# 2006 NCAA Division II football season

The 2006 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 2, 2006, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 16, 2006, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama.
Grand Valley State defeated Northwest Missouri State in the championship game, 17–14, to win their fourth Division II national title.
The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Danny Woodhead, running back from Chadron State.

## Conference changes and new programs

| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Brevard Tornadoes | New program | Independent |
| Central Arkansas Bears | Gulf South | Independent (FCS) |
| Central State Marauders | Independent | GLFC |
| Central Washington Wildcats | GNAC | NCC |
| Chowan Hawks | Independent (D-III) | Independent |
| Dixie State Rebels | Junior college | Independent |
| Fort Hays State Tigers | RMAC | MIAA |
| Humboldt State Lumberjacks | GNAC | Independent |
| Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers | Mid-South (NAIA) | GLFC |
| Lincoln Blue Tigers | Independent | GLFC |
| Mary Marauders | DAC (NAIA) | Independent |
| Missouri–Rolla Miners | Independent | GLFC |
| Saint Joseph's Pumas | Independent | GLFC |
| Tiffin Dragons | Independent | GLFC |
| Upper Iowa Peacocks | Independent | NSIC |
| West Virginia Tech Golden Bears | WVIAC | Mid-South (NAIA) |
| Western New Mexico Mustangs | Independent | RMAC |
| Western Oregon Wolves | GNAC | Independent |
| Western Washington Vikings | GNAC | NCC |
| Winston-Salem State Rams | CIAA | Independent (FCS) |
Upper Iowa completed their transition to Division II and became eligible for the postseason. West Georgia changed the name of its athletic teams from Braves to Wolves due to NCAA rules regarding Native American mascots.

## Conference standings
### Northeast Region

2006 Northeast-10 Conference football standings :
| 2006 Northeast-10 Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Bryant +^  7 –2  8 –3   C. W. Post +  7 –2  7 –3   Merrimack +^  7 –2  8 –4   Southern Connecticut +^  7 –2  7 –4   American International  6 –3  6 –4   Bentley  4 –5  6 –5   Assumption  4 –5  4 –6   Pace  2 –7  3 –7   Stonehill  1 –8  1 –9   Saint Anselm  0 –9  0 –10   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant | 2006 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East No. 4 Bloomsburg x^  6 –0  12 –2   No. 24 West Chester ^  5 –1  9 –4   East Stroudsburg  4 –2  7 –4   Millersville  3 –3  5 –6   Kutztown  2 –4  4 –6   Cheyney  1 –5  1 –10   Mansfield  0 –6  0 –10   West No. 25 IUP x  5 –1  8 –2   California (PA) x  5 –1  8 –3   Slippery Rock  4 –2  7 –4   Edinboro  3 –3  6 –5   Shippensburg  3 –3  5 –6   Lock Haven  1 –5  2 –9   Clarion  0 –6  1 –10   x – Division champion/co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2006 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 8 Shepherd $^  7 –0  11 –1   West Liberty State  4 –3  7 –4   Charleston (WV)  4 –3  5 –6   Glenville State  4 –3  5 –6   Fairmont State  3 –4  4 –7   Concord  3 –4  3 –8   West Virginia State  2 –5  5 –6   West Virginia Wesleyan  1 –6  2 –8   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |

### Southeast Region

2006 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings :
| 2006 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Eastern No. 21 Elizabeth City State xy^  7 –0  9 –3   Virginia Union  5 –2  7 –3   Bowie State  3 –4  5 –5   Shaw  2 –5  3 –7   Virginia State  2 –5  2 –8   Saint Paul's  1 –6  2 –8   Western No. 9 North Carolina Central xy$^  7 –0  11 –1   Johnson C. Smith #  4 –3  7 –4   St. Augustine's †  4 –3  4 –6   Fayetteville State  2 –5  3 –7   Livingstone  1 –6  1 –9   Championship: North Carolina Central 17, Elizabeth City State 14 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Pioneer Bowl participant † – St. Augustine's vacated all four wins Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2006 Gulf South Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 6 North Alabama $^  8 –0  11 –1   No. 3 Delta State ^  7 –1  12 –3   No. 14 Valdosta State  6 –2  8 –2   Henderson State  6 –2  8 –3   Arkansas Tech  5 –3  7 –3   Harding  5 –3  6 –4   West Alabama  3 –5  6 –5   Ouachita Baptist  1 –7  2 –8   Southern Arkansas  1 –7  2 –9   West Georgia  1 –7  1 –9   Arkansas–Monticello  1 –7  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2006 South Atlantic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 12 Newberry $^  6 –1  11 –2   Wingate  5 –2  8 –3   Presbyterian  5 –2  7 –4   Carson–Newman  4 –3  8 –3   Catawba  3 –4  6 –4   Tusculum  3 –4  6 –5   Mars Hill  1 –6  4 –7   Lenoir–Rhyne  1 –6  3 –8   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll |
| 2006 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Tuskegee # +  6 –1  9 –3   Albany State +^  6 –1  7 –4   Lane  5 –2  8 –3   Kentucky State  4 –3  7 –4   Stillman  4 –3  5 –5   Fort Valley State  4 –3  4 –7   Clark Atlanta  3 –4  5 –5   Benedict  2 –5  3 –7   Morehouse  1 –6  2 –9   Miles  0 –7  5 –5   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Pioneer Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2006 NCAA Division II Southeast Region independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  North Greenville   –  10 –2   Brevard #   –  2 –6   Chowan #   –  0 –10   # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Northwest Region

