1. The Clash of the Unbeaten

Saturday's national semifinal features two titans with perfect 14-0 records. The No. 2-ranked Harding Bisons, fresh off their 2025 GAC championship, are making their third national semifinal appearance (2017, 2023). They face a No. 3 Kutztown squad that swept the PSAC title. This is the first-ever meeting between the two programs, with a trip to the National Championship game on the line.

2. The Nation's Top Defenses Collide

If you like defensive football, this is the marquee matchup of the year. The game features the top two scoring defenses in Division II.

• Harding (No. 1): Allows just 9.6 points per game.

• Kutztown (No. 2): Allows just 11.6 points per game. Both units are also ranked in the top four nationally for Total Defense. Yards and points will be at a premium at Andre Reed Stadium.

3. A Record-Shattering Ground Attack

The Bisons' flexbone offense continues to rewrite the history books. With 389 rushing yards in the quarterfinal win over UTPB, Harding broke its own NCAA all-division record for rushing yards in a season with 6,308 yards, surpassing the 2023 squad's mark. They also set a new NCAA single-season record with 80 rushing touchdowns.

4. Cole Keylon Chasing History

Senior quarterback Cole Keylon is on the verge of a legendary milestone. Making his 55th career start, Keylon (50 wins as a starter) needs just one more victory to tie Grand Valley State's Cullen Finnerty (2003-06) as the all-time wins leader in Division II history. Keylon is a dual-threat force who holds the HU quarterback rushing record (2,662 yards) and has accounted for 10 touchdowns in his 10 career playoff games.

5. Miller's Harlon Hill Campaign

Fullback Andrew Miller, a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, is the engine of the Bisons' offense. He ranks 2nd in D2 with 1,821 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. Miller needs just two more rushing touchdowns to break the Harding single-season record. He is averaging 7.6 yards per carry.

6. The Explosiveness of Braden Jay

While Miller provides the power, slotback Braden Jay brings the lightning. Named the GAC Offensive Player of the Year, Jay ranks 8th nationally in rushing (1,342 yards) and holds the Harding and D2 career record with a staggering 12.2 yards per rush. He has scored 21 rushing touchdowns this season and is one of only two players in program history to record three 1,000-yard seasons.

7. Griffin Anchors the "Bison Blockade" Defense

Linebacker Clark Griffin, the GAC Defensive Player of the Year, continues to be the heartbeat of the defense. He is the NCAA-era leader at Harding for both tackles (419) and tackles for loss (45.5). Griffin leads the team with 142 tackles this season (10.1 per game) and has been a postseason warrior, tallying 70 tackles and 4.0 sacks in his 10 career playoff games.

8. Dominance in the Trenches

The battle at the line of scrimmage will be led by elite talent on both sides of the ball.

• Offense: OL Jake Mitchell represents the unit as a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award (nation's top lineman).

• Defense: The pass rush is fueled by DL Justin Sobczak (team-high 8.0 sacks) and DL Kaden Spencer (12.0 TFLs, 7.5 sacks).

9. The "Thundering Third" Secondary

Passing against Harding has been a perilous venture for opponents in 2025. The Bisons have intercepted nearly twice as many passes (15) as they have allowed touchdowns (8).

• Key Stat: The defense allows only 142.9 passing yards per game.

• Playmaker: DB Troy Wiseman has been a lockdown defender down the stretch, recording a team-high 7 pass breakups, all occurring in the last seven games.

10. Postseason Pedigree

Harding is currently playing in its 10th playoff tournament and has become the standard-bearer for the Great American Conference. The Bisons own 15 of the 17 total playoff wins ever recorded by GAC teams. Harding holds a 17-11 all-time postseason record and has won 45 of its last 47 games overall.

11. Reliable Special Teams

In a playoff game, special teams could decide the outcome.

• Kicking: Magnus Lepak has been automatic recently, hitting 6-of-6 field goals and 26-of-26 PATs in the last five games.

• Punting: Luke Mammana averages 41.2 yards per punt, with 9 of his 23 attempts pinned inside the 20-yard line.