Lenoir-Rhyne didn’t win the South Atlantic Conference championship last season, but the Bears did advance farther into the playoffs than any other SAC team. 

They also were a year removed from making it to the NCAA Division II national semifinals, where they lost to eventual 2023 national champion Harding.

Oh, and Lenoir-Rhyne has posted six 10-win seasons in the last 11 years, which likely was the main reason the Bears were selected to finish at the top of the new-look SAC standings in the 2025 SAC Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll. 

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While Wingate and Carson-Newman won their respective divisions within the SAC last year and met in the 2024 SAC title game, with Wingate winning, both of those teams fell short in the playoffs, losing in the opening round.

Lenoir-Rhyne used a fourth-quarter field goal to upset West Alabama, a perennial favorite, 37-34, before falling to Virginia Union in the second round, 44-12. 

In the first-round win, the third road playoff victory in program history, Lenoir-Rhyne quarterback Jalen Ferguson became the first player in more than a century of Bears football to throw for over 400 yards (411). 

Lenoir-Rhyne finished the 2024 season at 10-3 overall and 6-2 in SAC games, finishing second behind Wingate in the Piedmont Division, based on win percentage. In 2023, the Bears were 13-2 and claimed their 11th SAC championship.

Though Ferguson has moved on (transferred to FCS team Campbell), there’s plenty more firepower on the Lenoir-Rhyne roster to have earned the top spot on the coaches’ poll for the second consecutive year.

They’ll be back in action to start their 2025 campaign on the road against West Florida on Aug. 29. 

The Argonauts, despite not making the playoffs last season, have been tabbed to win the now four-team Gulf South Conference, even though the GSC includes national runner-up Valdosta State. The reason for the shakeup is because VSU and West Alabama both will have new coaches in 2025. The fourth team in the GSC, which had eight teams last year, is Delta State.

The only nonconference games for Lenoir-Rhyne this year will be against West Florida to open the season and Valdosta State on Oct. 4. In between, the Bears will play four of their nine conference games.

How To Stream Lenoir-Rhyne Football Games In 2025

Every SAC and home Lenoir-Rhyne football game will stream live on FloCollege and the FloSports app. 

Game replays, highlights and breaking news will also be available on both platforms.

Lenoir-Rhyne Football Schedule 2025

All Times Eastern

• Aug. 29 (Fri): 6 p.m. at West Florida
• Sept. 6 (Sat): 6 p.m. at Tusculum
• Sept. 13 (Sat): 6 p.m. vs. Emory & Henry
• Sept. 20 (Sat): 1 p.m. at Carson-Newman
• Sept. 27 (Sat): 6 p.m. vs. Newberry – Family Weekend
• Oct. 4 (Sat): 4 p.m. at Valdosta State
• Oct. 11 (Sat): 3 p.m. vs. Anderson 
• Oct. 18 (Sat): 3 p.m. vs. UVA Wise – Homecoming
• Oct. 25 (Sat): 1 p.m. at Mars Hill
• Nov. 1 (Sat): 3 p.m. at Wingate
• Nov. 15 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Catawba – Senior Day 

What Was The Lenoir-Rhyne Football Record In 2024?

10-3 (7-2 SAC)

• Lenoir-Rhyne 32, Bowie State 19
• Lenoir-Rhyne 38, Tiffin 17
• Lenoir-Rhyne 29, Mars Hill 21
• Lenoir-Rhyne 37, Tusculum 23
• Emory & Henry 31, Lenoir-Rhyne 20
• Lenoir-Rhyne 24, Newberry 3
• Lenoir-Rhyne 20, Barton 0
• Lenoir-Rhyne 21, Limestone 19
• Wingate 14, Lenoir-Rhyne 10
• Lenoir-Rhyne 33, Catawba 14
• Lenoir-Rhyne 27, Anderson 24
• Lenoir-Rhyne 37, West Alabama 34
• Virginia Union 44, Lenoir-Rhyne 12

2025 SAC Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll

1. Lenoir-Rhyne
2. Wingate
3. Carson-Newman
4. Emory & Henry
5. Mars Hill
6. Catawba
7. Newberry
8. Anderson
9. UVA Wise
10. Tusculum

When Do The 2025 NCAA Division II College Football Playoffs Start?

The first round of the 2025 NCAA Division II Playoffs will be Nov. 22.

The 2025 Division II Football Championship title game will be played Dec. 20, 2025, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas

College Football Rankings 2024 – Final AFCA Division II Coaches Poll

End Of 2024 Season

1. Ferris St. (Mich.) (27) 14-1  
2. Valdosta St. (Ga.) 13-1  
3. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 12-2  
4. Harding (Ark.) 12-2  
5. Kutztown (Pa.) 11-1  
6. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 11-2  
7. Minnesota St. 11-4  
8. Colorado St.-Pueblo 10-2  
9. Central Oklahoma 11-2  
10. Western Colorado 11-2  
11. Virginia Union 10-4  
12. California (Pa.) 10-3  
13. Bemidji St. (Minn.) 10-4  
14. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 10-2  
15. Charleston (W.Va.) 11-1  
16. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 10-3  
17. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 8-3  
18. West Alabama 9-2  
19. Indianapolis (Ind.) 10-2  
20. Angelo St. (Tex.) 9-3  
21. Wingate (N.C.) 9-2  
22. Miles (Ala.) 10-3  
23. Ashland (Ohio) 9-4  
24. Central Washington 8-4  
25. Augustana (S.D.) 8-4  

Others Receiving Votes: Colorado School of Mines, 56; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 47; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 38; Central Missouri, 35; West Florida, 20; Southern Arkansas, 16; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 14; New Haven (Conn.), 1; Truman St. (Mo.), 1.

Five Hours Of Division II Football Highlights | 2024 College Football Touchdowns

Watch five hours of college football highlights, featuring touchdowns from Ferris State Football, GVSU Football, Central Missouri Football and more across Division II during the 2024 season.

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