NCAA Division III football championship - wikipedia NCAA Division III football championship 2016 Stagg Bowl logo The NCAA Division III Football Championship began in 1973. Before 1973, most of the schools now in Division III competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ). The Division III playoffs begin with 32 teams selected to participate in the playoffs. The Division III championship game, known as the Stagg Bowl ( named after Amos Alonzo Stagg ), has been played annually at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia since 1993. It was previously played at Garrett - Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama ( 1973 -- 1982, 1985 -- 1989 ), at Galbreath Field at the College Football Hall of Fame, when the Hall was located in Kings Island, Ohio ( 1983 -- 1984 ), and at Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton, Florida ( 1990 -- 1992 ). Mount Union has appeared in eleven consecutive Stagg Bowls, and all but three since 1996. The Purple Raiders defeated Wisconsin -- Whitewater in 2005, 2006, and 2008 ; lost to Wisconsin -- Whitewater in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014 ; and defeated the University of St. Thomas in 2012 and 2015. The only two times since 2000 in which Mount Union did not appear, the University of Mary Hardin - Baylor did. They lost the 2004 championship to Linfield College and won the 2016 game over University of Wisconsin -- Oshkosh. Mount Union defeated Mary Hardin - Baylor for the 2017 season championship. Contents 1 West and East Regional Championships ( 1969 -- 1972 ) 1.1 West Regional championship ( Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl ) 1.2 East Regional championship ( Knute Rockne Bowl ) 2 National championship games 3 Most national championships 4 Appearances 5 Stagg Bowl Most Outstanding Player Award 6 See also 7 References 8 External links West and East regional championships ( 1969 -- 1972 ) In 1969, the NCAA started two regional championship games for small college teams : the East Regional 's Knute Rockne Bowl and the West 's Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. When the NCAA developed a national Division III championship game in 1973, the Stagg Bowl name and the host city of Phenix City, Alabama was chosen. West Regional championship ( Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl ) Year Date Champion Runner - up Score Venue Location Attendance 1969 Wittenberg William Jewell 27 -- 21 Springfield, Ohio 1970 Capital Luther 34 -- 21 Columbus, Ohio 1971 Samford ( vacated ) Ohio Wesleyan 20 -- 10 Phenix City, Alabama 1972 Nov 24 Heidelberg Fort Valley State 28 -- 16 Phenix City, Alabama East Regional championship ( Knute Rockne Bowl ) Year Date Champion Runner - up Score Venue Location Attendance 1969 Nov 29 Randolph -- Macon Bridgeport 47 -- 28 Bridgeport, Connecticut 1970 Nov 28 Montclair State Hampden -- Sydney 7 -- 6 Atlantic City, New Jersey 1971 Nov 26 Bridgeport Hampden -- Sydney 17 -- 12 Atlantic City, New Jersey 1972 Nov 24 Bridgeport Slippery Rock 27 -- 22 Atlantic City, New Jersey National championship games Year Date Champion Runner - up Score Venue Location Attendance 1973 Dec. 8 Wittenberg Juniata 41 -- 0 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 5,000 Dec. 7 Central ( IA ) Ithaca 10 -- 8 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 5,500 Dec. 6 Wittenberg Ithaca 28 -- 0 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 6,000 1976 Dec. 4 Saint John 's ( MN ) Towson State 31 -- 28 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 7,214 1977 Dec. 3 Widener Wabash 39 -- 36 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 7,852 1978 Dec. 2 Baldwin - Wallace Wittenberg 24 -- 10 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 7,500 1979 Dec. 1 Ithaca Wittenberg 14 -- 10 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 6,500 1980 Dec. 6 Dayton Ithaca 63 -- 0 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 8,701 1981 Dec. 5 Widener Dayton 17 -- 10 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 6,100 1982 Dec. 4 West Georgia Augustana ( IL ) 14 -- 0 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 9,000 Dec. 1 Augustana ( IL ) Union ( NY ) 21 -- 17 Galbreath Field Kings Island, Ohio 3,800 1984 Dec. 8 Augustana ( IL ) Central ( IA ) 21 -- 12 Galbreath Field Kings Island, Ohio 2,300 1985 Dec. 14 Augustana ( IL ) Ithaca 20 -- 7 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 1,879 1986 Dec. 13 Augustana ( IL ) Salisbury State 31 -- 3 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 2,000 Dec. 12 Wagner Dayton 19 -- 3 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 4,000 1988 Dec. 10 Ithaca Central ( IA ) 39 -- 24 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 4,000 1989 Dec. 9 Dayton Union ( NY ) 17 -- 7 Garrett - Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama 3,500 1990 Dec. 8 Allegheny Lycoming 21 -- 14 ( OT ) Hawkins Stadium Bradenton, Florida 4,800 1991 Dec. 14 Ithaca Dayton 34 -- 20 Hawkins Stadium Bradenton, Florida 5,469 Dec. 12 Wisconsin -- La Crosse Washington & Jefferson 16 -- 12 Hawkins Stadium Bradenton, Florida 5,392 1993 Dec. 11 Mount Union Rowan 34 -- 24 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 7,304 1994 Dec. 10 Albion Washington & Jefferson 38 -- 15 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 7,168 1995 Dec. 9 Wisconsin -- La Crosse Rowan 36 -- 7 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 4,905 Dec. 14 Mount Union Rowan 56 -- 24 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 5,048 1997 Dec. 13 Mount Union Lycoming 61 -- 12 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 5,777 1998 Dec. 12 Mount Union Rowan 44 -- 24 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 5,145 1999 Dec. 18 Pacific Lutheran Rowan 42 -- 13 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 4,101 2000 Dec. 16 Mount Union Saint John 's ( MN ) 10 -- 7 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 4,436 2001 Dec. 15 Mount Union Bridgewater 30 -- 27 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 7,992 2002 Dec. 21 Mount Union Trinity ( TX ) 48 -- 7 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 4,398 2003 Dec. 20 Saint John 's ( MN ) Mount Union 24 -- 6 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 5,073 Dec. 18 Linfield Mary Hardin -- Baylor 28 -- 21 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 3,240 2005 Dec. 17 Mount Union Wisconsin -- Whitewater 35 -- 28 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 4,619 2006 Dec. 16 Mount Union Wisconsin -- Whitewater 35 -- 16 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 6,051 2007 Dec. 15 Wisconsin -- Whitewater Mount Union 31 -- 21 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 5,099 2008 Dec. 20 Mount Union Wisconsin -- Whitewater 31 -- 26 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 5,344 2009 Dec. 19 Wisconsin -- Whitewater Mount Union 38 -- 28 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 3,468 Dec. 18 Wisconsin -- Whitewater Mount Union 31 -- 21 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 4,598 2011 Dec. 16 Wisconsin -- Whitewater Mount Union 13 -- 10 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 3,784 2012 Dec. 14 Mount Union St. Thomas ( MN ) 28 -- 10 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 6,027 2013 Dec. 20 Wisconsin -- Whitewater Mount Union 52 -- 14 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 5,371 2014 Dec. 19 Wisconsin -- Whitewater Mount Union 43 -- 34 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 5,465 2015 Dec. 18 Mount Union St. Thomas ( MN ) 49 -- 35 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 5,343 2016 Dec. 16 Mary Hardin -- Baylor Wisconsin -- Oshkosh 10 -- 7 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 3,476 2017 Dec. 15 Mount Union Mary Hardin -- Baylor 12 - 0 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia 4,971 2018 Woodforest Bank Stadium Shenandoah, Texas 2019 Woodforest Bank Stadium Shenandoah, Texas 2020 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, Ohio 2021 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, Ohio Most national championships 50 - yard line action at the 2010 Stagg Bowl Team Titles Winning Years Mount Union 13 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017 Wisconsin -- Whitewater 6 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 Augustana ( IL ) 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 Ithaca 1979, 1988, 1991 Saint John 's ( MN ) 1976, 2003 Wisconsin -- La Crosse 1992, 1995 Dayton 1980, 1989 Widener 1977, 1981 Wittenberg 1973, 1975 Mary Hardin - Baylor 2016 Linfield Pacific Lutheran 1999 Albion 1994 Allegheny 1990 Wagner West Georgia 1982 Baldwin - Wallace 1978 Central ( IA ) Appearances Main article : List of NCAA Division III Football Championship appearances by team Team Appearances Years Mount Union 20 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 Wisconsin -- Whitewater 9 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 Ithaca 7 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1991 Augustana ( IL ) 5 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 Dayton 5 1980, 1981, 1987, 1989, 1991 Rowan 5 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 Wittenberg 1973, 1975, 1978, 1979 Saint John 's ( MN ) 1976, 2001, 2003 Central ( IA ) 1974, 1984, 1988 Mary Hardin - Baylor 2004, 2016, 2017 Wisconsin -- La Crosse 1992, 1995 Widener 1977, 1981 St. Thomas ( MN ) 2012, 2015 Lycoming 1990, 1997 Washington & Jefferson 1992, 1994 Union ( NY ) 1983, 1989 Linfield Pacific Lutheran 1999 Albion 1994 Allegheny 1990 Wagner West Georgia 1982 Baldwin - Wallace 