Like an uninvited guest, Newberry College is crashing the party that is the Final Four of the NCAA Division II football tournament.
As expected, Division II powerhouses Ferris State, Harding and Kutztown are in the Final Four. But not many fans expected Newberry to get there. The Wolves earned the first Final Four trip in program history with a shocking upset of No. 1 seed Albany (GA) State in Saturday’s quarterfinal game.
Still, Newberry, which was seeded third in its regional bracket, will be a big-time underdog when it takes on defending national champion Ferris State in the semifinals on Saturday. Kutztown will play Harding in the other semifinal game, and the winners will meet in the national championship game on Dec. 21 in McKinney, Texas.
Unlike in Division I, Division II hasn’t experienced an overhaul in the age of NIL (Name, Image and Likeness). Division I athletic programs are allowed to disburse up to $20.5 million to athletes, and the bulk of that goes toward football at most schools. Most Division I football players are on full scholarships. In Division II, athletic programs have budgets that are minimal compared to their Division I counterparts, and many football players only receive partial scholarships. Still, NIL has had some impact on Division II football programs. Unlike in the pre-NIL era, schools can share money with athletes, and some players can earn NIL income through local partnerships.
After going 4-7 in 2023 and 3-7 in 2024, Newberry has exploded onto the scene with a 12-1 record this year. Part of the reason for the South Carolina school’s turnaround is NIL. The program has been raising funds through a collective and signed an NIL deal with Influxer to bring in money through apparel sales.
Here’s a look at the 2025 NCAA Division II Football Final Four:
Kutztown
The undefeated Golden Bears are in the semifinals for the second time in three years. Quarterback Judd Novak, a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy for the top Division II player, has thrown for three touchdowns in all three of Kutztown’s tournament games and has not been intercepted. Novak also has two big-time targets in receivers Trevor Amorim and Gino Campagna.
Harding
The Bisons are undefeated but had to escape with a tight 34-28 victory against UT Permian Basin in the quarterfinals. That was the only game Harding has had all season that was decided by a touchdown or less. Harding has the most dominant rushing game in college football history, averaging a ridiculous 455.2 yards on the ground this season. Versatile quarterback Cole Keylon is the key to Harding’s flexbone offense. He ran for a game-high 148 yards in the win over UT Permian Basin. Senior running back Brayden Jay has rushed for 1,342 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Harding also leads Division II in scoring defense.
Ferris State
The Bulldogs have been a Division II dynasty in this decade and are on a 28-game winning streak. They’re in the national semifinals for the fifth time in six years and have won three national championships. This might be Ferris State’s best team yet. The Bulldogs have averaged 57.7 points in three tournament games, all against nationally ranked opponents. Quarterback Chase Carter has accounted for four touchdowns in each of the three tournament wins.
Newberry
Don’t tell the Wolves they’re the underdogs because that doesn’t seem to matter. In the quarterfinal game against Albany State, Newberry fell behind 21-3 in the first quarter. But quarterback Reed Charpia led Newberry to 28 consecutive points. Charpia, another Harlon Hill finalist, has thrown for 3,630 yards and 29 touchdowns. Junior running back Quez Spells is a threat as both a runner and a receiver.
Learn More About the NIL Landscape
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information about athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure behind modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in more depth.
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