The NCAA Division II Football Committee released its first regional rankings of the 2024 season on Monday, with Wingate University (7-1) securing the number one position in Super Region Two. The rankings serve as a crucial indicator for playoff positioning, with the top seven teams typically qualifying for the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The Bulldogs' top ranking puts them in prime position to potentially secure a first-round bye in the upcoming playoffs, marking another milestone in what has been a remarkable season for the North Carolina program. Wingate's defensive excellence has been a key factor in their success, as they currently lead several national statistical categories.

West Alabama (7-1) and undefeated Valdosta State (8-0) occupy the second and third spots respectively, while Johnson C. Smith (8-1) rounds out the top four. The Golden Bulls' high ranking represents a significant achievement for the Charlotte-based program only two years removed from a two-win season.

The rankings feature a strong showing from North Carolina schools, with Winston-Salem State (6-2) at seventh, and Lenoir-Rhyne (7-2) at eighth. Carson-Newman (7-1) holds the fifth position, followed by Virginia Union (7-1) and sixth while Miles (7-1) and West Florida (6-2) round out the top ten.

The playoff format for Super Region Two will see the top seed receive a first-round bye, while seeds two through four will host playoff games against lower-ranked opponents. The playoffs are scheduled to begin on November 23 at campus sites, with the second round following on November 30. The national quarterfinals will take place on December 7, leading up to the semifinals on November 14. The national championship game is set for November 21 in McKinney, Texas.

The release of these rankings sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the regular season, as teams jockey for playoff position in the final weeks. With four North Carolina schools in the top eight, the state is well-represented in the chase for the Division II national championship.

RANK	SCHOOL	D2 RECORD	REGION RECORD
1	Wingate	7-1	7-1
2	West Alabama	7-1	7-1
3	Valdosta State	8-0	8-0
4	Johnson C. Smith	8-1	8-1
5	Carson-Newman	7-1	6-1
6	Virginia Union	7-1	7-1
7	Winston-Salem State	6-2	5-2
8	Lenoir-Rhyne	7-2	6-2
9	Miles	7-1	7-1
10	West Florida	6-2	5-1

CHARLOTTE – In a stunning upset that reshapes the conference standings, Fayetteville State dominated fourth-ranked Johnson C. Smith 27-0 on Saturday at the Irwin Belk Complex in Charlotte, ending the Golden Bulls' eight-game winning streak.

The Broncos (4-4, 3-3) controlled every phase of the game against Johnson C. Smith (8-1, 5-1), combining an efficient offense with a smothering defense that held one of the region's top teams scoreless. The victory marked Fayetteville State's most significant win of the season and introduced uncertainty into JCSU's playoff positioning just days before the release of the initial NCAA Division II Super Region Two rankings.

After a scoreless first quarter, Fayetteville State broke through with an impressive 16-play, 90-yard drive that showcased their offensive capabilities. Quarterback Joe Owens Jr. connected with Kameron King on a 7-yard touchdown pass, giving the Broncos a 7-0 lead with 11:08 remaining in the second quarter.

The Broncos extended their lead before halftime when Der Alston Jr. scored on a 10-yard run, capping a seven-play, 68-yard drive to make it 14-0. Fayetteville State's offense continued to find success against a JCSU defense that had been among the region's best, accumulating 353 total yards.

Owens orchestrated another lengthy drive in the third quarter, leading the Broncos 100 yards in 11 plays. He finished the drive himself with a 1-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 21-0. The quarterback finished with 233 passing yards, completing 24 of 32 attempts.

Julius Cobbs sealed the victory with 1:55 remaining, returning an interception 53 yards for the final touchdown. The defensive score highlighted a dominant performance by the Broncos' defense, which limited JCSU to just 192 total yards and 30 yards rushing.

Harris-Strayhor led all receivers with eight catches for 95 yards, while Julia Milligan added two receptions for 60 yards. The Broncos' ground game was effective, with Alston Jr. gaining 39 yards and Jamari Slade breaking free for a 32-yard run.

JCSU's typically potent offense struggled throughout the afternoon. Quarterback Darius Ocean completed 15 of 35 passes for 162 yards but threw two interceptions. Brevin Caldwell caught eight passes for 75 yards in the losing effort.

