# 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.
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). Since 2018, the championship game has been played at the McKinney ISD Stadium and Community Event Center in McKinney, Texas. 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. The AP began its poll in 1960.
National champions per wire service polls
| Year | Top-ranked team | Top-ranked team |
| Year | per UPI poll | per AP poll |
| 1958 | Mississippi Southern | no poll |
| 1959 | Bowling Green | no poll |
| 1960 | Ohio | Ohio |
| 1961 | Pittsburg State | Pittsburg State |
| 1962 | Southern Miss | Florida A&M |
| 1963 | Delaware | Northern Illinois |
| 1964 | Cal State Los Angeles | Wittenberg |
| 1965 | North Dakota State | North Dakota State |
| 1966 | San Diego State | San Diego State |
| 1967 | San Diego State | San Diego State |
| 1968 | San Diego State | North Dakota State |
| 1969 | North Dakota State | North Dakota State |
| 1970 | Arkansas State | Arkansas State |
| 1971 | Delaware | Delaware |
| 1972 | Delaware | Delaware |
| 1973† | Tennessee State | Tennessee State |
| 1974† | Louisiana Tech | Central 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

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 |
| 1973 | Louisiana Tech (1) | 34–0 | Western Kentucky | Hughes Stadium | Sacramento, California | 12,016 | Maxie Lambright |
| 1974 | Central Michigan (1) | 54–14 | Delaware | Hughes Stadium | Sacramento, California | 14,137 | Roy Kramer |
| 1975 | Northern Michigan (1) | 16–14 | Western Kentucky | Hughes Stadium | Sacramento California | 12,017 | Gil Krueger |
| 1976 | Montana State (1) | 24–13 | Akron | Memorial Stadium | Wichita Falls, Texas | 13,200 | Sonny Holland |
| 1977 | Lehigh (1) | 33–0 | Jacksonville State | Memorial Stadium | Wichita Falls, Texas | 14,114 | John Whitehead |
| 1978 | Eastern Illinois (1) | 10–9 | Delaware | Lobo Stadium | Longview, Texas | 5,500 | Darrell Mudra |
| 1979 | Delaware (1) | 38–21 | Youngstown State | University Stadium | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 4,000 | Tubby Raymond |
| 1980 | Cal Poly (1) | 21–13 | Eastern Illinois | University Stadium | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 2,056 | Joe Harper |
| 1981 | Southwest Texas State (1) | 42–13 | North Dakota State | Veterans Memorial Stadium | McAllen, Texas | 9,415 | Jim Wacker |
| 1982 | Southwest Texas State (2) | 34–9 | UC Davis | Veterans Memorial Stadium | McAllen, Texas | 8,000 | Jim Wacker |
| 1983 | North Dakota State (1) | 41–21 | Central State | Veterans Memorial Stadium | McAllen, Texas | 5,275 | Don Morton |
| 1984 | Troy State (1) | 18–17 | North Dakota State | Veterans Memorial Stadium | McAllen, Texas | 4,500 | Chan Gailey |
| 1985 | North Dakota State (2) | 35–7 | North Alabama | Veterans Memorial Stadium | McAllen, Texas | 6,000 | Earle Solomonson |
| 1986 | North Dakota State (3) | 27–7 | South Dakota | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 11,506 | Earle Solomonson |
| 1987 | Troy State (2) | 31–17 | Portland State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 10,660 | Rick Rhoades |
| 1988 | North Dakota State (4) | 35–21 | Portland State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 6,763 | Rocky Hager |
| 1989 | Mississippi College† | 3–0 | Jacksonville State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 10,538 | John M. Williams |
| 1990 | North Dakota State (5) | 51–11 | Indiana (PA) | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 10,080 | Rocky Hager |
| 1991 | Pittsburg State (1) | 23–6 | Jacksonville State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 11,682 | Chuck Broyles |
| 1992 | Jacksonville State (1) | 17–13 | Pittsburg State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 11,733 | Bill Burgess |
| 1993 | North Alabama (1) | 41–34 | Indiana (PA) | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 15,631 | Bobby Wallace |
| 1994 | North Alabama (2) | 16–10 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 13,526 | Bobby Wallace |
| 1995 | North Alabama (3) | 27–7 | Pittsburg State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 15,241 | Bobby Wallace |
| 1996 | Northern Colorado (1) | 23–14 | Carson–Newman | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 5,745 | Joe Glenn |
| 1997 | Northern Colorado (2) | 51–0 | New Haven | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 3,352 | Joe Glenn |
| 1998 | Northwest Missouri State (1) | 24–6 | Carson–Newman | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 6,149 | Mel Tjeerdsma |
| 1999 | Northwest Missouri State (2) | 58–52 $^{4OT}$ | Carson–Newman | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 8,451 | Mel Tjeerdsma |
| 2000 | Delta State (1) | 63–34 | Bloomsburg | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 7,123 | Steve Campbell |
| 2001 | North Dakota (1) | 17–14 | Grand Valley State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 6,113 | Dale Lennon |
| 2002 | Grand Valley State (1) | 31–24 | Valdosta State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 9,783 | Brian Kelly |
| 2003 | Grand Valley State (2) | 10–3 | North Dakota | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 7,236 | Brian Kelly |
| 2004 | Valdosta State (1) | 36–31 | Pittsburg State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 8,604 | Chris Hatcher |
| 2005 | Grand Valley State (3) | 21–17 | Northwest Missouri State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 6,837 | Chuck Martin |
| 2006 | Grand Valley State (4) | 17–14 | Northwest Missouri State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 7,437 | Chuck Martin |
| 2007 | Valdosta State (2) | 25–20 | Northwest Missouri State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 7,532 | David Dean |
| 2008 | Minnesota–Duluth (1) | 21–14 | Northwest Missouri State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 6,215 | Bob Nielson |
| 2009 | Northwest Missouri State (3) | 30–23 | Grand Valley State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 6,211 | Mel Tjeerdsma |
| 2010 | Minnesota–Duluth (2) | 20–17 | Delta State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 4,027 | Bob Nielson |
| 2011 | Pittsburg State (2) | 35–21 | Wayne State (MI) | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 7,276 | Tim Beck |
| 2012 | Valdosta State (3) | 35–7 | Winston-Salem State | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 7,525 | David Dean |
| 2013 | Northwest Missouri State (4) | 43–28 | Lenoir–Rhyne | Braly Municipal Stadium | Florence, Alabama | 6,543 | Adam Dorrel |
| 2014 | CSU–Pueblo (1) | 13–0 | Minnesota State–Mankato | Children's Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas | 6,762 | John Wristen |
| 2015 | Northwest Missouri State (5) | 34–7 | Shepherd | Children's Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas | 16,181 | Adam Dorrel |
| 2016 | Northwest Missouri State (6) | 29–3 | North Alabama | Children's Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas | 9,576 | Adam Dorrel |
| 2017 | Texas A&M–Commerce (1) | 37–27 | West Florida | Children's Mercy Park | Kansas City, Kansas | 4,259 | Colby Carthel |
| 2018 | Valdosta State (4) | 49–47 | Ferris State | McKinney ISD Stadium | McKinney, Texas | 4,306 | Kerwin Bell |
| 2019 | West Florida (1) | 48–40 | Minnesota State–Mankato | McKinney ISD Stadium | McKinney, Texas | 3,415 | Pete Shinnick |
| 2020 | Canceled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic | Canceled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic | Canceled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic | Canceled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic | Canceled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic | Canceled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic | Canceled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic |
| 2021 | Ferris State (1) | 58–17 | Valdosta State | McKinney ISD Stadium | McKinney, Texas | 3,933 | Tony Annese |
| 2022 | Ferris State (2) | 41–14 | Colorado Mines | McKinney ISD Stadium | McKinney, Texas | 6,333 | Tony Annese |
| 2023 | Harding (1) | 38–7 | Colorado Mines | McKinney ISD Stadium | McKinney, Texas | 12,552 | Paul Simmons |
† Mississippi College's 1989 tournament participation, along with its championship, were vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

### 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 State | 10 | 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
| North Dakota State | 7 | 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990 |
| Grand Valley State | 6 | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009 |
| Valdosta State | 6 | 2002, 2004, 2007, 2012, 2018, 2021 |
| Pittsburg State | 5 | 1991, 1992, 1995, 2004, 2011 |
| North Alabama | 5 | 1985, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2016 |
| Jacksonville State | 4 | 1977, 1989, 1991, 1992 |
| Carson–Newman | 3 | 1996, 1998, 1999 |
| Delaware | 3 | 1974, 1978, 1979 |
| Ferris State | 3 | 2018, 2021, 2022 |
| Colorado Mines | 2 | 2022, 2023 |
| Delta State | 2 | 2000, 2010 |
| Eastern Illinois | 2 | 1978, 1980 |
| Indiana (PA) | 2 | 1990, 1993 |
| Minnesota–Duluth | 2 | 2008, 2010 |
| Minnesota State–Mankato | 2 | 2014, 2019 |
| North Dakota | 2 | 2001, 2003 |
| Northern Colorado | 2 | 1996, 1997 |
| Portland State | 2 | 1987, 1988 |
| Texas State | 2 | 1981, 1982 |
| Troy | 2 | 1984, 1987 |
| Western Kentucky | 2 | 1973, 1975 |
| West Florida | 2 | 2017, 2019 |
| Akron | 1 | 1976 |
| Bloomsburg | 1 | 2000 |
| Cal Poly | 1 | 1980 |
| Central Michigan | 1 | 1974 |
| Central State | 1 | 1983 |
| CSU–Pueblo | 1 | 2014 |
| Harding | 1 | 2023 |
| Lehigh | 1 | 1977 |
| Lenoir–Rhyne | 1 | 2013 |
| Louisiana Tech | 1 | 1973 |
| Montana State | 1 | 1976 |
| New Haven | 1 | 1997 |
| Northern Michigan | 1 | 1975 |
| Shepherd | 1 | 2015 |
| South Dakota | 1 | 1986 |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | 1 | 2017 |
| Texas A&M–Kingsville | 1 | 1994 |
| UC Davis | 1 | 1982 |
| Wayne State (MI) | 1 | 2011 |
| Winston-Salem State | 1 | 2012 |
| Youngstown State | 1 | 1979 |
| Mississippi College | 0 | 1989† |
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.