# 2015 NCAA Division II football season

The 2015 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division II level, began on September 4, 2015 and ended with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 19, 2015 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Northwest Missouri State won its second national title in three seasons and fifth overall, defeating Shepherd, 34–7.

## D-II wins over FCS teams

September 19, 2015 - Chowan 31, Delaware State 30
September 26, 2015 - Shorter 26, Southeast Missouri State 21

## Conference changes and new programs

| School | Former conference | New conference |
| McMurry War Hawks | Lone Star | American Southwest (D-III) |
| Oklahoma Baptist Bison | CSFL (NAIA) | Great American |
| Paine Lions | SIAC | Dropped program |
Northwestern Oklahoma State and Virginia–Wise completed their transitions to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.

## Conference standings
### Super Region 1

2015 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings :
| 2015 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Northern Bowie State xy^  7 –0  9 –3   Virginia Union ^  6 –1  8 –2   Chowan  4 –3  6 –4   Virginia State  4 –3  6 –4   Elizabeth City State  2 –5  4 –5   Lincoln (PA)  1 –6  3 –7   Southern Winston-Salem St. xy$  5 –2  6 –5   Livingstone  4 –3  5 –3   Johnson C. Smith  3 –4  4 –6   Fayetteville State  4 –3  4 –6   Shaw  1 –6  1 –9   St. Augustine's  1 –6  1 –9   Championship: Winston–Salem St. 17, Bowie St. 14 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2015 Mountain East Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 2 Shepherd $^  10 –0  13 –1   No. 20 Charleston (WV) ^  9 –1  10 –2   Glenville State  6 –4  7 –4   Fairmont State  6 –4  6 –4   Concord  5 –5  5 –5   Notre Dame (OH)  5 –5  5 –6   West Liberty  5 –5  5 –6   West Virginia State  5 –5  5 –6   West Virginia Wesleyan  2 –8  2 –8   Urbana  1 –9  2 –9   Virginia–Wise  1 –9  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2015 Northeast-10 Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 17 Assumption y$^  8 –1  11 –2   New Haven y  7 –2  7 –4   Merrimack  6 –3  6 –5   LIU Post  5 –4  7 –4   Stonehill  5 –4  7 –4   Bentley  5 –4  5 –6   American International  4 –5  4 –7   Southern Connecticut  3 –6  4 –7   Saint Anselm  2 –7  3 –8   Pace  0 –9  1 –10   Championship: Assumption 17, New Haven 14 $ – Conference championy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll |
| 2015 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East West Chester xy  6 –1  7 –4   Shippensburg  5 –2  8 –3   Bloomsburg  5 –2  7 –4   Kutztown  5 –2  7 –4   East Stroudsburg  4 –3  6 –5   Lock Haven  2 –5  2 –9   Millersville  1 –6  2 –9   Cheyney  0 –7  0 –11   West No. 7 Slippery Rock xy$^  6 –1  11 –1   No. 19 IUP x^  6 –1  9 –2   California (PA)  5 –2  8 –3   Clarion  4 –3  7 –4   Gannon  3 –4  6 –5   Mercyhurst  2 –5  5 –6   Seton Hill  2 –5  3 –8   Edinboro  0 –7  0 –11   Championship: Slippery Rock 61, West Chester 12 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll |

### Super Region 2

2015 Gulf South Conference football standings :
| 2015 Gulf South Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 3 West Georgia +^  6 –1  12 –2   No. 15 North Alabama +^  6 –1  9 –3   No. 14 Valdosta State ^  5 –2  9 –3   Florida Tech  5 –2  7 –4   West Alabama  3 –4  7 –4   Delta State  2 –5  6 –5   Shorter  1 –6  2 –8   Mississippi College #  0 –7  2 –8   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2015 South Atlantic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 25 Catawba $^  6 –1  9 –3   No. 21 Carson–Newman ^  5 –2  9 –3   Mars Hill  5 –2  6 –5   Newberry ^  4 –3  7 –5   Wingate  3 –4  6 –5   Lenoir–Rhyne  3 –4  5 –5   Tusculum  2 –5  4 –7   Brevard  0 –7  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2015 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East Albany State xy  4 –0  6 –4   Fort Valley State  3 –1  5 –4   Morehouse  2 –2  5 –5   Clark Atlanta  1 –3  1 –8   Benedict  0 –4  0 –10   West Miles xy$  5 –0  7 –5   No. 11 Tuskegee ^  4 –1  10 –3   Central State (OH)  2 –3  5 –5   Kentucky State  2 –3  3 –7   Stillman  1 –4  3 –6   Lane  1 –4  3 –7   Championship: Miles 20, Albany State 7 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2015 NCAA Division II Super Region 2 independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  North Greenville   –  7 –3   UNC Pembroke   –  6 –4   Limestone   –  2 –8   Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 3

