# 1968 NAIA football season

The 1968 NAIA football season was the 13th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA.
The season was played from August to November 1968, culminating in the 1968 NAIA Championship Bowl, played this year on December 14, 1968 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama.
Troy State defeated Texas A&I in the Championship Bowl, 43–35, to win their first NAIA national title.

## Conference realignment
### Conference changes

* This was the final season of play for the Central Intercollegiate Conference. After the end of play, the remaining members of the conference, four from Kansas and one from Nebraska, would subsequently join the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

## Conference standings

1968 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference football standings :
| 1968 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 4 Arkansas Tech $ 5 –1 –010 –2 –0 Henderson State 4 –2 –08 –3 –0 Ouachita Baptist 4 –2 –07 –2 –1 State College of Arkansas 3 –3 –07 –3 –0 Arkansas A&M 3 –3 –05 –4 –0 Southern Arkansas 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 Harding 0 –6 –02 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll | 1968 Carolinas Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Lenoir Rhyne + 5 –1 –07 –2 –0 Presbyterian + 5 –1 –07 –4 –0 Elon 3 –3 –04 –5 –0 Western Carolina 3 –3 –04 –5 –0 Newberry 2 –4 –03 –7 –0 Catawba 2 –4 –02 –8 –0 Guilford 1 –5 –02 –8 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1968 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 12 Morgan State $ 7 –1 –08 –1 –0 No. 14 North Carolina A&T 6 –1 –08 –1 –0 North Carolina College 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 Elizabeth City State 7 –1 –08 –1 –0 Maryland State 3 –2 –15 –2 –1 Virginia State 5 –2 –15 –2 –1 Hampton 4 –2 –14 –3 –2 Livingstone 4 –3 –04 –4 –0 Howard 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 Norfolk State 2 –4 –12 –5 –1 Johnson C. Smith 3 –3 –05 –4 –0 Virginia Union 2 –6 –02 –6 –0 Delaware State 2 –4 –04 –6 –0 Winston-Salem State 2 –5 –13 –5 –1 Fayetteville State 2 –5 –02 –5 –0 Shaw 1 –7 –11 –7 –1 Saint Paul's (VA) 0 –7 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference championConference standings were determined by Dickinson RatingRankings from NAIA poll for North Carolina A&T and AP small college poll for Morgan State |
| 1968 Central Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Nebraska–Omaha $ 4 –0 –04 –5 –0 Emporia State 2 –1 –15 –2 –2 Pittsburg State 2 –1 –14 –5 –1 Washburn 1 –3 –02 –7 –0 Fort Hays State 0 –4 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1968 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Augustana (IL) $ 6 –1 –06 –3 –0 Illinois Wesleyan 5 –2 –06 –3 –0 North Park 5 –2 –06 –3 –0 Carroll (WI) 4 –3 –05 –3 –0 Carthage 4 –3 –04 –5 –0 Millikin 3 –4 –03 –5 –0 North Central (IL) 1 –6 –01 –8 –0 Elmhurst 0 –7 –00 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1968 Eastern Football Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Southern Connecticut State $ 4 –0 –14 –4 –1 Central Connecticut State 3 –2 –06 –2 –1 Bridgeport 3 –2 –04 –5 –0 Trenton State 2 –2 –15 –2 –1 Glassboro State 1 –4 –02 –6 –0 Montclair State 1 –4 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1968 Evergreen Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Central Washington $ 6 –0 –06 –3 –0 Eastern Washington 3 –3 –03 –7 –0 Western Washington 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 Whitworth 1 –5 –01 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1968 