The No. 3-ranked Keiser Seahawks travel to Durham, North Carolina, to take on the No. 1-ranked Northwestern Red Raiders in the 2023 NAIA National Championship Game on Monday, December 18. Kickoff from Durham County Memorial Stadium is set for 12:00PM (ET).

Monday will mark the Seahawk’s second straight appearance in the National Championship Game.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Drew Fellios (play-by-play), Forrest Conoly (analyst), and Hayley Lewis (sideline) on the call.

Series History:

  • Monday will mark the second meeting between the two schools.
  • The Red Raiders claimed the 2022 NAIA National Championship, defeating the Seahawks, 35-25, on December 17, 2022.
  • In that game, NWC out-scored Keiser, 21-7, in the final 19 minutes to claim the Red Banner.
  • The Seahawks enter Monday with a 3-1 record all-time versus teams from the state of Iowa.
  • Keiser enters Saturday with a 9-4 record all-time in NAIA Football Championship Series.
  • Monday will mark the third time the Seahawks will face the No. 1 team in the nation. The Seahawks are 1-1 all-time versus the nation’s top team.
  • Monday is a rematch of last year’s NAIA National Championship.

Storylines:

  • The Seahawks enter Game 14 of the 2023 season ranked No. 3 in the nation.
  • Keiser is 11-2 on the year after defeating the No. 11-ranked College of Idaho Yotes, 28-21, in the NAIA FCS Semifinals on Saturday, December 9.
  • The Seahawks used four defensive stands in the redzone to earn the team’s 11th victory of the season (most in school history). Holding the Yotes to 76 yards on the ground, the Seahawks earned the team’s 10th straight win of the season.
  • Jaden Meizinger was named the Semifinals Outstanding Offensive Player of the Game, rushing for 86 yards on 20 carries with two rushing touchdowns.
  • Defensive back Darrell Livingston was named the Semifinals Outstanding Defensive Player of the Game, recording a team-high 10 tackles, including two key stops in the redzone.
  • The 11 wins in a single season are the most in program history.
  • The Seahawks enter this Saturday’s contest with a 54-15 record all-time.
  • Keiser comes into the weekend with a 3-1 record all-time during the month of December.
  • The Seahawks have held the opposition under 100 yards rushing in nine games this season.
  • Keiser enters Monday’s game with an 18-7 record all-time versus ranked opponents.
  • The Seahawks are 2-4 all-time versus teams in the top 5.
  • The Seahawks are a perfect 39-0 when scoring 30-or-more points in a game.
  • The Seahawks are also a perfect 25-0 all-time when reaching the 40-point plateau, and 11-0 all-time when scoring 50-or-more points.
  • Keiser ranks No. 67 in the nation in passing yards, averaging 181.5 yards per game and is No. 9 in the nation in rushing yards, averaging 215.6 yards per game.

Gameday Information:

No. 3 Keiser Seahawks (11-2, 7-0 SUN) vs. No. 1 Northwestern Red Raiders (14-0, 10-0 GPAC)
Monday, December 18, 2023 – 12:00 PM (ET)
Durham Memorial Stadium (8,500) – Durham, N.C.

Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
Watch Live: ESPN3
Tickets: Click HERE

Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associate to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and was ranked No. 21 in the U.S. in Social Mobility by U.S. News and World Report in 2023-24.