Northwest Missouri State (12-1) will host North Alabama (12-1) in one of two national semifinals Saturday, Dec. 6 at Bearcat Stadium in Maryville. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. ESPN2 will broadcast the game live with Pam Ward and Ray Bentley providing commentary.  

Northwest beat Abilene Christian 45-36 Saturday while North Alabama downed Delta State 52-34. California (Pa.) (12-1) and Minnesota-Duluth (13-0) will meet in the other half of the bracket. The two winners will compete for the national championship in Florence, Ala., Dec. 13. 

The Bearcats and Lions met in the 2005 national semifinals in Florence, Ala., in the teams only prior meeting. Northwest quarterback Josh Lamberson threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to current Bearcat receiver Raphael Robinson with 23 seconds left to earn a 25-24 victory. Northwest returned to Florence the following week to compete for a national title, but fell 21-17 to Grand Valley State. 

Northwest went 9-0 in winning the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Championship this season. North Alabama finished second behind Delta State in the Gulf South Conference standings. Both avenged their only losses of the season Saturday.