Frontier Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Eastern Montana $ 5 –0 –07 –2 –0 Northern Montana 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 Western Montana 3 –2 –03 –4 –0 Montana Tech 2 –3 –02 –6 –0 Carroll (MT) 1 –4 –01 –7 –0 Rocky Mountain 0 –5 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1968 Gateway Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Lakeland $ 4 –0 –07 –2 –0 Milton 3 –1 –0 ? – ? – ? Eureka 2 –2 –02 –5 –1 Northwestern (WI) 1 –3 –0 ? – ? – ? St. Procopius 0 –4 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1968 Gulf States Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 8/10 Southwestern Louisiana $ 4 –1 –08 –2 –0 Louisiana Tech 3 –2 –09 –2 –0 Northeast Louisiana State 3 –2 –06 –4 –0 Northwestern State 2 –3 –05 –4 –0 Southeastern Louisiana 2 –3 –04 –6 –0 McNeese State 1 –4 –04 –6 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll and AP small college poll | 1968 Hoosier Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Manchester (IN) + 5 –1 –07 –1 –0 Anderson (IN) + 5 –1 –06 –3 –0 Hanover 4 –2 –05 –4 –0 Earlham 3 –3 –04 –3 –1 Taylor 2 –4 –03 –5 –1 Indiana Central 1 –5 –02 –6 –0 Franklin (IN) 1 –5 –02 –8 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1968 Iowa Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Wartburg $ 6 –0 –17 –1 –1 Simpson (IA) 5 –0 –26 –1 –2 Upper Iowa 4 –3 –04 –4 –0 Central (IA) 3 –3 –15 –3 –1 Dubuque 3 –4 –04 –5 –0 William Penn 2 –5 –04 –5 –0 Buena Vista 2 –5 –02 –7 –0 Luther 1 –6 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1968 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Southwestern (KS) $ 7 –1 –17 –1 –1 Kansas Wesleyan 7 –2 –07 –2 –0 Friends 6 –3 –06 –3 –0 Ottawa 5 –4 –05 –4 –0 College of Emporia 5 –4 –05 –4 –0 Bethany (KS) 3 –5 –13 –5 –1 Baker 3 –6 –03 –6 –0 Bethel (KS) 3 –6 –03 –6 –0 Sterling 3 –6 –03 –6 –0 McPherson 2 –7 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1968 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 2/6 Texas A&I $^ 6 –1 –010 –2 –0 East Texas State 5 –1 –17 –2 –1 McMurry 5 –2 –08 –2 –0 Sam Houston State 3 –3 –15 –4 –1 Southwest Texas State 3 –4 –05 –5 –0 Sul Ross 2 –4 –15 –4 –1 Howard Payne 1 –5 –12 –7 –1 Stephen F. Austin 1 –6 –03 –7 –0 Tarleton State * 0 –0 –02 –7 –0 Angelo State * 0 –0 –02 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA playoff participant * – did not complete for conference titleRankings from NAIA poll and AP small college poll | 1968 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 12 Alma $ 5 –0 –08 –0 –0 Albion 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 Hope 2 –3 –04 –5 –0 Olivet 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 Kalamazoo 1 –4 –02 –6 –0 Adrian 1 –4 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll |
| 1968 Mid-Ohio Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Defiance $ 3 –0 –07 –2 –0 Findlay 2 –1 –04 –6 –0 Wilmington (OH) 1 –2 –02 –7 –1 Bluffton 0 –3 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1968 Midwest Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Ripon $ 7 –1 –07 –1 –0 Monmouth (IL) 6 –1 –16 –1 –1 Cornell (IA) 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 St. Olaf 5 –2 –15 –2 –1 Coe 4 –4 –04 –4 –0 Beloit 3 –5 –03 –5 –0 Carleton 3 –5 –03 –5 –0 Grinnell 3 –5 –03 –5 –0 Lawrence 2 –6 –02 –6 –0 Knox 0 –8 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1968 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Gustavus Adolphus $ 6 –0 –17 –1 –1 No. 18 Hamline 6 –1 –08 –1 –0 Concordia (MN) 4 –3 –07 –3 –0 Saint John's (MN) 4 –3 –06 –4 –0 Macalester 3 –3 –15 –4 –1 Minnesota–Duluth 2 –5 –04 –6 –0 St. Thomas (MN) 2 –5 –02 –8 –0 Augsburg 0 –7 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll |
