# 1978 NCAA Division II football season

The 1978 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 in August 1978, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship in December 1978 at Lobo Stadium in Longview, Texas. The Eastern Illinois Panthers defeated the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens, 10–9, to win their first Division II national title.

## Conference realignment
### Conference changes

* Four conferences, the Big Sky Conference, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, and Yankee Conference, transitioned from Division II to the newly-established Division I-AA level of college football. All of their members, alongside seven independents, departed at the same time, a total of 35 schools in all.
* This was the first season for the Mid-Continent Conference, which was formed by six schools from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio.
* This was the first season for the Heartland Collegiate Conference (HCC), which was formed by eight schools from Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. Five of its members were formerly in the Indiana Collegiate Conference, which disbanded upon creation of the HCC.

### Membership changes

| School | 1977 Conference | 1978 Conference |
| Akron | D-II Independent | Mid-Continent |
| Bucknell | D-II Independent | I-AA Independent |
| Cal State Los Angeles | D-II Independent | Dropped program |
| Eastern Illinois | D-II Independent | Mid-Continent |
| Lafayette | D-II Independent | I-AA Independent |
| Lehigh | D-II Independent | I-AA Independent |
| Nevada | D-II Independent | I-AA Independent |
| Northeastern | D-II Independent | I-AA Independent |
| Northern Colorado | GPAC (NAIA) | North Central |
| Northern Iowa | North Central | Mid-Continent |
| Northern Michigan | D-II Independent | Mid-Continent |
| Portland State | D-II Independent | I-AA Independent |
| UNLV | D-II Independent | I-A Independent |
| Western Illinois | D-II Independent | Mid-Continent |
| Youngstown State | D-II Independent | Mid-Continent |

