# 2016 NCAA Division II football season

The 2016 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, began on September 1, 2016 and ended with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 17, 2016 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Northwest Missouri State successfully defended its national title from the previous season (and won its sixth title overall) by defeating North Alabama, 29–3.

## D-II wins over FCS teams

September 1, 2016 - Alderson Broaddus 14, Robert Morris 7
September 3, 2016 - Texas A&M-Kingsville 31, Incarnate Word 22
September 3, 2016 - Quincy 38, Drake 35
September 3, 2016 - Western Oregon 38, Sacramento State 30
September 10, 2016 - Oklahoma Panhandle State 20, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 16
September 17, 2016 - Tuskegee 20, Florida A&M 17
September 24, 2016 - Florida Tech 28, Presbyterian 7

## Conference changes and new programs
### Membership changes

| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Alderson Broaddus Battlers | Independent | G-MAC |
| Dixie State Trailblazers | GNAC | RMAC |
| Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers | Independent | G-MAC |
| Malone Pioneers | GLIAC | G-MAC |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies | Independent | Lone Star |
| South Dakota Mines Hardrockers | GNAC | RMAC |
| Stillman Tigers | SIAC | Dropped program |
| UT Permian Basin Falcons | New program | Lone Star |
| West Florida Argonauts | New program | Gulf South |
| Western New Mexico Mustangs | RMAC | Lone Star |
Mississippi College completed their transition to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.

## Conference standings
### Super Region 1

2016 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings :
| 2016 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Northern Bowie State xy  6 –1  7 –4   Virginia State  5 –2  8 –2   Elizabeth City State  4 –3  5 –5   Virginia Union  4 –3  5 –5   Chowan  4 –3  6 –4   Lincoln (PA)  0 –7  1 –9   Southern Winston-Salem State xy$^  7 –0  9 –3   Fayetteville State  4 –3  4 –6   Johnson C. Smith  3 –4  3 –7   Shaw  2 –5  2 –8   St. Augustine's  2 –5  2 –8   Livingstone  1 –6  2 –8   Championship: Winston–Salem St. 43, Bowie St. 33 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2016 Mountain East Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 3 Shepherd $^  10 –0  13 –1   No. 23 Fairmont State ^  9 –1  10 –2   Notre Dame (OH)  8 –2  9 –2   Virginia–Wise  5 –5  6 –5   Glenville State  5 –5  5 –6   West Liberty  4 –6  4 –7   West Virginia Wesleyan  4 –6  4 –7   Charleston (WV)  3 –7  3 –8   West Virginia State  3 –7  3 –8   Urbana  2 –8  3 –8   Concord  2 –8  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2016 Northeast-10 Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 11 LIU Post y$^  9 –0  12 –1   Assumption y^  8 –1  9 –3   New Haven  6 –3  7 –4   Southern Connecticut  6 –3  6 –5   Bentley  5 –4  5 –6   Stonehill  4 –5  5 –6   American International  3 –6  4 –7   Merrimack  2 –7  3 –8   Saint Anselm  2 –7  2 –9   Pace  0 –9  0 –11   Championship: LIU Post 43, Assumption 23 $ – Conference championy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll |
| 2016 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Eastern Kutztown xy  7 –0  7 –4   West Chester  6 –1  8 –3   Shippensburg  4 –3  7 –4   Bloomsburg  4 –3  6 –5   Lock Haven  4 –3  4 –7   East Stroudsburg  2 –5  4 –7   Millersville  1 –6  2 –9   Cheyney  0 –7  1 –10   Western No. 7 California (PA) xy$^  7 –0  11 –1   No. 12 IUP ^  6 –1  10 –2   Edinboro  5 –2  9 –2   Slippery Rock  3 –4  7 –4   Clarion  3 –4  4 –7   Seton Hill  2 –5  5 –6   Gannon  1 –6  5 –6   Mercyhurst  1 –6  3 –8   Championship: California (PA) 49, Kutztown 7 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll |

### Super Region 2

2016 Gulf South Conference football standings :
| 2016 Gulf South Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 2 North Alabama $^  7 –0  11 –2   No. 18 Valdosta State ^  6 –2  8 –3   West Alabama  6 –2  7 –4   Florida Tech ^  5 –2  8 –3   West Georgia  4 –4  7 –4   West Florida  3 –5  5 –6   Delta State †  3 –5  4 –6   Mississippi College  1 –7  3 –7   Shorter  0 –8  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant† – Delta State's record is officially listed as 2–8 (1–7) due to the use of ineligible players in two wins, but the opponents are not credited with wins.Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2016 South Atlantic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 16 Newberry $^  7 –0  10 –2   Wingate  5 –2  8 –3   Catawba  5 –2  5 –6   Mars Hill  3 –4  5 –6   Tusculum  3 –4  4 –7   Lenoir–Rhyne  3 –4  3 –8   Carson–Newman  2 –5  4 –7   Brevard  0 –7  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2016 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East Albany State x  3 –1  5 –4   Fort Valley State xy$  3 –1  5 –6   Benedict  2 –2  5 –5   Clark Atlanta  2 –2  5 –5   Morehouse  0 –4  3 –7   West No. 20 Tuskegee x^  3 –1  9 –3   Kentucky State xy  3 –1  4 –7   Miles  2 –2  5 –5   Lane  1 –3  5 –5   Central State (OH)  1 –3  1 –9   Championship: Fort Valley State 33, Kentucky State 30 (2OT) $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2016 NCAA Division II independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 13 UNC Pembroke ^   –  10 –2   No. 17 North Greenville ^   –  9 –5   Limestone   –  5 –6   ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 3

2016 Great American Conference football standings :
| 2016 Great American Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 6 Harding $^  11 –0  13 –1   Southern Arkansas #  9 –2  9 –3   Henderson State  8 –3  8 –3   Ouachita Baptist  7 –4  7 –4   SE Oklahoma State  7 –4  7 –4   Arkansas Tech  6 –5  6 –5   SW Oklahoma State  5 –6  5 –6   Arkansas–Monticello  4 –7  4 –7   NW Oklahoma State  4 –7  4 –7   Oklahoma Baptist @  2 –9  2 –9   Southern Nazarene  2 –9  2 –9   East Central  1 –10  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Live United Texarkana Bowl participant @ – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2016 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 25 Azusa Pacific $^  8 –0  9 –3   Central Washington  6 –2  7 –3   Humboldt State  3 –5  6 –5   Western Oregon  3 –5  4 –6   Simon Fraser  0 –8  0 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2016 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 1 NW Missouri State $^  11 –0  15 –0   No. 10 Emporia State ^  10 –1  11 –2   No. 21 Central Missouri ^  9 –2  9 –3   Fort Hays State #  7 –4  8 –4   Pittsburg State  7 –4  7 –4   Washburn #  7 –4  7 –5   Missouri Western  4 –7  4 –7   Central Oklahoma  3 –8  3 –8   Lindenwood  3 –8  3 –8   Missouri Southern  2 –9  2 –9   Northeastern State  2 –9  2 –9   Nebraska–Kearney  1 –10  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Wahsburn - Mineral Water Bowl, Fort Hays State - C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl) Rankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2016 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  North No. 14 Minnesota–Duluth ^  10 –1  10 –2   Bemidji State #  8 –3  9 –3   MSU Moorhead  7 –4  7 –4   Northern State  6 –5  6 –5   St. Cloud State  5 –6  5 –6   Minot State  3 –8  3 –8   Mary  1 –10  1 –10   Minnesota–Crookston  0 –11  0 –11   South No. 8 Sioux Falls $^  11 –0  12 –1   Augustana (SD)  8 –3  8 –3   Minnesota State  8 –3  8 –3   Winona State  8 –3  8 –3   SW Minnesota State  5 –6  5 –6   Upper Iowa  3 –8  3 –8   Wayne State (NE)  3 –8  3 –8   Concordia–St. Paul  2 –9  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 4

2016 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings :
| 2016 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 4 Grand Valley State $^  10 –0  12 –1   No. 5 Ferris State ^  9 –2  12 –3   No. 19 Ashland  7 –2  9 –2   Tiffin  7 –3  8 –3   Ohio Dominican  7 –4  7 –4   Wayne State (MI)  7 –4  7 –4   Findlay  6 –5  6 –5   Saginaw Valley State  5 –5  5 –5   Hillsdale  4 –5  5 –5   Michigan Tech  4 –6  4 –6   Northern Michigan  3 –7  3 –8   Northwood  3 –8  3 –8   Walsh  0 –10  1 –10   Lake Erie  0 –11  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2016 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 22 Southwest Baptist +^  7 –1  10 –2   Truman State +  7 –1  8 –3   McKendree  6 –2  8 –3   Indianapolis  5 –3  6 –5   Missouri S&T  4 –4  5 –6   Quincy  3 –5  5 –6   Saint Joseph's (IN)  3 –5  5 –6   William Jewell  1 –7  1 –9   Lincoln (MO)  0 –8  2 –9   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2016 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 9 Texas A&M–Commerce $^  8 –1  10 –2   No. 24 Midwestern State ^  7 –2  8 –3   Texas A&M–Kingsville #  6 –3  9 –3   Eastern New Mexico #  6 –3  7 –5   West Texas A&M  5 –4  6 –5   Tarleton State  5 –4  5 –6   Angelo State  4 –5  5 –6   Western New Mexico  3 –6  3 –8   Oklahoma Panhandle State  1 –8  2 –9   UT Permian Basin  0 –9  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Texas A&M–Kingsville - Live United Texarkana Bowl, Eastern New Mexico - C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl) Rankings from AFCA poll |
| 2016 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 15 Colorado Mines +^  8 –2  10 –3   Colorado Mesa +^  8 –2  9 –3   CSU Pueblo +  8 –2  8 –3   Western State  7 –3  7 –4   Black Hills State  6 –4  7 –4   Dixie State  6 –4  6 –5   South Dakota Mines  4 –6  5 –6   Fort Lewis  3 –7  4 –7   Chadron State  3 –7  3 –8   Adams State  2 –8  2 –8   New Mexico Highlands  0 –10  0 –11   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2016 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Alderson Broaddus $  2 –0  7 –2   Kentucky Wesleyan  1 –1  3 –8   Malone  0 –2  1 –8   $ – Conference champion |

## Postseason

The 2016 NCAA Division II Football Championship Postseason involved 28 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football.
The tournament began on November 19, 2016 and concluded on December 17, 2016 with the 2016 NCAA Division II National Football Championship game at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

### Format

The top seven teams per super regional made up the field of 28 teams.
Twelve first-round games were conducted on the campus of one of highest seed of that matchup. In addition, one team per super regional earned first-round byes. Second-round winners met in the quarterfinals at the campus site of the highest seed. Quarterfinal winners advanced to play in the semifinals on the campus of the highest seed. The championship took place at Children's Mercy Park.

### Qualifiers

The following teams were qualifiers for the 2016 NCAA Division II Football Tournament.
| Conference | Team | Appearance | Last bid |
| PSAC | California (PA) | 6th | 2011 |
| Mountain East | Fairmont State | 1st | Never |
| PSAC | Indiana (PA) | 17th | 2015 |
| Northeast-10 | LIU | 3rd | 2005 |
| CIAA | Winston-Salem State | 2nd | 2013 |
| Mountain East | Shepherd | 10th | 2015 |
| Northeast-10 | Assumption | 2nd | 2015 |
| MIAA | Northwest Missouri State | 21st | 2015 |
| MIAA | Emporia State | 4th | 2015 |
| NSIC | Minnesota–Duluth | 10th | 2014 |
| NSIC | Sioux Falls | 3rd | 2015 |
| GNAC | Azusa Pacific | 1st | Never |
| Great American | Harding | 2nd | 2014 |
| MIAA | Central Missouri | 3rd | 2010 |
| Gulf South | North Alabama | 21st | 2015 |
| Gulf South | Valdosta State | 15th | 2015 |
| Independent | UNC Pembroke | 3rd | 2013 |
| South Atlantic | Newberry | 4th | 2015 |
| SIAC | Tuskegee | 4th | 2015 |
| Gulf South | Florida Tech | 1st | Never |
| Independent | North Greenville | 2nd | 2011 |
| GLIAC | Grand Valley State | 18th | 2015 |
| Lone Star | Texas A&M–Commerce | 5th | 2015 |
| RMAC | Colorado Mesa | 5th | 2007 |
| GLIAC | Ferris State | 8th | 2015 |
| Lone Star | Midwestern State | 7th | 2015 |
| Great Lakes Valley | Southwest Baptist | 1st | Never |
| RMAC | Colorado Mines | 4th | 2014 |

### Super Regional One

| First round November 19 | First round November 19 | First round November 19 | Regional semifinals November 26 | Regional semifinals November 26 | Regional semifinals November 26 | Regional Final December 3 | Regional Final December 3 | Regional Final December 3 |
| | | | 1 | California (PA) | 44 | | | |
| | | | 5 | IUP | 23 | | | |
| 4 | Fairmont State | 13 | 5 | IUP | 23 | | | |
| 5 | IUP | 62 | | | | | | |
| 5 | IUP | 62 | | | | 1 | California (PA) | 30 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Shepherd | 41 |
| 2 | LIU Post | 48 | | | | | | | 3 | Shepherd | 41 |
| 7 | Winston-Salem State | 41 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Winston-Salem State | 41 | 2 | LIU Post | 21 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Shepherd | 40 | | | |
| 3 | Shepherd | 48 | 3 | Shepherd | 40 | | | |
| 6 | Assumption | 31 | | | | | | |