2006 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings :
| 2006 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 1 Grand Valley State $^  10 –0  15 –0   No. 18 Northwood ^  8 –2  8 –3   Ferris State  7 –3  8 –3   Michigan Tech  6 –4  6 –4   Saginaw Valley State  6 –4  6 –4   Wayne State (MI)  6 –4  6 –5   Indianapolis  5 –5  6 –5   Hillsdale  5 –5  5 –6   Ashland  4 –6  4 –6   Mercyhurst  3 –7  3 –7   Northern Michigan  3 –7  3 –7   Findlay  1 –9  2 –9   Gannon  1 –9  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2006 North Central Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 7 North Dakota +^  7 –1  11 –2   No. 11 Nebraska–Omaha +^  7 –1  8 –3   No. 13 South Dakota ^  6 –2  9 –4   Minnesota–Duluth  4 –4  6 –4   Central Washington  3 –5  6 –5   Augustana (SD)  3 –5  5 –6   Western Washington  3 –5  5 –6   Minnesota State  2 –6  4 –7   St. Cloud State  1 –7  3 –8   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2006 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 23 Bemidji State # $  8 –0  9 –3   No. 19 Winona State ^  7 –1  9 –3   Minnesota State–Moorhead  4 –4  6 –5   Concordia–St. Paul  4 –4  5 –6   Wayne State (NE)  4 –4  5 –6   Northern State  3 –5  4 –7   SW Minnesota State  3 –5  4 –7   Upper Iowa  3 –5  3 –8   Minnesota–Crookston  0 –8  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2006 Great Lakes Football Conference standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 22 Tiffin +  4 –1  10 –1   Saint Joseph's (IN) +  4 –1  8 –3   Central State #  2 –1  2 –5   Missouri–Rolla  2 –2  6 –5   Lincoln (MO)  1 –3  1 –8   Kentucky Wesleyan  0 –5  0 –11   + – Conference co-champions # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2006 NCAA Division II Northwest Region independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Humboldt State   –  9 –1   Mary @   –  6 –4   Western Oregon   –  6 –4   Dixie State @ #   –  1 –10   # – Dixie Rotary Bowl participant @ – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Southwest Region

2006 Lone Star Conference football standings :
| 2006 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  North Division SE Oklahoma State  5 –4  6 –4   SW Oklahoma State  4 –5  6 –5   Texas A&M–Commerce  4 –5  5 –5   Central Oklahoma  4 –5  5 –6   Northeastern State  4 –5  4 –6   East Central  2 –7  2 –8   South Division No. 10 W. Texas A&M $^  8 –1  11 –2   No. 17 Midwestern St. ^  7 –2  10 –3   No. 20 Abilene Christian ^  7 –2  8 –3   Tarleton State  6 –3  6 –4   Angelo State  2 –7  3 –7   Eastern New Mexico  2 –7  3 –7   Texas A&M–Kingsville  2 –7  3 –8   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2006 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 2 NW Missouri State $^  9 –0  14 –1   No. 15 Pittsburg State #  7 –2  10 –2   No. 16 Missouri Western ^  7 –2  9 –3   Washburn  6 –3  7 –4   Truman  6 –3  6 –5   Central Missouri  3 –6  5 –6   Missouri Southern  3 –6  5 –6   Emporia State  2 –7  3 –8   Fort Hays State  1 –8  1 –10   Southwest Baptist  1 –8  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2006 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 5 Chadron State $^  8 –0  12 –1   Fort Lewis #  6 –2  7 –4   Nebraska–Kearney  5 –3  6 –4   Adams State  4 –4  6 –5   New Mexico Highlands  3 –5  6 –5   Western New Mexico  3 –5  5 –5   Mesa State  3 –5  4 –7   Colorado Mines  2 –6  4 –7   Western State  2 –6  3 –8   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Dixie Rotary Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2006 NCAA Division II Southwest Region independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  OK Panhandle State   –  0 –10   Rankings from AFCA Poll |

