# 2017 NCAA Division II football season

The 2017 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 August 31, 2017 and ended with the Division II championship on December 16, 2017 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Northwest Missouri State were the defending champions from the previous season. Texas A&M–Commerce won the school's first Division II National Championship and second overall, defeating West Florida, 37–27.
Coverage of the Division 2 Playoffs was on ESPN's streaming service, ESPN 3, up until the championship, which was broadcast on ESPN 2.

## D-II wins over FCS teams

September 2, 2017 - Virginia State 14, Norfolk State 10
September 2, 2017 - Tuskegee 14, Alabama State 6
September 9, 2017 - Catawba 27, VMI 20
October 14, 2017 - Central State 40, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 35
October 14, 2017 - Tuskegee 33, Jackson State 7

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

| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Brevard Tornadoes | South Atlantic | Independent (D-III) |
| Davenport Panthers | Independent (NAIA) | GLIAC |
| Findlay Oilers | GLIAC | G-MAC |
| Hillsdale Chargers | GLIAC | G-MAC |
| Lake Erie Storm | GLIAC | G-MAC |
| Limestone Saints | Independent | South Atlantic |
| Ohio Dominican Panthers | GLIAC | G-MAC |
| Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies | Lone Star | CSFL (NAIA) |
| Saint Joseph's Pumas | GLVC | School closed |
| Walsh Cavaliers | GLIAC | G-MAC |
Oklahoma Baptist completed their transition to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.

### Regional realignment

The GNAC and NSIC moved from Super Region 3 to Super Region 4, while the GLIAC and GLVC moved in the opposite direction. The newly-expanded G-MAC joined Super Region 1, replacing the CIAA, which moved to Super Region 2.

## Conference standings
### Super Region 1

2017 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings :
| 2017 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Ohio Dominican $  7 –0  7 –3   No. 22 Findlay ^  6 –1  10 –3   Hillsdale  5 –2  7 –4   Walsh  4 –3  4 –7   Alderson Broaddus  2 –5  3 –8   Lake Erie  2 –5  2 –8   Kentucky Wesleyan  1 –6  2 –8   Malone  1 –6  1 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2017 Mountain East Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 14 Shepherd $^  10 –0  10 –1   Notre Dame (OH)  8 –2  8 –3   Fairmont State  8 –2  8 –3   West Virginia State  5 –5  6 –5   West Virginia Wesleyan  5 –5  5 –6   Virginia–Wise  4 –6  5 –6   Urbana  4 –6  5 –6   Charleston (WV)  4 –6  4 –6   Glenville State  3 –7  4 –7   West Liberty  3 –7  3 –8   Concord  1 –9  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2017 Northeast-10 Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 9 Assumption $^  8 –1  11 –2   LIU Post  7 –2  8 –2   Bentley  6 –3  6 –4   New Haven  5 –4  6 –4   Stonehill  5 –4  6 –4   Southern Connecticut  5 –4  5 –5   Merrimack  4 –5  4 –6   Pace  2 –7  3 –7   American International  2 –7  2 –8   Saint Anselm  1 –8  1 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll |
| 2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East No. 25 Shippensburg x^  6 –1  10 –2   West Chester xy^  6 –1  9 –4   Kutztown  5 –2  8 –3   Bloomsburg  4 –3  7 –4   Millersville  3 –4  4 –7   East Stroudsburg  2 –5  3 –8   Lock Haven  2 –5  2 –9   Cheyney  0 –7  1 –10   West No. 3 IUP xy$^  7 –0  13 –1   California (PA) ^  5 –2  9 –3   Slippery Rock  5 –2  8 –3   Edinboro  4 –3  7 –4   Gannon  3 –4  5 –6   Mercyhurst  3 –4  5 –6   Clarion  1 –6  1 –10   Seton Hill  0 –7  0 –11   Championship: IUP 24, West Chester 7 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll |

### Super Region 2

2017 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings :
| 2017 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Northern No. 18 Virginia State xy$^  7 –0  10 –1   No. 23 Bowie State ^  6 –1  9 –2   Virginia Union  5 –2  6 –4   Chowan  4 –3  4 –6   Elizabeth City State  2 –5  4 –6   Lincoln (PA)  0 –7  0 –10   Southern Fayetteville State xy  5 –2  6 –5   St. Augustine's x  5 –2  5 –5   Winston-Salem State  4 –3  6 –4   Shaw  2 –5  3 –7   Johnson C. Smith  2 –5  2 –8   Livingstone  0 –7  0 –10   Championship: Virginia St. 42, Fayetteville St. 19 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2017 Gulf South Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 12 West Alabama $^  7 –1  10 –3   No. 2 West Florida ^  5 –3  11 –4   No. 21 Delta State ^  5 –3  9 –4   No. 19 West Georgia ^  5 –3  9 –4   Valdosta State  5 –3  5 –4   North Alabama  5 –3  5 –5   Florida Tech  3 –5  5 –6   Mississippi College  1 –7  1 –9   Shorter  0 –8  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2017 South Atlantic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 24 Wingate $^  6 –1  9 –2   Catawba  5 –2  9 –2   Carson–Newman  5 –2  8 –3   Tusculum  3 –4  5 –5   Newberry  3 –4  5 –6   Limestone  3 –4  4 –6   Lenoir–Rhyne  2 –5  3 –7   Mars Hill  1 –6  3 –7   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2017 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East Benedict x  5 –1  7 –2   Fort Valley State xy  5 –1  5 –5   Albany State  4 –2  6 –4   Morehouse  2 –4  4 –6   Clark Atlanta  2 –4  4 –6   West Tuskegee xy$  6 –0  9 –2   Miles  4 –2  6 –4   Kentucky State  2 –4  3 –8   Lane  1 –5  2 –8   Central State (OH)  0 –6  1 –9   Championship: Tuskegee 13, Fort Valley State 6 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2017 NCAA Division II independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  North Greenville   –  4 –6   UNC Pembroke   –  2 –8 |