The Broncos' defense pressured Ocean consistently, recording two sacks and seven tackles for loss. Caleb Legrand led the defensive effort with seven tackles and a pass breakup, while Taevion Cox added five tackles including 2.5 for loss.

Despite the loss, JCSU's Benari Black had an outstanding defensive performance with 16 total tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss.

Fayetteville State controlled the clock, holding the ball for over 35 minutes while converting 7 of 14 third downs. The Broncos' defense held JCSU to just 4 of 13 on third down conversions and stopped them on both red zone opportunities.

The upset victory gives Fayetteville State momentum heading into their final games, while Johnson C. Smith must regroup quickly to maintain their position in the conference title race.

HICKORY – Wingate's defense held No. 12 Lenoir-Rhyne to season lows in yards and points as the Bulldogs earned a crucial 14-10 South Atlantic Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Moretz Stadium.

The win was Wingate's fifth straight and improved their record to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in SAC play. Lenoir-Rhyne dropped to 7-2 and 5-2 in conference action.

All of Wingate's scoring came in the second quarter. O'Brien Barnett broke free for a 30-yard touchdown run to open the scoring at 11:14. With 37 seconds remaining before halftime, Brooks Bentley connected with Evan McCray on a 21-yard touchdown pass to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead.

The Bears mounted a comeback in the third quarter. Jalen Ferguson's 22-yard touchdown run capped a 75-yard drive to start the half. Jake Brown added a 27-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-10, but Lenoir-Rhyne couldn't complete the rally.

Wingate's defense, which has now held five opponents to their season-low point totals, limited the Bears to just 175 total yards. The Bulldogs recorded eight tackles for loss, including contributions from Marquise Fleming (2.5 TFL, one sack) and Jaden White (2 TFL).

McCray had a career day receiving for Wingate, catching 10 passes for 140 yards and the touchdown. Bentley finished with 248 passing yards, helping the Bulldogs control possession for nearly 33 minutes.

Lenoir-Rhyne's defense was led by Jaelin Willis, who tied his career-high with 14 tackles. Nic Cheeley recorded an interception for his fourth straight game.

The victory gives Wingate the inside track for a spot in the SAC Championship game. The Bulldogs conclude their regular season next Saturday hosting Newberry, while Lenoir-Rhyne travels to Catawba needing wins in their final two games to maintain playoff hopes.

ELON – Elon's explosive offense and balanced attack led them to a commanding 50-27 victory over Campbell at Rhodes Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Phoenix (4-6, 3-3) controlled the game from the opening drive, building a 26-13 halftime lead and never looking back.

Elon quarterback Matthew Downing threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns, with Chandler Brayboy being his primary target. Brayboy finished with eight receptions for 183 yards and two touchdowns, including a 66-yard scoring strike on Elon's first offensive play of the game.

Running back Rushawn Baker powered the Phoenix ground game, rushing for 154 yards on 23 carries and finding the end zone three times. His performance helped Elon control the clock, as they held possession for over 32 minutes.

Despite the loss, Campbell (3-7, 1-5) showed offensive firepower of their own. Quarterback Mike Chandler II passed for 355 yards and four touchdowns, connecting with Randall King and Sincere Brown seven times each. King finished with 145 yards and two touchdowns, while Brown added 135 yards and two scores of his own, including a 70-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

Elon's defense, led by Caleb Curtain's game-high 12 tackles, forced Campbell to be one-dimensional. The Fighting Camels managed just 124 yards rushing, while Elon racked up 203 yards on the ground.

The Phoenix struck quickly, taking just nine seconds to score on their opening drive with Brayboy's 66-yard touchdown reception. They extended their lead to 14-0 on Baker's first touchdown run. Campbell responded with a touchdown pass from Chandler to King, but Elon's Ishmel Atkins returned the failed conversion attempt to push the lead to 16-6.

Elon's offensive efficiency showed in the red zone, where they scored on all six trips, including four touchdowns. The Phoenix put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring Campbell 17-7 to build a 43-20 lead.

The victory marks Elon's second consecutive win in conference play, while Campbell has now dropped three straight CAA contests.

