Top 5 Division 2 Matchups for Week One of the NCAA

Hello, Justin Berendzen (@jrberendzen on Twitter) with my top 5 week one matchups in Division 2.

Colorado School of Mines at Grand Valley State University (Thursday)

This is a must-watch game in the Division 2 schedule both teams were in the playoffs last year and still have talent from those rosters last year. Tariq Reid the junior running back from Grand Valley State had 627 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns in 2021. For the Mines’ defense, they have redshirt senior linebacker Nolan Reeve who held 75 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, and 10.5 sacks last season. As for their offense redshirt senior running back Michael Zeman had 1,608 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in 2021 for Colorado Mines. Defensively for Grand Valley, they have redshirt sophomore defensive back Damonte McCurdy who had 55 tackles and 4.5 TFLs last season.

University of New Haven at Bowie State University

Another ranked matchup here that has 2 very defensive-minded teams. Bowie State’s defense is led by redshirt senior defensive lineman Joshua Pryor who had 73 tackles, 21.5 TFLs, and 6 sacks last year. For the Charger’s offense senior running back, Shamar Logan held 474 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns in 2021. For New Haven’s defense, they have senior defensive back Khyon Fitzpatrick who had 62 tackles and 8.5 TFLs last season. Offensively for the Bulldogs, they have redshirt junior wide receiver Keshane Hinckley who had 476 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.

Western Colorado University at West Texas A&M University

Another interesting matchup in D2 for week one. West Texas A&M’s offense has senior wide receiver Noah Bogardus who had 689 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns last season. For the Mountaineer’s defense, they have redshirt senior linebacker Wyatt Buhr who held 63 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks in 2021. Offensively for Western Colorado, they have redshirt senior running back Josh Cummings who had 1,301 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns last season. The Buffs defense has sophomore linebacker JT Cavender who had 108 tackles and 4.5 TFLs in 2021.

Colorado State University-Pueblo at Midwestern State University(Texas)

I think that this will be a fun matchup another Texas versus Colorado School matchup. Midwestern State has Kylan Harrison 5th year wide receiver who had 687 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns last season for the offense. For the Thunderwolve’s defense, they have senior linebacker Max Gonzales who had 88 tackles and 7.5 TFLs in 2021. The Pueblo offense has senior wide receiver Max Fine who had 367 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns last season. Defensively for the Mustangs, they have senior linebacker Justin Guillory who had 63 tackles, 11 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks in 2021.

University of Findlay at Ohio Dominican University

This is a very good week one in the conference matchup. For Ohio Dominican’s Travis Whittaker junior running back held 638 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns in 2021. Defensively for the Oilers, they have senior defensive back Jeremiah Jackson who had 50 tackles, 12 PBUs, and 3 interceptions last season. For Findlay’s offense, they have senior running back Derek Lynch who held 680 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns in 2021. For the Ohio Dominican defense, they have redshirt junior defensive back Jayden Hill who had 74 tackles and 10 PBUs last season.