2013 NCAA Division III football playoffs bracket, schedule released

The 2013 D3 playoffs begin November 23, with 32 teams vying for the national title over five rounds of football action, culminating in the national title game December 20 in Salem, Va.

After three straight seasons of Wisconsin-Whitewater defeating Mount Union in the title game, Mount Union defeated St. Thomas (MN) in last year's championship, 28-10. Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater begin on opposite sides of the bracket this season, setting up a possible national title battle between the two powers. The two have combined for the last eight championships and 14 of the last 17.

First Round (November 23)

Group 1

Mount Union vs. Washington and Jefferson

Wittenberg vs. Lebanon Valley

Ithaca vs. Framingham State

Johns Hopkins vs. Wesley

Group 2

North Central (Ill.) vs. Albion

Wisconsin-Plateville vs. Concordia (Wis.)

Illinois Wesleyan vs. Wartburg

Bethel (Minn.) vs. St. Scholastica

Group 3

Wisconsin-Whitewater vs. St. Norbert

Franklin vs. Washington St. Louis

Hampden-Sydney vs. Maryville (Tenn.)

Linfield vs. Pacific Lutheran

Group 4

Hobart vs. Gallaudet

John Carroll vs. St. John Fisher

Rowan vs. Endicott

Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Redlands

Second Round (November 30)

Group 1

Game 1 -- Winner of Mount Union/Washington & Jefferson vs. winner of Wittenberg/Lebanon Valley

Game 2 -- Winner of Ithaca/Framingham State vs. winner of Johns Hopkins/Wesley

Group 2

Game 1 -- Winner of North Central (Ill.)/Albion vs. winner of Wisconsin-Plateville/Concordia (Wis.)

Game 2 -- Winner of Illinois Wesleyan/Wartburg vs. winner of Bethel (Minn.)/St. Scholastica

Group 3

Game 1 -- Winner of Wisconsin-Whitewater/St. Norbert vs. winner of Franklin/Washington-St. Louis

Game 2 -- Winner of Hampden-Sydney/Maryville (Tenn.) vs. winner of Linfield/Pacific Lutheran

Group 4

Game 1 -- Winner of Hobert/Gallaudet vs. winner of John Carroll/St. John Fisher

Game 2 -- Winner of Rowan/Endicott vs. winner of Mary Hardin-Baylor/Redlands

Quarterfinals (December 7)

Winner of Group 1 Game 1 vs. winner of Group 1 Game 2

Winner of Group 2 Game 1 vs. winner of Group 2 Game 2

Winner of Group 3 Game 1 vs. winner of Group 3 Game 2

Winner of Group 4 Game 1 vs. winner of Group 4 Game 2

Semifinals (December 14)

Group 1 winner vs. Group 2 winner

Group 3 winner vs. Group 4 winner

Finals (December 20)

Group 1/2 winner vs. Group 3/4 winner

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