BOONE – Joey Aguilar threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers as Appalachian State defeated Old Dominion 28-20 on Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium, overcoming a statistical disadvantage with timely defensive plays and efficient red zone execution.

Despite being outgained 498-396 in total yards, the Mountaineers (4-4, 2-3) capitalized on three Old Dominion fumbles to secure the victory in front of 34,954 fans. The win demonstrated App State's resilience in their return to Kidd Brewer Stadium, where they had played just one game in the previous 37 days due to Hurricane Helene's impact in September.

Aguilar completed 13 of 24 passes for 212 yards with one interception, connecting with his receivers for crucial scores throughout the game. Kaedin Robinson led App State's receivers with 78 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter that opened the scoring. The Mountaineers also got touchdown receptions from Dalton Stroman (46 yards), Kanen Hamlett (4 yards), and Max Drag (11 yards).

Old Dominion (4-5, 3-2) controlled much of the game statistically, with quarterback Colton Joseph throwing for 332 yards and two touchdowns on 27-of-38 passing. Isiah Paige had a standout performance with 13 catches for 205 yards and a touchdown, consistently finding open space and accumulating 157 yards after the catch. Running back Aaron Young added 110 yards rushing on 14 carries, averaging 7.9 yards per attempt.

The Monarchs jumped ahead 17-7 in the second quarter on touchdown passes from Joseph to Diante Vines (14 yards) and Paige (28 yards). However, App State responded quickly when Aguilar found Stroman for a 46-yard score just 79 seconds later, shifting momentum before halftime.

App State's defense made key plays in crucial moments, with Joshua Donald recording two sacks and forcing a fumble. Brendan Harrington led the defensive effort with nine tackles, while the Mountaineers' pass rush accumulated five sacks for 22 yards. The defense particularly excelled in the fourth quarter, holding Old Dominion scoreless while protecting their lead.

The Mountaineers' ground game was led by Ahmani Marshall, who rushed for 120 yards on 23 carries. Aguilar contributed to the rushing attack with 61 yards on seven carries, averaging 8.7 yards per attempt. The balanced offensive approach helped App State control the clock in key situations, particularly in the fourth quarter where they held possession for 11:38.

Old Dominion's offensive efficiency was evident in their 26 first downs and 6.7 yards per play, but turnovers proved costly. The Monarchs moved into App State territory multiple times but saw promising drives end with fumbles, including a critical turnover in the fourth quarter that led to the Mountaineers' final touchdown.

The red zone told the story of the game, with App State scoring touchdowns on all three of their visits inside the 20-yard line, while Old Dominion managed just one touchdown in four red zone trips, settling for two field goals from Ethan Sanchez.

During halftime, former App State quarterback Armanti Edwards was recognized for his upcoming induction into the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame class. Edwards will be officially inducted on December 10 in Las Vegas as part of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class.

The victory keeps App State's bowl hopes alive as they look to build momentum in the final stretch of their season. For Old Dominion, the loss marks a missed opportunity to strengthen their position in the conference standings despite their statistical advantages in the game.

BUIES CREEK – Campbell wide receiver Sincere Brown caught two deep touchdown passes to lead the Fighting Camels to a 21-7 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday afternoon at Barker-Lane Stadium.

Brown's first touchdown came early, hauling in a 64-yard strike from quarterback Chad Mascoe just 75 seconds into the game. He later sealed the victory with a 53-yard touchdown reception from Mike Chandler II in the fourth quarter, finishing with 150 receiving yards on five catches.

Campbell's Sincere Brown on his way to the end zone (Photo Credit: Bennett Scarborough)

The Fighting Camels (4-5, 2-3) controlled the first quarter, building a 14-0 lead after Chandler II scored on a 7-yard run with eight seconds remaining. Campbell's ground attack was effective throughout, accumulating 167 rushing yards led by JJ Cowan's 74 yards on 11 carries.

NC A&T (1-8, 0-5) struggled to find offensive rhythm early but showed life in the fourth quarter. The Aggies mounted their best drive of the day, marching 95 yards on 12 plays, culminating in Ger-Cari Caldwell's 9-yard touchdown reception from Justin Fomby to cut the deficit to 14-7.