## Conference summaries

* Conference Champions
* Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – North Carolina Central
* Great Lakes Football Conference – Saint Joseph's (IN)
* Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Grand Valley State
* Gulf South Conference – North Alabama
* Lone Star Conference – West Texas A&M
* Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Northwest Missouri State
* North Central Conference – Nebraska–Omaha and North Dakota
* Northeast-10 Conference – Bryant, C.W. Post, Merrimack, and Southern Connecticut State
* Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Bemidji State
* Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Bloomsburg (East), California (PA) and Indiana (PA) (West)
* Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Chadron State
* South Atlantic Conference – Newberry
* Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Albany State and Tuskegee
* West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Shepherd

## Postseason

The 2006 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 33rd single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. The championship game was held at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama for the 19th time.

### Seeded teams

* Bloomsburg
* Chadron State
* Grand Valley State
* Nebraska–Omaha
* North Alabama
* North Carolina Central
* Northwest Missouri State
* Shepherd

### Playoff bracket

| First round November 18 Campus Sites | First round November 18 Campus Sites | First round November 18 Campus Sites | | | Second round November 25 Campus Sites | Second round November 25 Campus Sites | Second round November 25 Campus Sites | Quarterfinals December 2 Campus Sites | Quarterfinals December 2 Campus Sites | Quarterfinals December 2 Campus Sites | Semifinals December 9 and 10 Campus Sites | Semifinals December 9 and 10 Campus Sites | Semifinals December 9 and 10 Campus Sites | National Championship Game December 16 Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama | National Championship Game December 16 Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama | National Championship Game December 16 Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama |
| | | | | | 1 | Grand Valley State* | 35 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | South Dakota | 17 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | South Dakota | 31 | | | 5 | South Dakota | 17 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Northwood* | 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Northwood* | 28 | | | | | | 1 | Grand Valley State* | 30 | | | | | | |
| 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 | Grand Valley State* | 30 | | | | | | |
| Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | 3 | North Dakota | 20 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Nebraska–Omaha* | 35 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | North Dakota | 38 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | North Dakota* | 42 | | | 3 | North Dakota | 38 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Winona State | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Winona State | 0 | | | | | | | | | 1 | Grand Valley State* | 49 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Delta State | 30 | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | North Carolina Central* | 17 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | Delta State | 24 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Delta State | 17 | | | 5 | Delta State | 24 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Elizabeth City State* | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Elizabeth City State* | 10 | | | | | | 5 | Delta State | 27 | | | | | | |
| Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | 5 | Delta State | 27 | | | | | | |
| Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | 2 | North Alabama* | 10 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | North Alabama* | 38 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Newberry | 20 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Newberry* | 34 | | | 3 | Newberry | 20 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Albany State | 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Albany State | 28 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Grand Valley State | 17 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | NW Missouri State | 14 |
| | | | | | 1 | Shepherd* | 31 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Merrimack | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Merrimack* | 28 | | | 4 | Merrimack | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | S. Connecticut | 26 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | S. Connecticut | 26 | | | | | | 1 | Shepherd* | 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 | Shepherd* | 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 | 2 | Bloomsburg | 24 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Bloomsburg* | 21 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | West Chester | 20 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | West Chester | 31 | | | 6 | West Chester | 20 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Bryant* | 29 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Bryant* | 29 | | | | | | | | | 2 | Bloomsburg | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | NW Missouri State* | 33 | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | NW Missouri State* | 27 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Midwestern State | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Midwestern State* | 28 | | | 4 | Midwestern State | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Missouri Western | 26 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Missouri Western | 26 | | | | | | 1 | NW Missouri State* | 28 | | | | | | |
| 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 | NW Missouri State* | 28 | | | | | | |
| 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 | Chadron State | 21 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Chadron State* | 43 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | West Texas A&M | 17 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | West Texas A&M*† | 30 | | | 3 | West Texas A&M | 17 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Abilene Christian | 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* Home team † Overtime