NCAA Division II Football Championship

The NCAA Division II Football Championship is an American college football tournament played annually to determine a champion at the NCAA Division II level. It was first held in 1973, as a single-elimination playoff with eight teams. The tournament field has subsequently been expanded three times: to 16 teams in 1988, 24 teams in 2004, and 28 teams in 2016.

NCAA Division II Football Championship
Logo used for the 2005 NCAA Division II National Championship Game
In operation1973–present
Preceded bySmall-college polls (AP, UPI)
Number of playoff teams28
Championship trophyNCAA Division II National Championship Trophy
Television partner(s)ESPNU
Most playoff appearancesNorthwest Missouri State (24)
Most playoff championshipsNorthwest Missouri State (6)
Current championHarding (1)

The National Championship game has been held in eight different cities. Former sites include Sacramento, California (1973–1975), Wichita Falls, Texas (1976–1977), Longview, Texas (1978), Albuquerque, New Mexico (1979–1980), McAllen, Texas (1981–1985), Florence, Alabama (1986–2013), and Kansas City, Kansas (2014–2017).[1] Since 2018, the championship game has been played at the McKinney ISD Stadium and Community Event Center in McKinney, Texas.[2] Since 1994, the games have been broadcast on ESPN.

Prior to 1973, for what was then called the NCAA College Division, national champions were selected by polls conducted at the end of each regular season by two major wire services, the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI). In some years, the two polls named different number one teams.

From 1964 to 1972, postseason bowl games crowned four regional champions. NCAA Division II bowl games still exist, but only as postseason contests for teams not qualifying for the championship playoffs.

Small-college wire service national champions

Polls to rank "small college" football teams were conducted by the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI) during, and at the end of, each regular season. The AP polled a panel of writers, while UPI polled a panel of coaches. When UPI began its poll in 1958, it explained that the poll would cover college football programs not considered "major" by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), with the small schools (then numbering 519) belonging to the NCAA, the NAIA, both, or neither.[3] The AP began its poll in 1960.[4]

National champions per wire service polls

YearTop-ranked team
per UPI pollper AP poll
1958Mississippi Southernno poll
1959Bowling Greenno poll
1960Ohio
1961Pittsburg State
1962Southern MissFlorida A&M
1963DelawareNorthern Illinois
1964Cal State Los AngelesWittenberg
1965North Dakota State
1966San Diego State
1967San Diego State
1968San Diego StateNorth Dakota State
1969North Dakota State
1970Arkansas State
1971Delaware
1972Delaware
1973†Tennessee State
1974†Louisiana TechCentral Michigan

† While the NCAA started Division II playoffs in 1973, AP and UPI still conducted their polls during the 1973 and 1974 seasons.

NCAA Division II champions
National football championship trophy room at Bearcat Stadium at Northwest Missouri State University. The two trophies in the middle are for the team's 1998 and 1999 national championships. The four trophies on the left are for appearances in the 2005–2008 title games.

Since 1973, a post-season tournament has been held to determine the Division II Champion. The current format, in use since 2016, features 28 teams. They are organized into 4 super-regions of 7 teams each, with the top-seeded team in each super-region getting a bye during the first round. Prior to the championship game, all contests are hosted by the higher-seeded team. the semi-final games are held at the home stadiums of the two highest-seeded remaining teams. Since 2018, the championship game has been played at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium, a 12,000 seat facility that opened in August 2018.