However, Campbell responded immediately with Brown's second touchdown, effectively ending the Aggies' comeback hopes.

Despite the loss, NC A&T's defense played well in stretches, led by Henry Daniel's nine tackles, including two sacks. The Aggies actually held possession for nearly nine minutes longer than Campbell and ran 21 more offensive plays, but struggled to convert opportunities into points, missing two field goals in the second quarter.

Fomby completed 20 of 40 passes for 185 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for NC A&T. Cameren Dalrymple led the Aggies' rushing attack with 75 yards on 16 carries.

Campbell's defense proved disruptive throughout the afternoon, with Jojo Pace and Jalen Brooks each recording nine tackles. The Fighting Camels' secondary broke up seven passes and intercepted two, with Da'Quan Johnson and Lakeem Rudolph each picking off passes in the fourth quarter to preserve the lead.

Up Next

Campbell travels to take on in-state CAA rival Elon next Saturday while NC A&T hosts a ranked William and Mary squad in Greensboro.

MEMPHIS, TN – In a game that featured four lead changes in the final eight minutes, Memphis survived a late scare from Charlotte, securing a 33-28 victory Saturday afternoon at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

The Tigers (7-1, 3-1) needed a 24-yard touchdown pass from Seth Henigan to Roc Taylor with 31 seconds remaining to overcome a gutsy performance from the visiting 49ers (3-5, 2-2). Memphis added a safety in the closing seconds to seal the outcome.

Charlotte appeared poised for an upset when Hahsaun Wilson's 18-yard touchdown run with 1:20 remaining gave the 49ers a 28-24 lead. That score was set up by a spectacular 57-yard completion from quarterback Deshawn Purdie to O'Mega Blake. Purdie, who came in at halftime, threw for 152 yards and a touchdown to give the 49ers a chance to pull off the upset.

But Henigan, who finished 20-of-32 for 212 yards and two touchdowns, orchestrated a seven-play, 75-yard drive in just 49 seconds to reclaim the lead for Memphis.

The game's frenetic ending contrasted sharply with its methodical first half, which ended in a 7-7 tie. Charlotte struck first when Carson Norton scored on a 17-yard run in the opening quarter. Memphis answered early in the second quarter on Henigan's 2-yard touchdown pass to DeMeer Blankumsee.

Memphis controlled the third quarter, scoring twice on rushing touchdowns. M'Javius Bodiford broke free for a 14-yard score, and Blake Anderson Jr. added an 11-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 21-7 lead. Anderson finished with 141 yards on 32 carries.

Charlotte's offense found new life in the fourth quarter. Purdie connected with Blake on a 39-yard touchdown pass to narrow the gap to 21-14. Blake finished with three catches for 128 yards. Norton's second touchdown run, from five yards out, tied the game at 21 with 8:02 remaining.

After a Charlotte interception, Memphis settled for a 21-yard field goal by Trey Vandenberg with 1:56 left, setting up the dramatic final minutes.

The 49ers had one final opportunity to respond after Taylor's late touchdown, but a disputed kickoff return ruling proved crucial. Henry Rutledge appeared to break free for a long return, but officials determined his knee was down, forcing Charlotte to start from its own 4-yard line instead of near midfield.

"The call on Henry changed the whole complexion of that last drive," Charlotte coach Biff Poggi said. "If that stands, we need about 25-30 yards and we're kicking a field goal to tie."

Memphis dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 36:40 compared to Charlotte's 23:20. The Tigers outgained the 49ers 424-303 in total yards and converted 8 of 17 third downs.

Despite the loss, Charlotte's defense made several crucial stops, including three fourth-down stands. Dontae Balfour's first-quarter interception at the 1-yard line prevented an early Memphis score.

"I think our defense played really well," Poggi said. "We had a bunch of fourth-down stops and they're pretty good on offense. I thought we played pretty well, and I'm not ready to throw the defense under the bus — it was a really good college football game, we just lost it at the end."

The game's intensity left an impression on both sides. "Their coach came up to me at the end of the game and said, 'I'm sick and tired of playing you guys,'" Poggi reported.


Up Next

For Charlotte, the challenge is to regroup quickly. The 49ers host Tulane on Thursday night, while Memphis travels to take on UTSA.