# 2018 NCAA Division II football season

The 2018 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 30, 2018, and ended with the Division II championship on December 15, 2018, at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas, hosted by the Lone Star Conference. The game was originally scheduled for Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, on the last year of a five-year contract, but that contract was terminated in September 2018 to allow off-season renovation of the field for its primary tenant, professional soccer club Sporting KC.
Valdosta State beat Ferris State, 49-47, for the championship.

## Headlines

* October 3 – Long Island University announced that it would merge its two current athletic programs—the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds, full but non-football members of the Division I FCS Northeast Conference (NEC), and LIU Post Pioneers, full members of the Division II non-football East Coast Conference and football members of the Northeast-10 Conference—effective with the 2019–20 school year. The new program will compete under the LIU name with a new nickname, inheriting the Division I and NEC memberships of LIU Brooklyn. Following the athletic merger, the former Post football team will become the LIU football team, competing in the NEC as an FCS member.

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

| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Cheyney Wolves | PSAC | Dropped program |
| North Alabama Lions | Gulf South | Independent (FCS) |
| North Greenville Crusaders | Independent | Gulf South |
| Tiffin Dragons | GLIAC | G-MAC |

## Division II team wins over FCS teams

* September 1:
** Morehouse 34, Arkansas–Pine Bluff 30
* September 22:
** Truman State 34, Valparaiso 20

## Conference standings
### Super Region 1

2018 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings :
| 2018 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 15 Hillsdale $^  8 –0  10 –3   Ohio Dominican  6 –2  9 –2   Tiffin  6 –2  9 –2   Findlay  6 –2  8 –3   Walsh  4 –4  4 –6   Alderson Broaddus  3 –5  4 –7   Kentucky Wesleyan  2 –6  3 –7   Malone  1 –7  2 –8   Lake Erie  0 –8  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2018 Mountain East Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 4 Notre Dame (OH) $^  10 –0  13 –1   Fairmont State  8 –2  9 –2   Shepherd  7 –3  7 –3   Charleston (WV)  6 –4  6 –5   West Virginia State  5 –5  6 –5   Glenville State  5 –5  5 –6   Urbana  4 –6  5 –6   Virginia–Wise  4 –6  4 –6   West Liberty  3 –7  3 –8   Concord  2 –8  2 –9   West Virginia Wesleyan  1 –9  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2018 Northeast-10 Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 21 LIU Post $^  9 –0  10 –1   No. 23 New Haven ^  8 –1  9 –3   Pace  6 –3  7 –3   Assumption  6 –3  6 –4   Merrimack  5 –4  5 –5   Bentley  4 –5  4 –6   Southern Connecticut  3 –6  4 –6   Stonehill  2 –7  2 –8   American International  1 –8  1 –8   Saint Anselm  1 –8  1 –8   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll |
| 2018 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East No. 17 West Chester xy$^  6 –0  10 –1   Kutztown ^  5 –1  9 –2   Bloomsburg  4 –2  6 –5   Shippensburg  3 –3  6 –5   Millersville  2 –4  2 –9   Lock Haven  1 –5  2 –9   East Stroudsburg  0 –6  2 –9   West No. 12 Slippery Rock xy^  7 –0  11 –3   IUP  5 –2  8 –3   California (PA)  5 –2  7 –4   Edinboro  3 –4  6 –5   Mercyhurst  3 –4  5 –6   Clarion  2 –5  4 –7   Gannon  2 –5  2 –9   Seton Hill  1 –6  1 –10   Championship: West Chester 33, Slippery Rock 10 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll |

### Super Region 2

2018 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings :
| 2018 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Northern No. 19 Bowie State xy$^  5 –1  10 –3   Virginia Union x  5 –1  8 –2   Chowan  4 –2  6 –4   Virginia State  3 –3  4 –5   Lincoln (PA)  1 –5  1 –9   Elizabeth City State  0 –6  1 –7   Southern Fayetteville State xy  5 –1  6 –3   Shaw  4 –2  5 –5   Winston-Salem State  4 –2  5 –4   Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls football  2 –4  3 –8   St. Augustine's  2 –4  2 –7   Livingstone  1 –5  3 –6   Championship: Bowie State 30, Fayetteville State 10 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2018 Gulf South Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 1 Valdosta State $^  8 –0  14 –0   No. 16 West Georgia ^  7 –1  10 –2   Florida Tech ^  5 –3  8 –4   West Alabama ^  5 –3  8 –4   West Florida  4 –4  6 –5   North Greenville  3 –4  4 –6   Delta State  2 –6  2 –8   Mississippi College  1 –6  3 –7   Shorter  0 –8  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2018 South Atlantic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 8 Lenoir–Rhyne $^  7 –0  12 –2   No. 24 Wingate ^  5 –2  9 –4   Carson–Newman  4 –3  7 –4   Tusculum  4 –3  5 –5   Newberry  3 –4  5 –6   Mars Hill  3 –4  4 –6   Catawba  2 –5  4 –7   Limestone  0 –7  0 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2018 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East Albany State xy  6 –0  7 –4   Benedict  4 –2  6 –3   Morehouse  3 –3  7 –3   Clark Atlanta  2 –4  3 –7   Fort Valley State  2 –4  2 –8   West Miles xy$  4 –2  5 –6   Central State (OH)  3 –3  5 –5   Tuskegee  3 –3  5 –5   Lane  2 –4  3 –6   Kentucky State  0 –6  0 –10   Championship: Miles 50, Albany State 23 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2018 NCAA Division II independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  UNC Pembroke   –  2 –8   Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 3

2018 Great American Conference football standings :
| 2018 Great American Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 6 Ouachita Baptist $^  11 –0  12 –1   No. 20 Harding ^  9 –2  9 –3   Southern Arkansas #  8 –3  8 –4   SE Oklahoma State  6 –5  6 –5   Arkansas–Monticello #  6 –5  6 –6   Henderson State  5 –6  5 –6   Oklahoma Baptist  5 –6  5 –6   NW Oklahoma State  4 –7  4 –7   Arkansas Tech  3 –8  3 –8   East Central  3 –8  3 –8   Southern Nazarene  3 –8  3 –8   SW Oklahoma State  3 –8  3 –8   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Arkansas-Monticello - Heritage Bowl, Southern Arkansas - Live United Texarkana Bowl) Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2018 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 2 Ferris State $^  8 –0  15 –1   No. 14 Grand Valley State ^  7 –1  10 –2   Ashland  6 –2  6 –4   Saginaw Valley State  5 –3  8 –3   Davenport *  3 –5  6 –5   Northwood  3 –5  3 –7   Michigan Tech  2 –6  4 –6   Northern Michigan  1 –7  3 –8   Wayne State (MI)  1 –7  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant * – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA poll | 2018 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 11 Indianapolis $^  7 –0  10 –2   Missouri S&T #  6 –1  10 –2   Truman State  5 –2  6 –5   McKendree  4 –3  6 –5   Quincy  3 –4  4 –7   Lincoln (MO)  2 –5  3 –8   William Jewell  1 –6  1 –9   Southwest Baptist  0 –7  0 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2018 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 10 NW Missouri State +^  9 –2  10 –3   No. 22 Fort Hays State +^  9 –2  9 –3   Pittsburg State  8 –3  8 –3   Central Oklahoma #  7 –4  8 –4   Emporia State #  7 –4  8 –4   Missouri Western #  6 –5  7 –5   Central Missouri  5 –6  5 –6   Nebraska–Kearney  5 –6  5 –6   Washburn  5 –6  5 –6   Lindenwood  4 –7  4 –7   Missouri Southern  1 –10  1 –10   Northeastern State  0 –11  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Emporia State - Heritage Bowl, Missouri Western - Live United Texarkana Bowl, Central Oklahoma - C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl) Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 4

