D2 Roundup. Who Has Started Strong?

09.23.2025College Men

It's early days in D2 but we're getting a sense of who might be some of the stronger teams.

D2 Preview: Big Games Headed by IUP v GVSU

The NACR kicked off with Vermont and Norwich looking like contenders once more.Both won by wide margins over Coast Guard and UNH, respectively.

Also starting 1-0 was Maine, which edged Boston University 27-24. UMass-Lowell started with the bye weekend.

This is a young Norwich team and the coaches said they were good in the first half but started to lose some focus as the game went on.

This is a Cadets side that can be dynamic and works hard to keep possession, when they focus.

We had some lopsided scores also in the SCRC, with favorites Memphis winning comfortably over Tulane.

In the South, UNC-Wilmington continues to play tough opposition and bring out strong performances. This time they lost 10-5 to D1AA South Carolina.

Great Midwest

Northern Iowa beat UW-Milwaukee 54-33 in a showing where UWM demonstrated an ability to score. But for UNI it was a solid start led by good performances from Layne McDonald and Jacob Muller.

UIC edged Benedictine 37-36 (there are two Benedictines playing in D2 college; this is the one in Illinois), while Loyola won well over DePaul 55-0.

Marquette put down a bit of a market with a 57-5 defeat of an always-physical Illinois State. Flyhalf David Kuebler and center Kelly Roach led an impressive offensive performance from Marquette. Up front forwards Graham Pierce, Peter Curran, and Johnny O’Brien continued to draw in defenders and move the ball well on offloads, and they were strong in defense.

Gateway

SLU beat Southern Illinois in a bit of a back-and-forth game 43-33. Cameron Jones was dangerous on the wing and was named player of the game.

Meanwhile Benedictine of Kansas won big over Pitt State over 49-7. Benedictine lost a close game 30-26 to John Brown last week, but this was a good rebound.

“The guys were really hungry this week to get a number in the win column,” said forwards leader and club president Jake Ortiz. “We are not the biggest nor the flashiest team, but we carry a chip on our shoulder. We will continue to fight and battle until that final whistle, no matter who we are playing or what the score is.”

Ortiz leads the forwards and with Victor Gallo operating nicely in the backs they have some significant potential.

But keep and eye on UMS&T.

MARC

Villanova showed well in a 45-22 win over Lehigh, while Scranton beat Bucknell 36-11. This is a hybrid conference and the D3 teams Susquehanna and Catholic both won big. This is Catholic’s first season as a fully school-supported program. The much-anticipated Towson vs Georgetown game got moved back a week.

Men D2 College Rankings 2025 Week 1

Men D2 College Rankings 2025 Week 2

Liberty

RPI has vaulted itself into the top spot in the conference after beating Albany a week ago, and then beat Marist 38-13. With Albany beating RIT, and Albany now beating RIT, we’re probably down to the main contenders in the conference being RPI and Cornell.

"I would say the whole team excites me with the way they have been playing," said Head Coach Josiah Schemmann. The backs, led by flyhalf Quinten Pienaar and center Dan Walls, have been very good for the Engineers.

Zach Toland is a powerhouse ar prop and Sean Haas has led the defensive effort at flanker. All of these players have also been crucial leaders, helping Schemmann get settled in as coach after the team graduated nine starters over the summer.

"The main strength of our team is the close bond we have and the desire every player has to better themselves and those around them," said Schemmann.

Finally …

Montana State plays a basically independent schedule and did very well in a 32-29 loss to Boise State. Ethan Carlson scored two tries for the Bobcats while Red Muldoon and Mathieu Carney also crossed the tryline. Mateo Scipioni added nine points with the boot.

Virginia plays a schedule in which the Cavs try to find opponents wherever they can. This pst weekend they tied North Carolina. It's expected

Meanwhile we're seeing some cross-divisional games that have to be sobering for some. Remember that NCR allows school-supported teams in D3, but not in D2. In Allegheny, John Carroll and Robert Morris came away with wins over D2 opposition. In the Northern Lights, St. Thomas, St. John's, and MSU Moorhead all beat D2 opposition.