The Catawba football team struggled within the South Atlantic Conference last season, winning just one game in eight opportunities, but the Indians weren’t the only ones, as Tusculum and Anderson suffered the same fate. 

The good news for all three teams is that the SAC will have a new look in 2025, so there’s no better time to wipe the slate clean and make the most of the changes.

With the departure of Limestone and Barton, the conference has moved away from a two-division format where the winners play for the title. Instead, the 10 remaining teams will battle through the regular season, with one school landing atop the standings in November. 

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Catawba finished the 2024 campaign at 3-8 overall and 1-7 in conference play, finishing at the bottom of the Piedmont Division standings. Tusculum and first-year Anderson were the bottom teams in the Mountain Division. 

The final SAC championship game under the previous format saw division winners Carson-Newman (Mountain) and Wingate (Piedmont) go head-to-head for the title, with Wingate winning 28-13.

Catawba’s lone conference win in 2024 was a 44-41 overtime victory over Anderson in early October. The Indians did close the season with a convincing 47-15 win against Tusculum, but it did not count as an official conference game. 

Regardless, that was a nice way to end the year and marked the second consecutive time head coach Tyler Haines was able to cap the year with a victory.

The upcoming campaign will be Haines’ third season at the helm and will begin at home Aug. 30 against Ferrum. 

The Indians were chosen to finish sixth in the 2025 SAC Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll, while landing six players on the conference’s list of players to watch.

Catawba won’t waste any time getting down to business within the conference, as the Indians will travel to meet Emory & Henry in Week 2 (Sept. 6) for the first of their nine conference games.

How To Stream Catawba Football Games In 2025

Every SAC and home Catawba football game will stream live on FloCollege and the FloSports app. 

Game replays, highlights and breaking news will also be available on both platforms.

Catawba Football Schedule 2025

All Times Eastern

• Aug. 30 (Sat): 6 p.m. vs. Ferrum
• Sept. 6 (Sat): 1 p.m. at Emory & Henry
• Sept. 13 (Sat): 6 p.m. vs. Virginia-Wise – Family Weekend
• Sept. 20 (Sat): 7 p.m. at Newberry
• Sept. 27 (Sat): 4 p.m. vs. Southern Conn. St.
• Oct. 4 (Sat): 6 p.m. vs. Mars Hill
• Oct. 11 (Sat): TBA at Wingate
• Oct. 25 (Sat): 6 p.m. vs. Tusculum – Homecoming
• Nov. 1 (Sat): 1 p.m. at Carson-Newman
• Nov. 8 (Sat): 6 p.m. vs. Anderson – Senior Day & Hall of Fame Game
• Nov. 15 (Sat): 1 p.m. at Lenoir-Rhyne 

What Was The Catawba Football Record In 2024?

3-8 (1-7 SAC)

• Davidson 49, Catawba 14
• Catawba 37, Shaw 28
• Virginia-Wise 31, Catawba 28
• Carson-Newman 35, Catawba 34
• Catawba 44, Anderson 41 (OT)
• Limestone 36, Catawba 33 (2OT)
• Newberry 27, Catawba 21
• Wingate 24, Catawba 15
• Barton 49, Catawba 35
• Lenoir-Rhyne 33, Catawba 14
• Catawba 47, Tusculum 15 

2025 SAC Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll

1. Lenoir-Rhyne
2. Wingate
3. Carson-Newman
4. Emory & Henry
5. Mars Hill
6. Catawba
7. Newberry
8. Anderson
9. UVA Wise
10. Tusculum

When Do The 2025 NCAA Division II College Football Playoffs Start?

The first round of the 2025 NCAA Division II Playoffs will be Nov. 22.

The 2025 Division II Football Championship title game will be played Dec. 20, 2025, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas

College Football Rankings 2024 – Final AFCA Division II Coaches Poll

End Of 2024 Season

1. Ferris St. (Mich.) (27) 14-1  
2. Valdosta St. (Ga.) 13-1  
3. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 12-2  
4. Harding (Ark.) 12-2  
5. Kutztown (Pa.) 11-1  
6. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 11-2  
7. Minnesota St. 11-4  
8. Colorado St.-Pueblo 10-2  
9. Central Oklahoma 11-2  
10. Western Colorado 11-2  
11. Virginia Union 10-4  
12. California (Pa.) 10-3  
13. Bemidji St. (Minn.) 10-4  
14. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 10-2  
15. Charleston (W.Va.) 11-1  
16. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 10-3  
17. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 8-3  
18. West Alabama 9-2  
19. Indianapolis (Ind.) 10-2  
20. Angelo St. (Tex.) 9-3  
21. Wingate (N.C.) 9-2  
22. Miles (Ala.) 10-3  
23. Ashland (Ohio) 9-4  
24. Central Washington 8-4  
25. Augustana (S.D.) 8-4  

Others Receiving Votes: Colorado School of Mines, 56; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 47; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 38; Central Missouri, 35; West Florida, 20; Southern Arkansas, 16; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 14; New Haven (Conn.), 1; Truman St. (Mo.), 1.

Highlights: Catawba Vs. Anderson (SC) | 2024 SAC

Watch Division II football highlights from Anderson vs. Catawba during the 2024 season.

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