## Conference standings

1978 Association of Mid-Continent Universities football standings :
| 1978 Association of Mid-Continent Universities football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Youngstown State $^ 5 –0 –010 –2 –0 Akron 4 –1 –06 –5 –0 Eastern Illinois ^ 3 –2 –012 –2 –0 Northern Michigan 1 –3 –15 –4 –1 Western Illinois 1 –3 –13 –6 –1 Northern Iowa 0 –5 –02 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant | 1978 California Collegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 8 Cal Poly $^ 2 –0 –07 –3 –0 Cal Poly Pomona 1 –1 –03 –7 –0 Cal State Northridge 0 –2 –05 –5 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from Associated Press poll | 1978 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 1 Winston-Salem State $^ 8 –0 –011 –1 –0 Virginia Union 5 –2 –17 –4 –1 Fayetteville State 5 –2 –16 –4 –1 Norfolk State 5 –3 –06 –4 –0 Virginia State 5 –3 –05 –6 –0 Elizabeth City State 4 –3 –15 –4 –1 Livingstone 4 –3 –15 –4 –1 Hampton 4 –4 –05 –6 –0 Johnson C. Smith 1 –7 –01 –10 –0 Saint Paul's (VA) 1 –7 –01 –10 –0 Shaw 0 –8 –00 –11 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from NCAA Division II AP Poll |
| 1978 Far Western Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 4 UC Davis $^ 5 –0 –08 –3 –0 Cal State Hayward 4 –1 –08 –2 –0 Humboldt State 3 –2 –05 –6 –0 Chico State 2 –3 –05 –5 –0 Sacramento State 1 –4 –01 –9 –0 San Francisco State 0 –5 –01 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from Associated Press poll | 1978 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 4 Grand Valley State $^ 5 –0 –09 –3 –0 Wayne State (MI) 4 –1 –05 –4 –0 Northwood 2 –3 –05 –4 –0 Saginaw Valley State 1 –3 –14 –5 –1 Ferris State 1 –3 –13 –5 –2 Hillsdale 1 –4 –05 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA Division I playoff participantRankings from NAIA Division I poll | 1978 Gulf South Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 7 Jacksonville State $ 6 –1 –07 –3 –0 Southeastern Louisiana 5 –1 –17 –3 –1 Troy State 5 –2 –08 –2 –0 Nicholls State 5 –2 –05 –6 –0 North Alabama 4 –2 –17 –2 –1 Mississippi College 3 –4 –05 –5 –0 Delta State 2 –6 –03 –7 –0 Livingston 1 –6 –03 –7 –0 Tennessee–Martin 0 –7 –02 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from AP Poll |
| 1978 Heartland Collegiate Conference standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Indiana Central $ 4 –2 –06 –3 –0 Valparaiso 3 –2 –05 –4 –0 Saint Joseph's (IN) 3 –2 –05 –4 –1 Butler 3 –2 –05 –5 –0 Evansville 2 –3 –02 –9 –0 Franklin (IN) 1 –6 –01 –9 –0 Georgetown (KY) * 1 –1 –05 –4 –0 Ashland * 1 –0 –02 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion * – ineligible for conference title | 1978 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 6 South Carolina State $ 5 –0 –18 –2 –1 North Carolina A&T 4 –2 –06 –6 –0 Delaware State 3 –3 –03 –7 –0 Morgan State 2 –3 –14 –6 –1 Howard 2 –4 –04 –6 –0 Maryland Eastern Shore 2 –4 –03 –8 –0 North Carolina Central 2 –4 –03 –8 –0 $ – Conference championThe conference was a hybrid of NCAA Division I-AA and Division II programs. Morgan State, Maryland-Eastern Shore, and North Carolina Central were classified as NCAA Division II. All the other teams were Division I-AA.Rankings from Associated Press poll | 1978 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T SW Missouri State $ 6 –0 –08 –3 –0 NE Missouri State 5 –1 –06 –4 –1 Missouri-Rolla 4 –2 –08 –3 –0 SE Missouri State 2 –4 –06 –5 –0 Lincoln (MO) 2 –4 –03 –8 –0 Central Missouri State 2 –4 –02 –8 –0 NW Missouri State 0 –6 –00 –11 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant |
| 1978 North Central Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T South Dakota * $ 5 –0 –17 –4 –0 No. 6 Nebraska–Omaha * ^ 4 –1 –18 –3 –0 North Dakota State 3 –3 –06 –4 –0 North Dakota 3 –3 –05 –5 –0 South Dakota State 3 –3 –05 –6 –0 Augustana (SD) 2 –4 –04 –5 –0 Morningside 0 –6 –02 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant * – Nebraska–Omaha and South Dakota split two head-to-head games, which counted as a tie for each team in the conference standings. Rankings from AP Poll | 1978 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 1 Concordia–Moorhead * + 7 –1 –011 –1 –0 St. Olaf +^ 7 –1 –09 –2 –0 No. 15 Gustavus Adolphus 6 –2 –08 –2 –0 No. T–20 Saint John's (MN) 5 –3 –06 –3 –0 St. Thomas (MN) 4 –4 –05 –4 –0 Hamline 3 –4 –15 –4 –1 Augsburg 2 –5 –13 –6 –1 Bethel (MN) 1 –7 –02 –8 –0 Macalester 0 –8 –00 –9 –0 + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant * – NAIA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Division II poll | 1978 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T East Division East Stroudsburg xy$ 5 –0 –010 –1 –0 Cheyney 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 Bloomsburg 3 –2 –06 –4 –0 Millersville 2 –3 –06 –3 –0 Kutztown 1 –4 –02 –7 –0 Mansfield 0 –5 –02 –8 –0 West Division No. 17 Clarion xy 5 –1 –08 –3 –0 Shippensburg x 5 –1 –07 –3 –0 Slippery Rock 4 –2 –06 –3 –0 Edinboro 3 –3 –03 –6 –1 Indiana (PA) 2 –4 –04 –5 –1 California (PA) 1 –4 –12 –7 –1 Lock Haven 0 –5 –11 –8 –1 Championship: East Stroudsburg 49, Clarion 4 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participantShippensburg was ineligible for conference title game.Rankings from NAIA Division I poll |
| 1978 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Grambling State $ 5 –0 –19 –1 –1 No. 2 Jackson State ^ 5 –1 –010 –2 –0 Mississippi Valley State 3 –2 –16 –3 –1 Alcorn State 2 –3 –15 –4 –1 Southern 2 –4 –04 –7 –0 Texas Southern 1 –4 –13 –7 –1 Prairie View A&M 1 –5 –03 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participantThe conference was a hybrid of NCAA Division I-AA and II programs. Mississippi Valley State was classified as NCAA Division II for the 1978 season. All the other teams were Division I-AA.Rankings from Associated Press poll | 1978 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Northern Division Shepherd xy 6 –3 –07 –4 –0 West Virginia Wesleyan 6 –3 –06 –3 –0 Fairmont State 5 –4 –05 –4 –1 Salem 4 –5 –04 –6 –0 West Liberty State 2 –7 –02 –8 –0 Southern Division No. 6 Concord xy$^ 8 –1 –010 –2 –0 West Virginia Tech 6 –3 –06 –3 –0 West Virginia State 6 –3 –06 –4 –0 Glenville State 1 –7 –02 –7 –0 Bluefield State 0 –9 –00 –10 –0 Championship: Concord 35, Shepherd 14 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant Conference standings based on power ratingsRankings from NAIA Division I poll | 1978 NCAA Division II independents football records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 9 American International   –  6 –2 –1 No. 3 Delaware ^   –  10 –4 –0 Kentucky State   –  7 –2 –1 Santa Clara   –  5 –6 –0 Arkansas–Pine Bluff   –  4 –6 –0 Northern Colorado   –  4 –6 –0 Central Connecticut   –  3 –7 –0 Southern Connecticut State   –  3 –7 –0 Central State (OH)   –  2 –9 –0 West Chester   –  2 –9 –0 ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from Associated Press poll |

