SUNY Cortland, UAlbany Football Teams Battle for National Titles

Two New York college football teams — SUNY Cortland and University at Albany — are on the hunt for national titles in their division, a very rare event for the state.

SUNY Cortland (13-1) is playing tonight against North Central College (IL) in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl — Division III football’s national championship game — following a dominating 49-14 win over previously undefeated Randolph-Macon in the NCAA Semifinals on Dec. 9.

Cortland has never played in the title game before and this is the school’s most successful season in program history. It faces a tough matchup against North Central College (IL), the top-ranked team in the country and the defending Division III national champion.

The national championship takes place at Salem Stadium in Salem, VA tonight at 7 p.m. The game can be viewed on ESPNU and ESPN+.

Cortland is the first school from New York to reach the Division III title game since Ithaca won the 1991 national title.

The University at Albany (11-3) football team is one game away from a national championship appearance as it plays tonight in the semifinals of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. The #5 ranked Great Danes will take on the nation’s top seed in South Dakota State tonight from Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, SD. Game time is set for 7 p.m. with a nationally televised broadcast on ESPN2.

Albany has never reached the semifinals of the FCS (formerly Division I-AA) playoffs before.

The UAlbany defense has been dominant in 2023. The unit leads the FCS in rushing defense, allowing a stingy 78.1 yards per game. In the red zone, the team ranks sixth nationally with a 0.680 scoring percentage. Overall, UAlbany ranks 13th nationally in total defense – allowing 305.9 yards per game.

The winner of tonight’s semifinal game will play the winner of the other semifinal — North Dakota State at Montana — in the FCS Championship game on January 7.