The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat football team secured the program's 24th NCAA Division II playoff bid with a berth into the 2019 field. It is the 16th straight season that Northwest will compete in the playoffs for a shot at the Division II national championship.
Northwest (10-1 overall) is the No.3 seed in Super Region 3 and will play host to Harding University (10-1 overall) at noon Saturday at Bearcat Stadium in the opening round of the 2019 NCAA Div. II playoffs.
Ferris State is the No. 1 seed in the region and gets a first round bye. In the other first round games, No. 2 seed Ouachita Baptist will play host to Lindenwood and No. 4 seed Central Missouri will be at home against Indianapolis.
Northwest and Harding have met on two previous occasions and both occurred in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Northwest scored a 35-0 win over Harding on Nov. 17, 2012, in a first round matchup. Northwest then posted a 35-0 victory over Harding on Dec. 3, 2016, in a quarterfinal matchup. Both games took place at Bearcat Stadium.
The Bearcats claimed a share of their 30th MIAA title this past Saturday with a 45-23 victory over previously undefeated Central Missouri.
Northwest ranks No. 1 all-time in Division II in playoff appearances with 24.
Northwest has reached the NCAA Division II national championship game 10 times. Northwest owns six national championships (1998, 1999, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016). The Bearcats are 48-17 all-time in the playoffs, which marks the most victories in Division II playoff history. The Bearcats (.738) also rank No. 1 in highest winning percentage in the Division II playoffs.
--- Northwest Athletics ---