Northwest earns 24th playoff bid, 16th straight

Most NCAA Division II Playoff Appearances

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) will play host to Harding University (10-1 overall) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bearcat Stadium in the opening round of the 2019 NCAA Div. II playoffs.(Note: The first 500 Northwest students that show up on game day with a valid student ID will receive free admission to the playoff game courtesy of the Bearcat Booster Club.)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 Missouri 24North Alabama 21Grand Valley State 19Indiana (Pa.) 19Pittsburg State 18UC Davis 18North Dakota State 17Valdosta State 17Northwest 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.Most Division II Playoff VictoriesNorthwest Missouri 48Grand Valley State 35North Alabama 35North Dakota State 30Valdosta State 26Pittsburg State 25Indiana (Pa.) 22Carson-Newman 19North Dakota 18