2018 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings :
| 2018 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Azusa Pacific +^  7 –1  8 –4   Central Washington +  7 –1  8 –3   Western Oregon  4 –4  5 –6   Humboldt State  2 –6  2 –8   Simon Fraser  0 –8  1 –9   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2018 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 5 Tarleton State $^  8 –0  12 –1   No. 9 Texas A&M–Commerce ^  7 –1  10 –3   No. 25 Midwestern State  6 –2  8 –2   Angelo State #  4 –4  6 –6   West Texas A&M  4 –4  6 –5   Eastern New Mexico  4 –4  5 –6   Texas A&M–Kingsville  2 –6  4 –7   UT Permian Basin  1 –7  2 –9   Western New Mexico  0 –8  0 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA poll | 2018 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  North No. 13 Minnesota–Duluth +^  11 –0  11 –1   MSU Moorhead #  8 –3  8 –4   Bemidji State  7 –4  7 –4   St. Cloud State  7 –4  7 –4   Northern State  4 –7  4 –7   Minnesota–Crookston  1 –10  1 –10   Minot State  1 –10  1 –10   Mary  1 –10  1 –10   South No. 3 Minnesota State +^  11 –0  13 –1   Winona State  8 –3  8 –3   Sioux Falls  7 –4  7 –4   Augustana (SD)  7 –4  7 –4   Concordia–St. Paul  5 –6  5 –6   SW Minnesota State  4 –7  4 –7   Wayne State (NE)  3 –8  3 –8   Upper Iowa  3 –8  3 –8   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2018 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 7 CSU Pueblo +^  9 –1  11 –2   No. 18 Colorado Mines +^  9 –1  10 –2   Chadron State  7 –3  7 –3   Dixie State  7 –3  7 –4   Colorado Mesa  6 –4  7 –4   South Dakota Mines  4 –6  5 –6   Adams State  4 –6  4 –7   New Mexico Highlands  4 –6  4 –7   Black Hills State  2 –8  3 –8   Western Colorado  2 –8  2 –9   Fort Lewis  1 –9  1 –9   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |

## Postseason

The 2018 NCAA Division II Football Championship was the 46th edition of the Division II playoffs. The playoffs began on November 17 and concluded with the championship game on December 15.
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 nine, 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.

### Participating teams

| School | Conference | Regular Season Record | Region | Seed |
| Azusa Pacific | Great Northwest Athletic Conference | 8–3 | 4 | 7 |
| Bowie State | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | 9–2 | 2 | 4 |
| Colorado Mines | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | 10–1 | 4 | 4 |
| CSU Pueblo | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | 10–1 | 4 | 5 |
| Ferris State | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 11–0 | 3 | 2 |
| Florida Tech | Gulf South Conference | 8–3 | 2 | 6 |
| Fort Hays State | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | 9–2 | 3 | 5 |
| Grand Valley State | Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 10–1 | 3 | 3 |
| Harding | Great American Conference | 9–2 | 3 | 7 |
| Hillsdale | Great Midwest Athletic Conference | 9–2 | 1 | 5 |
| Indianapolis | Great Lakes Valley Conference | 9–1 | 3 | 4 |
| Kutztown | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | 9–1 | 1 | 4 |
| Lenoir–Rhyne | South Atlantic Conference | 10–1 | 2 | 3 |
| LIU Post | Northeast-10 Conference | 10–0 | 1 | 2 |
| Minnesota State | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 11–0 | 4 | 1 |
| Minnesota–Duluth | Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 11–0 | 4 | 3 |
| New Haven | Northeast-10 Conference | 8–2 | 1 | 6 |
| Northwest Missouri State | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | 9–2 | 3 | 6 |
| Notre Dame (OH) | Mountain East Conference | 11–0 | 1 | 1 |
| Ouachita Baptist | Great American Conference | 11–0 | 3 | 1 |
| Slippery Rock | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | 9–2 | 1 | 7 |
| Tarleton State | Lone Star Conference | 10–0 | 4 | 2 |
| Texas A&M–Commerce | Lone Star Conference | 9–2 | 4 | 6 |
| Valdosta State | Gulf South Conference | 10–0 | 2 | 1 |
| West Alabama | Gulf South Conference | 8–3 | 2 | 5 |
| West Chester | Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | 10–0 | 1 | 3 |
| West Georgia | Gulf South Conference | 10–1 | 2 | 2 |
| Wingate | South Atlantic Conference | 8–3 | 2 | 7 |