### Super Regional Two

| First round November 19 | First round November 19 | First round November 19 | Regional semifinals November 26 | Regional semifinals November 26 | Regional semifinals November 26 | Regional Final December 3 | Regional Final December 3 | Regional Final December 3 |
| | | | 1 | North Alabama | 41 | | | |
| | | | 5 | UNC Pembroke | 17 | | | |
| 4 | Valdosta State | 21 | 5 | UNC Pembroke | 17 | | | |
| 5 | UNC Pembroke | 24 | | | | | | |
| 5 | UNC Pembroke | 24 | | | | 1 | North Alabama | 38 |
| | | | | | | 6 | North Greenville | 0 |
| 2 | Newberry | 33 | | | | | | | 6 | North Greenville | 0 |
| 7 | Tuskegee | 35 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Tuskegee | 35 | 7 | Tuskegee | 26 | | | |
| | | | 6 | North Greenville | 45 | | | |
| 3 | Florida Tech | 13 | 6 | North Greenville | 45 | | | |
| 6 | North Greenville | 27 | | | | | | |

### Super Regional Three

| First round November 19 | First round November 19 | First round November 19 | Regional semifinals November 26 | Regional semifinals November 26 | Regional semifinals November 26 | Regional Final December 3 | Regional Final December 3 | Regional Final December 3 |
| | | | 1 | Northwest Missouri State | 44 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Emporia State | 13 | | | |
| 4 | Emporia State | 59 | 4 | Emporia State | 13 | | | |
| 5 | Minnesota–Duluth | 26 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Minnesota–Duluth | 26 | | | | 1 | Northwest Missouri State | 35 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Harding | 0 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls | 34 | | | | | | | 3 | Harding | 0 |
| 7 | Azusa Pacific | 21 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Azusa Pacific | 21 | 2 | Sioux Falls | 24 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Harding | 27† | | | |
| 3 | Harding | 48 | 3 | Harding | 27† | | | |
| 6 | Central Missouri | 31 | | | | | | |

### Super Regional Four

| First round November 19 | First round November 19 | First round November 19 | Regional semifinals November 26 | Regional semifinals November 26 | Regional semifinals November 26 | Regional Final December 3 | Regional Final December 3 | Regional Final December 3 |
| | | | 1 | Grand Valley State | 55 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 32 | | | |
| 4 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 34 | 4 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 32 | | | |
| 5 | Colorado Mesa | 23 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Colorado Mesa | 23 | | | | 1 | Grand Valley State | 32 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Ferris State | 47 |
| 2 | Ferris State | 65 | | | | | | | 2 | Ferris State | 47 |
| 7 | Midwestern State | 34 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Midwestern State | 34 | 2 | Ferris State | 38 | | | |
| | | | 6 | Colorado Mines | 17 | | | |
| 3 | Southwest Baptist | 35 | 6 | Colorado Mines | 17 | | | |
| 6 | Colorado Mines | 63 | | | | | | |
† Overtime

### Final Four

Teams that make it to the Final Four are re-seeded for the semifinal matches. The semifinal matchups are hosted by the team with the highest seed.
| National semifinals December 10 | National semifinals December 10 | National semifinals December 10 | National Championship Game Kansas City, Kansas December 17 | National Championship Game Kansas City, Kansas December 17 | National Championship Game Kansas City, Kansas December 17 |
| 1 | Northwest Missouri State | 35 | | | |
| 4 | Ferris State | 20 | | | |
| 4 | Ferris State | 20 | 1 | Northwest Missouri State | 29 |
| | | | 3 | North Alabama | 3 |
| 2 | Shepherd | 13 | 3 | North Alabama | 3 |
| 3 | North Alabama | 23 | | | |

## Bowl games

| Game | Date | Location | Winning team (record) | Losing team (record) | Score | MVP |
| Mineral Water Bowl | December 3 | Tiger Stadium Excelsior Springs, Missouri | Bemidji State 8–3 (8–3) | Washburn 7–4 (7–4) | 36–23 | Offensive: Jordan Hein (QB, Bemidji State) Defensive: Kameel Al-Khouri (DB, Bemidji State) |
| Live United Bowl | December 3 | Razorback Stadium Texarkana, Arkansas | Texas A&M–Kingsville 8–3 (6–3) | Southern Arkansas 9–2 (9–2) | 24–17 | Devonte Williams (SS, Texas A&M–Kingsville) |
| Heart of Texas Bowl | December 3 | Bulldawg Stadium Copperas Cove, Texas | Fort Hays State 7–4 (7–4) | Eastern New Mexico 7–4 (6–3) | 45–12 | Shaquille Cooper (RB, Fort Hays State) |

## Attendances

2016 NCAA Division II football teams with an average home attendance of at least 10,000:
| Team | Total attendance | Home average |
| Grand Valley St. | 100,388 | 12,549 |
| Tuskegee | 40,518 | 10,130 |