# NCAA Division III Football Championship

The NCAA Division III Football Championship is an American college football tournament played annually to determine a champion at the NCAA Division III level. It was first held in 1973, as a single-elimination playoff with eight teams. Over the past 50 seasons, the number of participants has grown to 32, with the current bracket size dating from 2005. In 2023, 28 playoff bids went to conference champions via automatic qualification, leaving just four places for at-large selections.
The Division III championship game, known as the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl or Stagg Bowl (named after football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg), was held at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia in 2023, where it was previously held annually from 1993 to 2017. Other Stagg Bowl sites have included Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland (2022), Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio (2021), Woodforest Bank Stadium in Shenandoah, Texas (2018–2019), Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton, Florida (1990–1992), Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama (1973–1982, 1985–1989), and Galbreath Field at the College Football Hall of Fame, when the Hall was located in Kings Island, Ohio (1983–1984).

## West and East Region Championships (1969–1972)

The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl was founded by the NCAA in October 1969. Along with its counterpart, the Knute Rockne Bowl, it was "created by the NCAA ... for its College Division II schools, those 100-plus smallest schools in the NCAA." Eligible schools were divided into an East Region (the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states) and West Region (the rest of the country), with the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl serving as the championship of the West Region, and the Knute Rockne Bowl as the championship of the East Region.
The NCAA thus provided postseason opportunities for College Division teams too small to compete for spots in the four regional bowls it had established in 1964 (as of 1969, these were the Camellia Bowl for the West, the Pecan Bowl for the Midwest, the Grantland Rice Bowl for the Mideast, and the Boardwalk Bowl for the East). At least for the sport of football, this accommodation in 1969 foreshadowed the decision to subdivide the College Division four years later, into Division II and Division III.

### Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (West Region championship)

| Year | Date | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Location |
| 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 |

### Knute Rockne Bowl (East Region championship)

| Year | Date | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Location |
| 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 Championships (1973–present)

When the College Division was subdivided into the current Division II and Division III in 1973, the NCAA made the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl the Division III national championship game. Initially, Phenix City, Alabama (site of the 1971 and 1972 Stagg Bowls) continued as the host city.

### Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl

| Year | Date | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Attendance | Venue | Location | Winning head coach |
| 1973 | Dec. 8 | Wittenberg | Juniata | 41–0 | 5,000 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Dave Maurer |
| 1974 | Dec. 7 | Central (IA) | Ithaca | 10–8 | 5,500 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Ron Schipper |
| 1975 | Dec. 6 | Wittenberg | Ithaca | 28–0 | 6,000 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Dave Maurer |
| 1976 | Dec. 4 | Saint John's (MN) | Towson State | 31–28 | 7,214 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | John Gagliardi |
| 1977 | Dec. 3 | Widener | Wabash | 39–36 | 7,852 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Bill Manlove |
| 1978 | Dec. 2 | Baldwin–Wallace | Wittenberg | 24–10 | 7,500 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Lee Tressel |
| 1979 | Dec. 1 | Ithaca | Wittenberg | 14–10 | 6,500 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Jim Butterfield |
| 1980 | Dec. 6 | Dayton | Ithaca | 63–0 | 8,701 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Rick E. Carter |
| 1981 | Dec. 5 | Widener | Dayton | 17–10 | 6,100 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Bill Manlove |
| 1982 | Dec. 4 | West Georgia | Augustana (IL) | 14–0 | 9,000 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Bobby Pate |
| 1983 | Dec. 1 | Augustana (IL) | Union (NY) | 21–17 | 3,800 | Galbreath Field | Kings Mills, Ohio | Bob Reade |
| 1984 | Dec. 8 | Augustana (IL) | Central (IA) | 21–12 | 2,300 | Galbreath Field | Kings Mills, Ohio | Bob Reade |
| 1985 | Dec. 14 | Augustana (IL) | Ithaca | 20–7 | 1,879 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Bob Reade |
| 1986 | Dec. 13 | Augustana (IL) | Salisbury State | 31–3 | 2,000 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Bob Reade |
| 1987 | Dec. 12 | Wagner | Dayton | 19–3 | 4,000 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Walt Hameline |
| 1988 | Dec. 10 | Ithaca | Central (IA) | 39–24 | 4,000 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Jim Butterfield |
| 1989 | Dec. 9 | Dayton | Union (NY) | 17–7 | 3,500 | Garrett–Harrison Stadium | Phenix City, Alabama | Mike Kelly |
| 1990 | Dec. 8 | Allegheny | Lycoming | 21–14 (OT) | 4,800 | Hawkins Stadium | Bradenton, Florida | Ken O'Keefe |
| 1991 | Dec. 14 | Ithaca | Dayton | 34–20 | 5,469 | Hawkins Stadium | Bradenton, Florida | Jim Butterfield |
| 1992 | Dec. 12 | Wisconsin–La Crosse | Washington & Jefferson | 16–12 | 5,329 | Hawkins Stadium | Bradenton, Florida | Roger Harring |
| 1993 | Dec. 11 | Mount Union | Rowan | 34–24 | 7,304 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Larry Kehres |
| 1994 | Dec. 10 | Albion | Washington & Jefferson | 38–15 | 7,168 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Pete Schmidt |
| 1995 | Dec. 9 | Wisconsin–La Crosse | Rowan | 36–7 | 4,905 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Roger Harring |
| 1996 | Dec. 14 | Mount Union | Rowan | 56–24 | 5,048 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Larry Kehres |
| 1997 | Dec. 13 | Mount Union | Lycoming | 61–12 | 5,777 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Larry Kehres |
| 1998 | Dec. 12 | Mount Union | Rowan | 44–24 | 5,145 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Larry Kehres |
| 1999 | Dec. 18 | Pacific Lutheran | Rowan | 42–13 | 4,101 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Frosty Westering |
| 2000 | Dec. 16 | Mount Union | Saint John's (MN) | 10–7 | 4,643 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Larry Kehres |
| 2001 | Dec. 15 | Mount Union | Bridgewater | 30–27 | 7,992 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Larry Kehres |
| 2002 | Dec. 21 | Mount Union | Trinity (TX) | 48–7 | 4,389 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Larry Kehres |
| 2003 | Dec. 20 | Saint John's (MN) | Mount Union | 24–6 | 5,073 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | John Gagliardi |
| 2004 | Dec. 18 | Linfield | Mary Hardin–Baylor | 28–21 | 3,240 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Jay Locey |
| 2005 | Dec. 17 | Mount Union | Wisconsin–Whitewater | 35–28 | 4,619 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Larry Kehres |
| 2006 | Dec. 16 | Mount Union | Wisconsin–Whitewater | 35–16 | 6,051 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Larry Kehres |
| 2007 | Dec. 15 | Wisconsin–Whitewater | Mount Union | 31–21 | 5,099 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Lance Leipold |
| 2008 | Dec. 20 | Mount Union | Wisconsin–Whitewater | 31–26 | 5,344 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Larry Kehres |
| 2009 | Dec. 19 | Wisconsin–Whitewater | Mount Union | 38–28 | 3,468 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Lance Leipold |
| 2010 | Dec. 18 | Wisconsin–Whitewater | Mount Union | 31–21 | 4,598 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Lance Leipold |
| 2011 | Dec. 16 | Wisconsin–Whitewater | Mount Union | 13–10 | 3,784 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Lance Leipold |
| 2012 | Dec. 14 | Mount Union | St. Thomas (MN) | 28–10 | 6,027 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Larry Kehres |
| 2013 | Dec. 20 | Wisconsin–Whitewater | Mount Union | 52–14 | 5,371 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Lance Leipold |
| 2014 | Dec. 19 | Wisconsin–Whitewater | Mount Union | 43–34 | 5,465 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Lance Leipold |
| 2015 | Dec. 18 | Mount Union | St. Thomas (MN) | 49–35 | 5,343 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Vince Kehres |
| 2016 | Dec. 16 | Mary Hardin–Baylor§ | Wisconsin–Oshkosh | 10–7 | 3,476 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Pete Fredenburg |
| 2017 | Dec. 15 | Mount Union | Mary Hardin–Baylor | 12–0 | 4,971 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Vince Kehres |
| 2018 | Dec. 14 | Mary Hardin–Baylor | Mount Union | 24–16 | 6,816 | Woodforest Bank Stadium | Shenandoah, Texas | Pete Fredenburg |
| 2019 | Dec. 20 | North Central (IL) | Wisconsin–Whitewater | 41–14 | 1,362 | Woodforest Bank Stadium | Shenandoah, Texas | Jeff Thorne |
| 2020 | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | Dec. 17 | Mary Hardin–Baylor | North Central (IL) | 57–24 | 1,830 | Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium | Canton, Ohio | Pete Fredenburg |
| 2022 | Dec. 16 | North Central (IL) | Mount Union | 28–21 | 3,231 | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium | Annapolis, Maryland | Brad Spencer |
| 2023 | Dec. 15 | Cortland | North Central (IL) | 38–37 | 3,381 | Salem Football Stadium | Salem, Virginia | Curt Fitzpatrick |
| 2024 | | | | | | Turner Stadium | Humble, Texas | |
| 2025 | | | | | | Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium | Canton, Ohio | |
§ - On October 10, 2019, the NCAA vacated the 2016 championship due to violations self-reported by UMHB. The appeal was unsuccessful, therefore there was no champion declared for the 2016 season. In late June 2020, UMHB's 2016 and 2017 seasons' wins and records were also vacated.

