The Hobart football team knew it was in the 40-team NCAA Division III Football Championship. The question was, "Who, where and when would the Statesmen play?"
 
Those questions were answered tonight, when the NCAA revealed the expanded championship bracket. Hobart received a first round bye and will travel to play Landmark Conference Champion Susquehanna on Saturday, Nov. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
 
"I'm proud and excited for the guys, for this opportunity," Hobart Head Coach Kevin DeWall '00 said. "Susquehanna is a very good team. We've seen that just from years ago, when they were in our conference, and knowing Coach Perkovich and the staff, they're playing really well and have run through the Landmark the last two years, so we know it'll be a good quality opponent. I haven't really seen too much on them on video, but I've seen the scores and know that they can compete with anyone in the country. We know it'll be a good, challenging task."
 

We knew we were in, but it's still reason to celebrate when they call your name. @HobartFootball will play at Susquehanna in the 2nd round of the @NCAADIII playoffs.#GoStatesmen #d3fb pic.twitter.com/KylYTqSYyR

— HWS Athletics (@HWSAthletics) November 18, 2024

 
Hobart went 9-1 this season, suffering its only loss on the road at nationally-ranked Randolph-Macon 14-7 in overtime in Week 2. The Statesmen earned an automatic bid into this year's field by capturing the Liberty League Championship with a perfect 6-0 record. It's the first time Hobart went unbeaten in conference play since 2014.
 
The River Hawks also went 9-1, suffering their only loss in Week 3 against defending national champion Cortland 40-38. Susquehanna was 6-0 against the Landmark Conference, outscoring league foes by more than 40 points per game.
 
This will be the sixth all-time meeting between Hobart and Susquehanna and the first since 2009. The River Hawks lead the series 3-2. SU was briefly in the Liberty League from 2007 to 2009 with the Statesmen winning two of the three games. Susquehanna won the most recent contest 20-10 in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 26, 2009.

Hobart is making its 11th NCAA playoff appearance and first since 2016. The Statesmen have advanced as far as the national quarterfinals (2012, 2016).