1978 Wisconsin -- Oshkosh 2016 Trinity ( TX ) 2002 Bridgewater ( VA ) 2001 Salisbury State 1986 Wabash 1977 Towson State 1976 Juniata 1973 Stagg Bowl most outstanding player award As voted by the media at the game since 2000. Year Player Team Class Position 2000 Chuck Moore Mount Union Senior RB 2001 Chuck Moore Mount Union 5th year Senior RB 2002 Dan Pugh Mount Union Senior RB 2003 Blake Elliot Saint John 's Senior WR Riley Jenkins Linfield Senior RB 2005 Nate Kmic Mount Union Freshman RB 2006 Greg Micheli Mount Union Sophomore QB 2007 Justin Beaver UW - Whitewater Senior RB 2008 Greg Micheli Mount Union Senior QB 2009 Levell Coppage UW - Whitewater Sophomore RB Levell Coppage UW - Whitewater Junior RB 2011 Loussaint Minett UW - Whitewater Sophomore DE 2012 Kevin Burke Mount Union Sophomore QB 2013 Matt Behrendt UW - Whitewater Junior QB 2014 Matt Behrendt UW - Whitewater Senior QB 2015 Taurice Scott Mount Union Senior QB 2016 Blake Jackson Mary Hardin - Baylor Senior QB 2017 Nick Brish Mount Union Sophomore DB See also College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS NCAA Division I Football Championship NCAA Division I FCS Consensus Mid-Major Football National Championship NCAA Division II Football Championship NAIA National Football Championship NCCAA National Football Championship NJCAA National Football Championship List of college bowl games List of NCAA Division III football programs Gagliardi Trophy Division III player of the year award References Notes This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. ( December 2017 ) Sources NCAA Division III National Football Championship history from NCAA.org NCAA Division III Football Championships Records Book from NCAA.org Division III football playoff history from d3football.com External links D3football.com Systems used to determine college football national championships NCAA Division I-A / FBS Various polling systems ( 1869 -- present ) Bowl Coalition ( 1992 -- 1994 ) Bowl Alliance ( 1995 -- 1997 ) Bowl Championship Series ( 1998 -- 2013 ) College Football Playoff ( 2014 -- present ) NCAA Division I - AA / FCS NCAA Division I Football Championship ( 1978 -- present ) NCAA Division II NCAA Division II Football Championship ( 1973 -- present ) NCAA Division III NCAA Division III Football Championship ( 1973 -- present ) NAIA Divisions NAIA Football National Championship ( 1956 -- present ) NAIA Division II Football National Championship ( 1970 -- 1996 ) Additional systems Black college football national championship NCCAA Victory Bowl ( 1997 -- present ) National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Awards Hall of Champions Conferences Division I Institutions Athletic directors Baseball Championship CWS Basketball Men Women Cross Country Men Women Field hockey Championship Football FBS FCS Golf Men Women Ice hockey Men Women Lacrosse Men Women Rowing Women Soccer Men Women Softball Championship WCWS Swimming & Diving Men Women Tennis Men Women Track and Field Men 's indoor and outdoor Women 's indoor and outdoor Volleyball Men Women Wrestling Championship Division II Institutions Baseball Championship Basketball Men Women Cross Country Men Women Field hockey Championship Football Championship Golf Men Women Gymnastics Men Women Ice hockey Men Lacrosse Men Women Rowing Women Soccer Men Women Softball Championship / WCWS Swimming & Diving Men Women Tennis Men Women Track and Field Men 's indoor and outdoor Women 's indoor and outdoor Volleyball Women Wrestling Championship Division III Institutions Baseball Championship Basketball Men Women Cross Country Men Women Field hockey Championship Football Championship Golf Men Women Ice hockey Men Women Lacrosse Men Women Rowing Women Soccer Men Women Softball Championship / WCWS Swimming & Diving Men Women Tennis Men Women Track and Field Men 's indoor and outdoor Women 's indoor and outdoor Volleyball Men Women Wrestling Championship Single - division sports and championships Beach volleyball Women Bowling Women Boxing Championship Fencing Championships Gymnastics Men Women Rifle Championship Skiing Championships Trampoline Championship Water polo Men Women Events listed in italics have been discontinued. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NCAA_Division_III_Football_Championship&oldid=817058551 '' Categories : NCAA football championships NCAA Division III football American football in Virginia Hidden categories : All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from November 2017 Articles lacking in - text citations from December 2017 All articles lacking in - text citations Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Edit links This page was last edited on 25 December 2017, at 20 : 42. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: how many teams make the division 3 football playoffs
Answer: 32