For the first time since Division II began in 1973—a 52-year span—Kentucky State football is headed to the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs. It’s a landmark moment for our student-athletes and the entire Thorobred community.

Under the 2025 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Coach of the Year, Felton Huggins, Jr., the Thorobreds finished 9–2, the program’s best regular season since 1935. A four-win improvement ranks among the nation’s strongest turnarounds; only six Division II programs matched that jump last season.

Kentucky State closed the regular season with a 35–7 win over Shorter, holding the Hawks to their lowest point total since early September. That victory capped a Thorobred season defined by grit, discipline, and an eight-game win streak heading into the postseason.

The road now turns to South Carolina. Kentucky State will face No. 3 seed Newberry in the first round of the NCAA Division II Championship on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m. at Setzler Field. It’s a defining matchup and another chance to keep rewriting the record book.

 

A Historic Moment for HBCU Football

This year’s NCAA Division II playoff bracket features a record five HBCU programs—the most in history—signaling the rising strength of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and SIAC on the national stage.

 This unprecedented field includes:

CIAA (2 Teams)

  • Johnson C. Smith University
  • Virginia Union University

SIAC (3 Teams – A New Record)

  • Kentucky State University
  • Albany State University
  • Benedict College

 

The Road Ahead

With five teams in the 32 team bracket, Saturday marks one of the most significant days in HBCU Division II football history. We’re proud that Kentucky State is part of this transformational moment. The opportunity for national impact has never been greater.

To our alumni, supporters, and the entire Thorobred family: thank you for the passion, energy, and pride you bring to our university. Your support fuels moments like this.

Let’s rally behind our student-athletes as they prepare to represent Kentucky State on the national stage.

Let’s keep writing history—together as Thorobreds.

For more ways to support students, please contact us at alumni@kysu.edu. To make a gift to support student accounts directly, please go to www.kysu.edu/givenow or click here.

Included in this email are images of the Shorter Game on Saturday, November 15th, and the 1947 KSU Football team.