BALTIMORE, MD –- The Johns Hopkins (10-0) football team will host Western Connecticut State (7-2) in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs it was announced Sunday evening.  The game is scheduled for Saturday, November 18 at Johns Hopkins' Homewood Field - kickoff is set for noon.
 
The winner of the Johns Hopkins-WestConn game will play the winner of the Delaware Valley-Union first round game on Saturday, November 25.  The location of that game will be announced on Sunday, November 19.  The other half of the Johns Hopkins bracket features Springfield hosting Ithaca and Randolph-Macon hosting Christopher Newport.
 
How They Got Here
Johns Hopkins earned the Centennial Conference's automatic bid to the playoffs, while Western Connecticut State earned the automatic bid from the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC).  The Wolves finished in a three-way tie for the MASCAC title and claimed the automatic bid via a strength of schedule tie-breaker.  Johns Hopkins and WestConn received two of the 28 automatic bids awarded in the 32-team field.
 
Series History
This week's game between the Blue Jays and Wolves will mark the first meeting between Johns Hopkins and WestConn in football.  The Blue Jays and Wolves did not share any common opponents during the 2023 season.

Playoff History
Johns Hopkins is making its 12th appearance in the NCAA Playoffs and its second under the direction of fifth-year head coach Greg Chimera.  The Blue Jays are 10-11 all-time in the NCAA Playoffs with a run to the 2018 NCAA Semifinals and a trip to the 2009 NCAA Quarterfinals highlighting their tournament history.  Hopkins also advanced to the second round in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2021.

WestConn is making its fourth overall appearance in the playoffs and first since 2001.  The Wolves are 1-3 all-time in the tournament; they picked up their only playoff win in their last trip with a victory over Westfield State in the first round.