Season Champion Score Runner-up Venue Location Attendance Winning
head coach
1973Louisiana Tech (1)34–0Western KentuckyHughes StadiumSacramento, California12,016Maxie Lambright
1974Central Michigan (1)54–14DelawareHughes StadiumSacramento, California14,137Roy Kramer
1975Northern Michigan (1)16–14Western KentuckyHughes StadiumSacramento California12,017Gil Krueger
1976Montana State (1)24–13AkronMemorial StadiumWichita Falls, Texas13,200Sonny Holland
1977Lehigh (1)33–0Jacksonville StateMemorial StadiumWichita Falls, Texas14,114John Whitehead
1978Eastern Illinois (1)10–9DelawareLobo StadiumLongview, Texas5,500Darrell Mudra
1979Delaware (1)38–21Youngstown StateUniversity StadiumAlbuquerque, New Mexico4,000Tubby Raymond
1980Cal Poly (1)21–13Eastern IllinoisUniversity StadiumAlbuquerque, New Mexico2,056[5]Joe Harper
1981Southwest Texas State (1)42–13North Dakota StateVeterans Memorial StadiumMcAllen, Texas9,415Jim Wacker
1982Southwest Texas State (2)34–9UC DavisVeterans Memorial StadiumMcAllen, Texas8,000Jim Wacker
1983North Dakota State (1)41–21Central StateVeterans Memorial StadiumMcAllen, Texas5,275Don Morton
1984Troy State (1)18–17North Dakota StateVeterans Memorial StadiumMcAllen, Texas4,500Chan Gailey
1985North Dakota State (2)35–7North AlabamaVeterans Memorial StadiumMcAllen, Texas6,000Earle Solomonson
1986North Dakota State (3)27–7South DakotaBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama11,506Earle Solomonson
1987Troy State (2)31–17Portland StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama10,660Rick Rhoades
1988North Dakota State (4)35–21Portland StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama6,763Rocky Hager
1989Mississippi College†3–0Jacksonville StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama10,538John M. Williams
1990North Dakota State (5)51–11Indiana (PA)Braly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama10,080Rocky Hager
1991Pittsburg State (1)23–6Jacksonville StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama11,682Chuck Broyles
1992Jacksonville State (1)17–13Pittsburg StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama11,733Bill Burgess
1993North Alabama (1)41–34Indiana (PA)Braly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama15,631Bobby Wallace
1994North Alabama (2)16–10Texas A&M–KingsvilleBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama13,526Bobby Wallace
1995North Alabama (3)27–7Pittsburg StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama15,241Bobby Wallace
1996Northern Colorado (1)23–14Carson–NewmanBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama5,745Joe Glenn
1997Northern Colorado (2)51–0New HavenBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama3,352Joe Glenn
1998Northwest Missouri State (1)24–6Carson–NewmanBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama6,149Mel Tjeerdsma
1999Northwest Missouri State (2)58–52 4OTCarson–NewmanBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama8,451Mel Tjeerdsma
2000Delta State (1)63–34BloomsburgBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama7,123Steve Campbell
2001North Dakota (1)17–14Grand Valley StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama6,113Dale Lennon
2002Grand Valley State (1)31–24Valdosta StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama9,783Brian Kelly
2003Grand Valley State (2)10–3North DakotaBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama7,236Brian Kelly
2004Valdosta State (1)36–31Pittsburg StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama8,604Chris Hatcher
2005Grand Valley State (3)21–17Northwest Missouri StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama6,837Chuck Martin
2006Grand Valley State (4)17–14Northwest Missouri StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama7,437Chuck Martin
2007Valdosta State (2)25–20Northwest Missouri StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama7,532David Dean
2008Minnesota–Duluth (1)21–14Northwest Missouri StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama6,215Bob Nielson
2009Northwest Missouri State (3)30–23Grand Valley StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama6,211Mel Tjeerdsma
2010Minnesota–Duluth (2)20–17Delta StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama4,027Bob Nielson
2011Pittsburg State (2)35–21Wayne State (MI)Braly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama7,276Tim Beck
2012Valdosta State (3)35–7Winston-Salem StateBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama7,525David Dean
2013Northwest Missouri State (4)43–28Lenoir–RhyneBraly Municipal StadiumFlorence, Alabama6,543Adam Dorrel
2014CSU–Pueblo (1)13–0Minnesota State–MankatoChildren's Mercy ParkKansas City, Kansas6,762John Wristen
2015Northwest Missouri State (5)34–7ShepherdChildren's Mercy ParkKansas City, Kansas16,181Adam Dorrel
2016Northwest Missouri State (6)29–3North AlabamaChildren's Mercy ParkKansas City, Kansas9,576[6]Adam Dorrel
2017Texas A&M–Commerce (1)37–27West FloridaChildren's Mercy ParkKansas City, Kansas4,259Colby Carthel
2018Valdosta State (4)49–47Ferris StateMcKinney ISD StadiumMcKinney, Texas4,306Kerwin Bell
2019West Florida (1)48–40Minnesota State–MankatoMcKinney ISD StadiumMcKinney, Texas3,415Pete Shinnick
2020Canceled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
2021Ferris State (1)58–17Valdosta StateMcKinney ISD StadiumMcKinney, Texas3,933Tony Annese
2022Ferris State (2)41–14Colorado MinesMcKinney ISD StadiumMcKinney, Texas6,333Tony Annese
2023Harding (1)38–7Colorado MinesMcKinney ISD StadiumMcKinney, Texas12,552Paul Simmons

† Mississippi College's 1989 tournament participation, along with its championship, were vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions.[7]

Team titles

Championship game appearances

Programs that no longer compete in Division II are indicated in italics with a pink background.