## Conference summaries

| Conference | Champion |
| Association of Mid-Continent Universities | Youngstown State |
| California Collegiate Athletic Association | Cal Poly |
| Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Winston-Salem State |
| Far Western Football Conference | UC Davis |
| Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Grand Valley State |
| Gulf South Conference | Jacksonville State |
| Heartland Collegiate Conference | Indiana Central |
| Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association | Southwest Missouri State |
| North Central Conference | South Dakota |
| Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Florida A&M† |
† While the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) was a Division II conference, Florida A&M (FAMU) had successfully petitioned the NCAA for Division I classification (Division I-AA in football), which took effect on September 1, 1978. FAMU subsequently competed in the 1978 Division I-AA postseason, winning the Division I-AA championship.

## Postseason

The 1978 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the sixth single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. The championship game was held at Lobo Stadium in Longview, Texas for the first time.

### Playoff bracket

| First round Campus sites | First round Campus sites | First round Campus sites | Semifinals Campus sites | Semifinals Campus sites | Semifinals Campus sites | Championship Lobo Stadium Longview, TX | Championship Lobo Stadium Longview, TX | Championship Lobo Stadium Longview, TX |
| Winston–Salem State | Winston–Salem State | 17 | | | | | | |
| Cal Poly | Cal Poly | 10 | | | | | | |
| Cal Poly | Cal Poly | 10 | Winston–Salem State | Winston–Salem State | 0 | | | |
| | | | Delaware | Delaware | 41 | | | |
| Delaware | Delaware | 42 | Delaware | Delaware | 41 | | | |
| Jacksonville State | Jacksonville State | 21 | | | | | | |
| Jacksonville State | Jacksonville State | 21 | | | | Delaware | Delaware | 9 |
| | | | | | | Eastern Illinois | Eastern Illinois | 10 |
| Youngstown State | Youngstown State | 21 | | | | | | | Eastern Illinois | Eastern Illinois | 10 |
| Nebraska–Omaha | Nebraska–Omaha | 14 | | | | | | |
| Nebraska–Omaha | Nebraska–Omaha | 14 | Youngstown State | Youngstown State | 22 | | | |
| | | | Eastern Illinois | Eastern Illinois | 26 | | | |
| Eastern Illinois | Eastern Illinois | 35 | Eastern Illinois | Eastern Illinois | 26 | | | |
| UC Davis | UC Davis | 31 | | | | | | |