### Super Region 3

2017 Great American Conference football standings :
| 2017 Great American Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Ouachita Baptist $^  9 –2  9 –3   No. 6 Harding ^  8 –3  11 –4   Arkansas Tech #  8 –3  8 –4   Southern Arkansas  7 –4  7 –4   SE Oklahoma State  7 –4  7 –4   Henderson State  6 –5  6 –5   Arkansas–Monticello  5 –6  5 –6   NW Oklahoma State  5 –6  5 –6   Southern Nazarene  4 –7  4 –7   SW Oklahoma State  3 –8  3 –8   East Central  2 –9  2 –9   Oklahoma Baptist  2 –9  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Live United Texarkana Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2017 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 10 Ashland $^  9 –0  11 –2   No. 5 Ferris State ^  8 –1  11 –2   Grand Valley State  7 –2  8 –3   Tiffin  5 –4  6 –5   Northwood  5 –4  7 –4   Wayne State (MI)  4 –5  5 –6   Michigan Tech  3 –6  4 –7   Saginaw Valley State  3 –6  5 –6   Northern Michigan  1 –8  1 –9   Davenport *  0 –9  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant * – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA poll | 2017 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 13 Indianapolis $^  7 –0  11 –1   McKendree  5 –2  7 –4   Missouri S&T  5 –2  7 –4   Southwest Baptist  4 –3  5 –5   Truman State  4 –3  5 –6   William Jewell  2 –5  2 –9   Quincy  1 –6  3 –8   Lincoln (MO)  0 –7  1 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2017 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 8 Fort Hays State $^  11 –0  11 –1   No. 16 NW Missouri State ^  9 –2  9 –3   Central Missouri #  8 –3  9 –3   Central Oklahoma #  7 –4  8 –4   Pittsburg State #  7 –4  8 –4   Washburn #  6 –5  7 –5   Emporia State  6 –5  6 –5   Lindenwood  4 –7  4 –7   Missouri Western  4 –7  4 –7   Nebraska–Kearney  3 –8  3 –8   Northeastern State  1 –10  1 –10   Missouri Southern  0 –11  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Central Missouri - Mineral Water Bowl, Central Oklahoma - Heritage Bowl, Pittsburg State - Live United Texarkana Bowl, Washburn - C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl) Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 4

2017 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings :
| 2017 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 7 Central Washington $^  8 –0  11 –1   Humboldt State  6 –2  8 –2   Azusa Pacific  4 –4  7 –4   Western Oregon  2 –6  3 –8   Simon Fraser  0 –8  0 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2017 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 11 Midwestern State $^  8 –0  10 –1   No. 1 Texas A&M–Commerce ^  7 –1  14 –1   Eastern New Mexico  6 –2  8 –2   Tarleton State #  4 –4  6 –6   Angelo State #  4 –4  6 –5   Western New Mexico  3 –5  4 –7   Texas A&M–Kingsville  2 –6  4 –7   West Texas A&M  1 –7  3 –8   UT Permian Basin  1 –7  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Tarleton State - Heritage Bowl, Angelo State - C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl) Rankings from AFCA poll | 2017 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  North Minnesota–Duluth #  9 –2  9 –3   Bemidji State  8 –3  8 –3   Northern State  6 –5  6 –5   St. Cloud State  6 –5  6 –5   MSU Moorhead  5 –6  5 –6   Minot State  3 –8  3 –8   Mary  1 –10  1 –10   Minnesota–Crookston  0 –11  0 –11   South No. 4 Minnesota State $^  11 –0  13 –1   No. 15 Winona State ^  10 –1  10 –2   No. 20 Sioux Falls ^  9 –2  9 –3   Upper Iowa  6 –5  6 –5   Wayne State (NE)  6 –5  6 –5   Augustana (SD)  4 –7  4 –7   Concordia–St. Paul  2 –9  2 –9   SW Minnesota State  2 –9  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2017 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Colorado Mesa +  9 –1  9 –2   No. 17 CSU Pueblo +^  9 –1  9 –3   Colorado Mines  7 –3  7 –4   Chadron State  6 –4  6 –5   Dixie State  5 –5  5 –6   Fort Lewis  5 –5  5 –6   South Dakota Mines  4 –6  5 –6   Black Hills State  4 –6  4 –6   Adams State  4 –6  4 –7   New Mexico Highlands  1 –9  2 –9   Western Colorado  1 –9  1 –10   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |

## Postseason

The 2017 NCAA Division II Football Championship was the 45th edition of the Division II playoffs. The playoffs began on November 18 and concluded with the championship game on December 16.
The field consisted of 28 teams, seven from each of the four super regions. The participants in each region were determined by the regional rankings; if a conference's highest-ranked team was ranked in the top eight, that team qualified via the "earned access" provision, and all other participants were selected directly from the rankings. The top seed in each region received a first-round bye. After the quarterfinals, the regional winners were reseeded one through four, with No. 1 meeting No. 4 in the semifinals and No. 2 meeting No. 3.

### Bracket

| First round November 18 | First round November 18 | First round November 18 | | | Second round November 25 | Second round November 25 | Second round November 25 | Quarterfinals December 2 | Quarterfinals December 2 | Quarterfinals December 2 | | Semifinals December 9 | Semifinals December 9 | Semifinals December 9 | Championship Kansas City, KS December 16 | Championship Kansas City, KS December 16 | Championship Kansas City, KS December 16 |
| | | | | | 1 | IUP* | 44 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | West Chester | 10 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Shippensburg* | 6 | | | 5 | West Chester | 10 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | West Chester | 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | West Chester | 27 | | | | | | 1 | IUP | 27 | | | | | | | |
| Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | 1 | IUP | 27 | | | | | | | |
| Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | 3 | Assumption | 22 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Shepherd* | 17 | | | | | | | | | 3 | Assumption | 22 | | | | |
| 7 | Findlay | 29 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Findlay | 29 | | | 7 | Findlay | 26 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Assumption* | 45 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Assumption* | 40 | | | 3 | Assumption* | 45 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | California (PA) | 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | California (PA) | 31 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | IUP* | 17 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | West Florida | 27 | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | West Alabama* | 27 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Delta State | 20 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Bowie State* | 35 | | | 5 | Delta State | 20 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Delta State | 45 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Delta State | 45 | | | | | | 1 | West Alabama* | 21 | | | | | | | |
| Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | 1 | West Alabama* | 21 | | | | | | | |
| Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | 6 | West Florida | 28 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Virginia State* | 9 | | | | | | | | | 6 | West Florida | 28 | | | | |
| 7 | West Georgia | 35 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | West Georgia | 35 | | | 7 | West Georgia* | 14 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | West Florida | 17 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Wingate* | 0 | | | 6 | West Florida | 17 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | West Florida | 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | West Florida | 31 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | West Florida | 27 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 37 |
| | | | | | 1 | Fort Hays State* | 21 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Ferris State | 31 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Ferris State* | 24 | | | 4 | Ferris State | 31 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Ouachita Baptist | 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Ouachita Baptist | 19 | | | | | | 4 | Ferris State | 14 | | | | | | | |
| Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | 4 | Ferris State | 14 | | | | | | | |
| Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | 7 | Harding | 16 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Indianapolis* | 24 | | | | | | | | | 7 | Harding | 16 | | | | |
| 7 | Harding | 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Harding | 27 | | | 7 | Harding | 34 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Ashland* | 24 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Ashland* | 21 | | | 3 | Ashland* | 24 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | NW Missouri State | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | NW Missouri State | 18 | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Harding | 17 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Texas A&M–Commerce* | 31 | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | Central Washington* | 31 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 34$^†$ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Winona State* | 6 | | | 5 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 34$^†$ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 20 | | | | | | 5 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 31 | | | | | | | |
| Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | 5 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 31 | | | | | | | |
| Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | 2 | Minnesota State* | 21 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Minnesota State* | 16$^†$ | | | | | | | | | 2 | Minnesota State* | 21 | | | | |
| 7 | CSU Pueblo | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | CSU Pueblo | 13 | | | 2 | Minnesota State* | 63 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Midwestern State | 21 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Midwestern State* | 24 | | | 3 | Midwestern State | 21 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Sioux Falls | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Bowl games

| Date | Game | Site | Teams | Affiliations | Results |
| Dec 2 | Corsicana Bowl | Tiger Stadium Corsicana, Texas | Central Oklahoma Bronchos (7–4) Tarleton State Texans (6–5) | MIAA Lone Star | Central Oklahoma 38 Tarleton State 31 |
| Dec 2 | C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl | Bulldawg Stadium Copperas Cove, Texas | Washburn Ichabods (6–5) Angelo State Rams (6–5) | MIAA Lone Star | Washburn 41 Angelo State 25 |
| Dec 2 | Live United Texarkana Bowl | Razorback Stadium Texarkana, Arkansas | Pittsburg State Gorillas (7–4) Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (8–3) | MIAA GAC | Pittsburg State 41 Arkansas Tech 31 |
| Dec 2 | Mineral Water Bowl | Tiger Stadium Excelsior Springs, Missouri | Central Missouri Mules (8–3) Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs (9–2) | MIAA NSIC | Central Missouri 38 Minnesota–Duluth 28 |