BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Frostburg State, which captured the Mountain East Conference’s automatic qualifying berth Saturday at the conclusion of the regular season, will face No. 2 seed Johnson C. Smith in the opening round NCAA Division II Football Championship.   

The Bobcats will travel to face the Golden Bulls on Saturday, Nov. 22 at Irwin Belk Complex in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Johnson C. Smith defeated two-time defending conference champion Virginia Union, 45-21, Saturday to clinch the CIAA’s automatic qualifying berth. The Golden Bulls last won the CIAA in 1969 — a span of 56 seasons. Johnson C. Smith is 10-1 this season, is undefeated at home, and enters the 24-team field on a seven-game winning streak.

Frostburg State finished the 2025 season as MEC co-champions, along with the University of Charleston, but earned the NCAA berth via a head-to-head tiebreaker. The Bobcats defeated the Golden Eagles, 34-32, in double overtime on Oct. 18.

Frostburg State enters the postseason ranked No. 1 in the MEC in scoring defense (19.9 points per game), No. 1 in total defense (302.5 yards per game), No. 2 in rush defense (149.7 yards per game), and No. 1 in pass defense (152.7 yards per game).