BALTIMORE, MD –- The Johns Hopkins (9-1) football team will host Grove City (9-1) in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs it was announced Sunday evening.  The game is scheduled for Saturday, November 30 at Johns Hopkins' Homewood Field - kickoff is set for noon.
 
In this season's expanded 40-team bracket, Johns Hopkins and Grove City were two of the 24 teams that earned a first-round bye in the tournament.
 
The winner of the Johns Hopkins-Grove City game will advance to the third round on Saturday, December 7 and will face either DePauw (IN) or the winner of a first-round game between Berry (GA) and Maryville (TN).
 
The other half of the Johns Hopkins bracket features Hardin-Simmons, Trinity (TX), Mary Hardin-Baylor, Linfield and Texas Lutheran.
 
How They Got Here
Johns Hopkins earned the Centennial Conference's automatic bid to the playoffs, while Grove City earned one of the 12 at-large bids to the tournament.  The Wolverines earned a share of the President's Athletic Conference (PAC) title, but missed out on the league's automatic bid via a tie-breaker.
 
Series History
This week's game between the Blue Jays and Wolverines will mark the first meeting between Johns Hopkins and Grove City in football.  The Blue Jays and Wolverines did not share any common opponents during the 2024 season.

Playoff History
Johns Hopkins is making its 13th appearance in the NCAA Playoffs.  The Blue Jays are 12-12 all-time in the NCAA Playoffs with a run to the 2018 NCAA Semifinals and trips to the 2009 and 2023 NCAA Quarterfinals highlighting their tournament history.  Hopkins also advanced to the second round in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2021. This week's game will mark the third time the Blue Jays have a played a team from the PAC in the NCAAs with both previous meetings coming against Washington & Jefferson (2012, 2017).
Grove City is making its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Playoffs.  The Wolverines advanced to the second round of the tournament last season with a 21-20 win at Susquehanna.  Grove City then fell to eventual national champion Cortland, 25-24, in the second round.