2015 Great American Conference football standings :
| 2015 Great American Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 12 Henderson St. $^  10 –1  11 –2   SW Oklahoma State #  8 –3  8 –4   Arkansas Tech #  8 –3  9 –3   Harding  7 –4  7 –4   Ouachita Baptist  7 –4  7 –4   Southern Arkansas  7 –4  7 –4   SE Oklahoma State  6 –5  6 –5   East Central  6 –5  6 –5   NW Oklahoma State  3 –8  3 –8   Oklahoma Baptist @  2 –9  2 –9   Arkansas–Monticello  1 –10  1 –10   Southern Nazarene  1 –10  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Arkansas Tech - C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl, SWOSU - Live United Texarkana Bowl @ – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2015 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 16 Humboldt State $^  6 –0  10 –2   Western Oregon  5 –1  7 –4   Azusa Pacific  3 –3  6 –4   Central Washington  3 –3  5 –5   South Dakota Mines  2 –4  6 –5   Dixie State  2 –4  3 –7   Simon Fraser  0 –6  0 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 1 NW Missouri State $^  11 –0  15 –0   No. 8 Emporia State ^  9 –2  11 –3   Central Missouri  8 –3  8 –3   Fort Hays State #  8 –3  8 –4   Central Oklahoma #  6 –5  7 –5   Missouri Western  6 –5  6 –5   Pittsburg State  6 –5  6 –5   Washburn  5 –6  5 –6   Lindenwood  3 –8  3 –8   Northeastern State  3 –8  3 –8   Missouri Southern  1 –10  1 –10   Nebraska–Kearney  0 –11  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Fort Hays State - Mineral Water Bowl, Central Oklahoma - Live United Texarkana Bowl) Rankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2015 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  North Minnesota–Duluth #  8 –3  9 –3   Bemidji State  7 –4  7 –4   Northern State  6 –5  6 –5   St. Cloud State  6 –5  6 –5   MSU Moorhead  6 –5  6 –5   Minot State  1 –10  1 –10   Mary  1 –10  1 –10   Minnesota–Crookston  1 –10  1 –10   South No. 13 Minnesota State $^  10 –1  10 –2   No. 24 Augustana (SD) ^  9 –2  9 –3   No. 22 Sioux Falls ^  9 –2  9 –3   SW Minnesota State  8 –3  8 –3   Upper Iowa  6 –5  6 –5   Winona State  5 –6  5 –6   Wayne State (NE)  4 –7  4 –7   Concordia–St. Paul  1 –10  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 4

2015 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings :
| 2015 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 6 Ferris State +^  10 –0  11 –1   No. 10 Ashland +^  10 –0  10 –1   No. 4 Grand Valley State ^  8 –2  12 –3   Ohio Dominican  7 –3  8 –3   Michigan Tech  7 –3  7 –3   Findlay  5 –5  6 –5   Wayne State (MI)  5 –5  6 –5   Hillsdale  5 –5  5 –6   Northwood  5 –5  5 –6   Northern Michigan  4 –6  5 –6   Tiffin  4 –6  5 –6   Walsh  2 –8  2 –8   Lake Erie  2 –8  2 –9   Saginaw Valley State  1 –9  1 –10   Malone  0 –10  0 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2015 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 18 Indianapolis $^  8 –0  10 –2   McKendree  6 –2  8 –2   Missouri S&T  5 –3  5 –5   Truman State  4 –4  5 –6   William Jewell  4 –4  4 –7   Saint Joseph's (IN)  3 –5  4 –6   Southwest Baptist  3 –5  4 –6   Quincy  3 –5  3 –7   Lincoln (MO)  0 –8  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2015 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 23 Texas A&M–Commerce $^  6 –0  8 –4   No. 9 Midwestern State ^  5 –1  10 –2   Angelo State  3 –3  7 –4   West Texas A&M  3 –3  6 –4   Eastern New Mexico #  3 –3  6 –6   Tarleton State  1 –5  3 –7   Texas A&M–Kingsville  0 –6  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA poll |
| 2015 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 5 CSU Pueblo $^  9 –0  12 –2   Colorado Mesa  8 –1  9 –2   Colorado Mines  6 –3  8 –3   Fort Lewis  6 –3  7 –4   Chadron State  4 –5  5 –6   Western State  4 –5  4 –7   Western New Mexico  3 –6  4 –7   Adams State  3 –6  3 –8   New Mexico Highlands  2 –7  2 –9   Black Hills State  0 –9  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2015 NCAA Division II Super Region 4 independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Alderson Broaddus   –  7 –4   OK Panhandle State   –  5 –5   Kentucky Wesleyan   –  5 –6   Rankings from AFCA Poll |