## National championships by team

Programs that no longer compete in Division III are indicated in italics with a pink background.
| 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) | 4 | 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 |
| Ithaca | 3 | 1979, 1988, 1991 |
| Mary Hardin–Baylor | 2 | 2016§, 2018, 2021 |
| Saint John's (MN) | 2 | 1976, 2003 |
| Wisconsin–La Crosse | 2 | 1992, 1995 |
| Dayton | 2 | 1980, 1989 |
| Widener | 2 | 1977, 1981 |
| Wittenberg | 2 | 1973, 1975 |
| North Central (IL) | 2 | 2019, 2022 |
| Cortland | 1 | 2023 |
| Linfield | 1 | 2004 |
| Pacific Lutheran | 1 | 1999 |
| Albion | 1 | 1994 |
| Allegheny | 1 | 1990 |
| Wagner | 1 | 1987 |
| West Georgia | 1 | 1982 |
| Baldwin Wallace | 1 | 1978 |
| Central (IA) | 1 | 1974 |
§ October 10, 2019 the NCAA vacated the 2016 championship due to violations self-reported by Mary Hardin–Baylor. The appeal was unsuccessful, therefore there was no champion declared for the 2016 season. Mary Hardin–Baylor also had its wins and records from that season and in 2017 vacated.

## Championship game appearances

Programs that no longer compete in Division III are indicated in italics with a pink background.
| Team | Appearances | Years |
| Mount Union | 22 | 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022 |
| Wisconsin–Whitewater | 10 | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2019 |
| 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 |
| North Central (IL) | 4 | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Mary Hardin–Baylor | 4 | 2004, 2016§, 2017, 2018, 2021 |
| Wittenberg | 4 | 1973, 1975, 1978, 1979 |
| Saint John's (MN) | 3 | 1976, 2001, 2003 |
| Central (IA) | 3 | 1974, 1984, 1988 |
| Wisconsin–La Crosse | 2 | 1992, 1995 |
| Widener | 2 | 1977, 1981 |
| St. Thomas (MN) | 2 | 2012, 2015 |
| Lycoming | 2 | 1990, 1997 |
| Washington & Jefferson | 2 | 1992, 1994 |
| Union (NY) | 2 | 1983, 1989 |
| Cortland | 1 | 2023 |
| Linfield | 1 | 2004 |
| Pacific Lutheran | 1 | 1999 |
| Albion | 1 | 1994 |
| Allegheny | 1 | 1990 |
| Wagner | 1 | 1987 |
| West Georgia | 1 | 1982 |
| Baldwin Wallace | 1 | 1978 |
| Wisconsin–Oshkosh | 1 | 2016 |
| Trinity (TX) | 1 | 2002 |
| Bridgewater (VA) | 1 | 2001 |
| Salisbury State | 1 | 1986 |
| Wabash | 1 | 1977 |
| Towson State | 1 | 1976 |
| Juniata | 1 | 1973 |
As of the upcoming 2024 season, all of the programs that no longer compete in D-III compete in Division I FCS. West Georgia is the most recent of these to move to FCS, with the 2024 season being its first at that level.

## 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 (MN) | Senior | WR |
| 2004 | Riley Jenkins | Linfield | Senior | RB |
| 2005 | Nate Kmic | Mount Union | Freshman | RB |
| 2006 | Greg Micheli | Mount Union | Sophomore | QB |
| 2007 | Justin Beaver | Wisconsin–Whitewater | Senior | RB |
| 2008 | Greg Micheli | Mount Union | Senior | QB |
| 2009 | Levell Coppage | Wisconsin–Whitewater | Sophomore | RB |
| 2010 | Levell Coppage | Wisconsin–Whitewater | Junior | RB |
| 2011 | Loussaint Minett | Wisconsin–Whitewater | Sophomore | DE |
| 2012 | Kevin Burke | Mount Union | Sophomore | QB |
| 2013 | Matt Behrendt | Wisconsin–Whitewater | Junior | QB |
| 2014 | Matt Behrendt | Wisconsin–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 |
| 2018 | T.J. Josey | Mary Hardin–Baylor | Senior | WR |
| 2019 | Ethan Greenfield | North Central | Sophomore | RB |
| 2021 | Micah Hackett | Mary Hardin–Baylor | Senior | LB |
| 2022 | Ethan Greenfield | North Central | Senior | RB |
| 2023 | Zac Boyes | Cortland | Junior | QB |