INDIANAPOLIS--The NCAA Division II Football Committee announced today the field of 28 teams for the 2022 NCAA Division II Football Championship. The newly crown 2022 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Champions, Fayetteville State University, earned the seventh and final spot in Super Region Two.

The Broncos (9-2 overall) will travel to Cleveland, Mississippi on Saturday, November 19 to face the two-seeded Delta State University on Parker Field at McCool Stadium. The first-round matchup is set for 1 p.m.  The Statesmen finished as Co-Champions of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) after a 10-1 season. The winner will advance to play the victor of West Florida vs. Limestone on November 26.

Fayetteville State's 31-28 win over Chowan University in the conference championship Saturday played a huge role in the Broncos' first playoff appearance since 2009 as the NCAA D-II Playoffs does not offer automatic qualifiers. FSU was previously ranked outside of the top 10 in the Regional Rankings. 

Twelve first-round games will be conducted on the campus of one of the competing institutions. In addition, one team per super regional has earned a first-round bye. The first-round winners will all advance to the second round with games on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Second- round winners will meet in the quarterfinals at various campus sites. Quarterfinal winners will advance to play in the semifinals on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Seven teams selected per super regional make up the field of 28 teams.

In 2019, the selection process set out for the committee remained the same: There are still four Super Regions comprised of seven teams, making up a 28-team field. The No. 1 seeds will still get a bye, setting up three first-round games in each Super Region. The change was with the No. 5-7 seeds, where the committee had the flexibility to move those teams out of region or in-region to a closer destination to cut down on flights. For example, the traditional No. 2 vs. 7 and No. 4 vs. 5 regional matchups could become No. 2 vs. 5 and No. 4 vs. 7 if the travel plans made more sense. While it obviously will help the budget, it will give the fans more of a chance to experience game day in Rounds 1 and 2 without the stress of booking a flight.