## Postseason

The 2015 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. Miles College, the SIAC champion, was not eligible to postseason due to its participation to the 2015 Turkey Day Classic against Alabama State (FCS).

### Playoff bracket

| First round November 21, 2015 | First round November 21, 2015 | First round November 21, 2015 | Second round November 28, 2015 | Second round November 28, 2015 | Second round November 28, 2015 | Quarterfinals December 5, 2015 | Quarterfinals December 5, 2015 | Quarterfinals December 5, 2015 | | Semifinals December 12, 2015 | Semifinals December 12, 2015 | Semifinals December 12, 2015 | Championship December 19, 2015 | Championship December 19, 2015 | Championship December 19, 2015 |
| | | | 1 | Shepherd* | 17 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | IUP | 13 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Charleston (WV)* | 21 | 5 | IUP | 13 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | IUP | 47 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | IUP | 47 | | | | 1 | Shepherd* | 28 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Slippery Rock | 16 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Slippery Rock* | 40 | | | | | | | 2 | Slippery Rock | 16 | | | | |
| 7 | Virginia Union | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Virginia Union | 21 | 2 | Slippery Rock* | 41 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Assumption | 39 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Assumption* | 51 | 3 | Assumption | 39 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Bowie State | 29 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Bowie State | 29 | | | | | | | | 1 | Shepherd* | 34 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Grand Valley State | 32 | | | |
| | | | 1 | Midwestern State* | 17 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | CSU Pueblo | 26 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | CSU Pueblo* | 27 | 4 | CSU Pueblo | 26 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Indianapolis | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Indianapolis | 14 | | | | 4 | CSU Pueblo* | 7 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 6 | Grand Valley State | 31 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Ferris State* | 48 | | | | | | | 6 | Grand Valley State | 31 | | | | |
| 7 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 30 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 30 | 2 | Ferris State* | 34 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Grand Valley State | 38 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Ashland* | 28 | 6 | Grand Valley State | 38 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Grand Valley State | 45 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Grand Valley State | 45 | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Shepherd | 7 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | NW Missouri State | 34 |
| | | | 1 | West Georgia* | 27 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Valdosta State | 20 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Valdosta State* | 61 | 4 | Valdosta State | 20 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Carson–Newman | 59 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Carson–Newman | 59 | | | | 1 | West Georgia* | 35 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 6 | Tuskegee | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | North Alabama* | 50 | | | | | | | 6 | Tuskegee | 6 | | | | |
| 7 | Newberry | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Newberry | 7 | 2 | North Alabama* | 31 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Tuskegee | 35 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Catawba* | 16 | 6 | Tuskegee | 35 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Tuskegee | 26 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Tuskegee | 26 | | | | | | | | 1 | West Georgia | 23 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 1 | NW Missouri State* | 38 | | | |
| | | | 1 | NW Missouri State* | 54 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Humboldt State | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Humboldt State* | 45 | 4 | Humboldt State | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Augustana (SD) | 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Augustana (SD) | 31 | | | | 1 | NW Missouri State* | 38 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 7 | Emporia State | 17 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Minnesota State* | 49 | | | | | | | 7 | Emporia State | 17 | | | | |
| 7 | Emporia State | 51 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Emporia State | 51 | 7 | Emporia State | 29 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Henderson State* | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Henderson State* | 23 | 3 | Henderson State* | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Sioux Falls | 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* Home team † Overtime Winner