### Bids by conference

| Conference | Total | Schools | Super Region |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | 1 | Bowie State | 2 |
| Great American Conference | 2 | Harding Ouachita Baptist | 3 |
| Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | 2 | Ferris State Grand Valley State | 3 |
| Great Lakes Valley Conference | 1 | Indianapolis | 3 |
| Great Midwest Athletic Conference | 1 | Hillsdale | 1 |
| Great Northwest Athletic Conference | 1 | Azusa Pacific | 4 |
| Gulf South Conference | 4 | Florida Tech Valdosta State West Alabama West Georgia | 2 |
| Lone Star Conference | 2 | Tarleton State Texas A&M–Commerce | 4 |
| Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | 2 | Fort Hays State Northwest Missouri State | 3 |
| Mountain East Conference | 1 | Notre Dame (OH) | 1 |
| Northeast-10 Conference | 2 | LIU Post New Haven | 1 |
| Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference | 2 | Minnesota State Minnesota–Duluth | 4 |
| Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference | 3 | Kutztown Slippery Rock West Chester | 1 |
| Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference | 2 | Colorado Mines CSU Pueblo | 4 |
| South Atlantic Conference | 2 | Lenoir–Rhyne Wingate | 2 |

### Bracket

| First round November 17 | First round November 17 | First round November 17 | | | Second round November 24 | Second round November 24 | Second round November 24 | Quarterfinals December 1 | Quarterfinals December 1 | Quarterfinals December 1 | | Semifinals December 8 | Semifinals December 8 | Semifinals December 8 | Championship McKinney, TX December 15 | Championship McKinney, TX December 15 | Championship McKinney, TX December 15 |
| | | | | | 1 | Notre Dame (OH)* | 19 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Hillsdale | 14 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Kutztown* | 26 | | | 5 | Hillsdale | 14 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Hillsdale | 40 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Hillsdale | 40 | | | | | | 1 | Notre Dame (OH)* | 21 | | | | | | | |
| 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 | Notre Dame (OH)* | 21 | | | | | | | |
| Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | 7 | Slippery Rock | 17 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | LIU Post* | 14 | | | | | | | | | 7 | Slippery Rock | 17 | | | | |
| 7 | Slippery Rock | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Slippery Rock | 20 | | | 7 | Slippery Rock | 59 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | New Haven* | 20 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | West Chester* | 28 | | | 6 | New Haven* | 20 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | New Haven | 35 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | New Haven | 35 | | | | | | | | | | 4 | Notre Dame (OH) | 24 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Valdosta State* | 30 | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | Valdosta State* | 66 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Bowie State | 16 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Bowie State* | 41 | | | 4 | Bowie State | 16 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | West Alabama | 35 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | West Alabama | 35 | | | | | | 1 | Valdosta State* | 61 | | | | | | | |
| 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 | Valdosta State* | 61 | | | | | | | |
| Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | 3 | Lenoir–Rhyne | 21 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | West Georgia* | 21 | | | | | | | | | 3 | Lenoir–Rhyne | 21 | | | | |
| 7 | Wingate | 41 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Wingate | 41 | | | 7 | Wingate | 17 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Lenoir–Rhyne* | 21 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Lenoir–Rhyne* | 43 | | | 3 | Lenoir–Rhyne* | 21 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Florida Tech | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Florida Tech | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Valdosta State | 49 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Ferris State | 47 |
| | | | | | 1 | Ouachita Baptist* | 35 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Indianapolis | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Indianapolis* | 38 | | | 4 | Indianapolis | 7 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Fort Hays State | 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Fort Hays State | 27 | | | | | | 1 | Ouachita Baptist* | 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 | 1 | Ouachita Baptist* | 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 | 2 | Ferris State | 37 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Ferris State* | 21 | | | | | | | | | 2 | Ferris State | 37 | | | | |
| 7 | Harding | 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Harding | 19 | | | 2 | Ferris State* | 27 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | NW Missouri State | 21 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Grand Valley State* | 17 | | | 6 | NW Missouri State | 21 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | NW Missouri State | 42 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | NW Missouri State | 42 | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Ferris State | 42 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Minnesota State* | 25 | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | Minnesota State* | 24 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | CSU Pueblo | 10 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Colorado Mines* | 17 | | | 5 | CSU Pueblo | 10 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | CSU Pueblo | 37 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | CSU Pueblo | 37 | | | | | | 1 | Minnesota State* | 13 | | | | | | | |
| Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | 1 | Minnesota State* | 13 | | | | | | | |
| 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 | Tarleton State | 10 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Tarleton State* | 58 | | | | | | | | | 2 | Tarleton State | 10 | | | | |
| 7 | Azusa Pacific | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Azusa Pacific | 0 | | | 2 | Tarleton State* | 34 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 28 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Minnesota–Duluth* | 17 | | | 6 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 28 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Texas A&M–Commerce | 33 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |