Prior to the start of the 2025 college football season, Lenoir-Rhyne was selected by the coaches of the South Atlantic Conference to finish at the top of the SAC standings this year, an honor earned after more than a decade of success and consistent performances.

Over the past 11 seasons, the Bears have won 10 or more games six times and reached the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 2023 and 2024. 

The new campaign will begin in the most exciting of ways – with an opening-week showdown against the team selected to win the Gulf South Conference this year, 2019 Division II national champion West Florida.

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The Bears and the Argonauts will meet in Pensacola, Florida, on Aug. 29, and it will be one of just two nonconference games for Lenoir-Rhyne this year. The other will come on the road Oct. 4 against last year’s GSC champion and national runner-up, Valdosta State. 

In between, Lenoir-Rhyne will play four if its nine SAC games. For 2025, the conference is going away from a two-division format for the first time since 2021.

After winning the SAC title and advancing to the national semifinals in 2023, the Bears finished the 2024 season second in the SAC’s Piedmont Division behind Wingate. Wingate defeated Mountain Division winner, Carson-Newman, in the title game. 

Despite not repeating as the conference champion, Lenoir-Rhyne earned a spot in the Division II Playoffs and made it to the second round, where the Bears lost to Virginia Union, 44-12.

The Bears finished the season 10-3 overall and 6-2 in conference games. 

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

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.

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.

Archived Footage On FloCollege

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