Team Appearances Years
Northwest Missouri State101998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016
North Dakota State71981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990
Grand Valley State62001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009
Valdosta State62002, 2004, 2007, 2012, 2018, 2021
Pittsburg State51991, 1992, 1995, 2004, 2011
North Alabama51985, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2016
Jacksonville State41977, 1989, 1991, 1992
Carson–Newman31996, 1998, 1999
Delaware31974, 1978, 1979
Ferris State32018, 2021, 2022
Colorado Mines22022, 2023
Delta State22000, 2010
Eastern Illinois21978, 1980
Indiana (PA)21990, 1993
Minnesota–Duluth22008, 2010
Minnesota State–Mankato22014, 2019
North Dakota22001, 2003
Northern Colorado21996, 1997
Portland State21987, 1988
Texas State[a]21981, 1982
Troy[b]21984, 1987
Western Kentucky21973, 1975
West Florida22017, 2019
Akron11976
Bloomsburg12000
Cal Poly11980
Central Michigan11974
Central State11983
CSU–Pueblo12014
Harding12023
Lehigh11977
Lenoir–Rhyne12013
Louisiana Tech11973
Montana State11976
New Haven11997
Northern Michigan11975
Shepherd12015
South Dakota11986
Texas A&M–Commerce12017
Texas A&M–Kingsville11994
UC Davis11982
Wayne State (MI)12011
Winston-Salem State12012
Youngstown State11979
Mississippi College01989†

Of the programs that no longer compete in D-II, Akron, Central Michigan, Jacksonville State, Louisiana Tech, Texas State, Troy and Western Kentucky currently compete in Division I FBS. All others compete in Division I FCS.

Notes

† Mississippi College's 1989 tournament participation, along with its championship, were vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

  • a During Texas State's entire tenure in Division II, its name was Southwest Texas State University. The school adopted its current name in 2003.
  • b During Troy's entire tenure in Division II, its name was Troy State University. The school adopted its current name in 2005.

Teams that moved to Division I

Most of the participants in early national championship games have moved into Division I, the main catalyst for their moves being the creation of Division I-AA, now the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), in 1978. The following Division II title game participants later moved to Division I:

Postseason bowls

Regional bowls

From 1964 to 1972, four regional bowl games were played in order to provide postseason action,[7] however these games took place after the AP and UPI polls were completed, therefore these games did not factor in selecting a national champion for the College Division. The bowl games were:

Region 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972
EastTangerine BowlBoardwalk Bowl
Orlando, FloridaAtlantic City, New Jersey
MideastGrantland Rice Bowl
Murfreesboro, TennesseeBaton Rouge, Louisiana
MidwestPecan BowlPioneer Bowl
Abilene, TexasArlington, TexasWichita Falls, Texas
WestCamellia Bowl
Sacramento, California

Winners of regional bowls

YearWestMidwestMideastEast
1964Montana StateState College of IowaMiddle TennesseeEast Carolina
1965Cal State Los AngelesNorth Dakota StateBall State / Tennessee A&I (tie)East Carolina
1966San Diego StateNorth DakotaTennessee A&IMorgan State
1967San Diego StateTexas–ArlingtonEastern KentuckyTennessee–Martin
1968Humboldt StateNorth Dakota StateLouisiana TechDelaware
1969North Dakota StateArkansas StateEast Tennessee StateDelaware
1970North Dakota StateArkansas StateTennessee StateDelaware
1971Boise StateLouisiana TechTennessee StateDelaware
1972North Dakota StateTennessee StateLouisiana TechUMass

[7]

Playoff bowls

From 1973 to 1977, some of the tournament games were also known by bowl names;

  • In 1973, one of the first-round games was the final playing of the Boardwalk Bowl.
  • From 1973 through 1975, the two semifinal games were the Grantland Rice Bowl and the Pioneer Bowl, while the final game was the Camellia Bowl.
  • In 1976 and 1977, the two semifinal games were the Grantland Rice Bowl and the Knute Rockne Bowl, while the final game was the Pioneer Bowl.

See also

References
  1. "Kansas City to host 14 NCAA championships". Sporting Kansas City. December 11, 2013.
  2. "NCAA seeks new D2 football title game host because Sporting KC will renovate field". KansasCity.com. Kansas City Star. September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  3. "Small College Football Board Named by UPI". Brownwood Bulletin. Brownwood, Texas. UPI. September 18, 1958. p. 3. Retrieved May 6, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  4. "Ohio U. Leads Small College Grid Poll; Muskingum Gains Ranking". The Daily Reporter. Associated Press. October 6, 1960. p. 18.
  5. "Cal Poly-SLO, Martin wreck Eastern Illinois". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. AP. December 14, 1980. Retrieved February 26, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  6. "North Alabama vs. Northwest Missouri State - Game Summary". ESPN. December 18, 2016.
  7. "Division II All-Time Championship Results Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 2. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
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