mojo Field at Mountaineer Bowl at the Rady Family Sports Complex in Gunnison, Colorado, and the contest will get underway Saturday at 3 p.m. Eastern.

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Western Colorado enters the playoffs at 10-1 overall and 8-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The lone loss was to CSU-Pueblo (44-34 on Nov. 2), which used the victory to catapult to the outright RMAC title. 

The Mountaineers are ranked No. 10 in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches Poll.

Central Washington, 19th in the AFCA poll, finished the 2024 regular season at 8-3 overall and 7-2 in the Lone Star Conference standings. The Wildcats were the conference runners-up for the third consecutive time, this time finishing behind Angelo State.

The Mountaineers and Wildcats are competing in the Super Region Four section of the 28-team playoff bracket. CSU-Pueblo earned a first-round bye as the top team in the Super Region Four rankings.

The winner of the Central Washington-Western Colorado game will move on to meet the winner of the Bemidji State-Angelo State matchup.

How To Watch The Central Washington Football Vs. Western Colorado Game

The Central Washington vs. Western Colorado playoff football game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Highlights, breaking news and full coverage of the Division II playoffs will be available on FloFootball. 

When Are The NCAA Division II Football Playoffs?

• First round: Saturday, Nov. 23
• Second round: Saturday, Nov. 30 
• Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 7 
• Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 14
• National championship: Saturday, Dec. 21

When Is The NCAA Division II Championship Game?

The NCAA Division II championship game is set for Saturday, Dec. 21 in McKinney, Texas.

NCAA Division II Football Playoff Schedule

First Round: Saturday, Nov. 23

• Slippery Rock vs. New Haven
• Charleston (W.Va.) vs. Ashland
• California (Pa.) vs. East Stroudsburg
• Miles vs. Carson-Newman
• Wingate vs. Virginia Union
• West Alabama vs. Lenoir-Rhyne
• Central Oklahoma vs. Ouachita Baptist
• Grand Valley State vs. UIndy
• Pittsburg State vs. Harding
• Augustana (S.D.) vs. Minnesota State
• Western Colorado vs. Central Washington
• Angelo State vs. Bemidji State

Second Round: Saturday, Nov. 30

• Kutztown vs. Slippery Rock/New Haven
• Valdosta State vs. Miles/Carson-Newman
• Ferris State vs. Central Oklahoma/Ouachita Baptist
• CSU Pueblo vs. Augustana (S.D.)/Minnesota State

AFCA Division II Football Rankings

As of Nov. 18, 2024

1. Valdosta St. (Ga.) (27) 10-0
2. Ferris St. (Mich.) (3) 10-1
3. Kutztown (Pa.) 11-0
4. Harding (Ark.) 10-1
5. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 10-1
6. Charleston (W.Va.) 11-0
7. Colorado St.-Pueblo 10-1
8. Central Oklahoma 10-1
9. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 10-1
10. Western Colorado 10-1
11. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 9-1
12. West Alabama 9-1
13. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 8-2
14. Indianapolis (Ind.) 10-1
15. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 9-2
16. Angelo St. (Tex.) 9-2
17. Wingate (N.C.) 9-1
18. Colorado School of Mines 8-3
19. Central Washington 8-3
20. California (Pa.) 8-2
21. West Florida 7-3
22. Augustana (S.D.) 8-3
23. Southern Arkansas 9-2
24. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 9-2
25. Central Missouri 8-3

Dropped Out: Minnesota St. (18), Findlay (Ohio) (22).

Others Receiving Votes: Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 65; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 45; Virginia Union, 38; Miles (Ala.), 36; Minnesota St., 34; New Haven (Conn.), 21; Findlay (Ohio), 18; Bemidji St. (Minn.), 9; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 4; Davenport (Mich.), 3; Ashland (Ohio), 2; Glenville St. (W.Va.), 1.

To see the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, click here.

Archived Footage On FloFootball

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