| 1968 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T William Jewell $ 2 –0 –09 –1 –0 Tarkio 3 –1 –06 –3 –0 Central Methodist 2 –1 –16 –1 –1 Graceland 2 –3 –04 –5 –0 Missouri Valley 1 –2 –13 –4 –3 Culver–Stockton 0 –3 –05 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1968 Nebraska College Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Kearney State $ 4 –0 –05 –4 –0 Chadron State 3 –1 –08 –1 –0 Wayne State (NE) 2 –2 –03 –5 –0 Hastings 1 –3 –03 –6 –0 Peru State 0 –4 –02 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1968 North Dakota College Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Jamestown $ 6 –0 –08 –0 –0 Minot State 4 –1 –15 –2 –1 Wahpeton Science 4 –2 –0 ? – ? – ? Valley City State 2 –2 –22 –3 –2 Dickinson State 2 –3 –13 –4 –1 Mayville State 1 –5 –01 –7 –0 Ellendale 0 –6 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1968 Northern Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Mankato State + 4 –1 –05 –4 –0 Winona State + 4 –1 –05 –4 –0 St. Cloud State 3 –2 –05 –3 –1 Moorhead State 3 –2 –04 –5 –0 Bemidji State 1 –4 –03 –6 –0 Michigan Tech 0 –5 –01 –7 –0 Minnesota Morris *   –  7 –1 –0 + – Conference co-champions * – did not compete for championship | 1968 Northwest Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 6 Willamette $^ 6 –0 –09 –1 –0 Linfield 4 –1 –16 –2 –1 Lewis & Clark 4 –2 –06 –3 –0 Pacific Lutheran 2 –2 –23 –4 –2 Whitman 1 –4 –14 –4 –1 College of Idaho 1 –4 –13 –5 –1 Pacific (OR) 0 –5 –11 –7 –1 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA playoff participantRankings from NAIA poll | 1968 Oklahoma Collegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T SW Oklahoma State $ 6 –1 –07 –4 –0 East Central 5 –1 –17 –2 –1 Northeastern State 4 –3 –06 –4 –0 SE Oklahoma State 4 –3 –04 –5 –1 Central State (OK) 3 –3 –16 –4 –1 Panhandle 2 –4 –15 –5 –1 NW Oklahoma State 1 –5 –11 –7 –2 Langston 1 –6 –02 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1968 Oregon Collegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Oregon College $ 4 –0 –07 –2 –0 Southern Oregon 3 –1 –04 –6 –0 Oregon Tech 2 –2 –02 –6 –1 Eastern Oregon 1 –3 –01 –8 –0 George Fox 0 –4 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1968 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Adams State $ 3 –0 –08 –1 –0 Colorado State–Greeley 1 –1 –05 –3 –0 Western State (CO) 1 –2 –03 –6 –0 Colorado Mines 0 –2 –04 –4 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1968 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 5 Northern State $^ 6 –0 –09 –1 –0 Black Hills State 4 –2 –04 –5 –0 South Dakota Tech 3 –2 –13 –4 –1 Dakota Wesleyan 3 –3 –06 –3 –0 Huron 2 –4 –02 –6 –1 General Beadle 1 –4 –12 –5 –1 Southern State (SD) 1 –5 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA playoff participantRankings from NAIA poll |
| 1968 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Whittier $ 4 –1 –05 –4 –0 Occidental 3 –1 –13 –5 –1 Redlands 3 –2 –05 –5 –0 Claremont-Mudd 2 –2 –13 –4 –2 Pomona 2 –3 –04 –5 –1 Caltech 0 –5 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference championCaltech forfeited to Whittier and Redlands; the forfeits were included only in conference records. | 1968 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Division I No. T–19 Florida A&M x 5 –0 –08 –2 –0 South Carolina State 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 Bethune–Cookman 3 –2 –04 –4 –0 Alabama A&M 2 –3 –05 –4 –0 Morris Brown 1 –4 –02 –7 –0 Allen 0 –5 –00 –7 –0 Division II Tuskegee x 6 –0 –08 –2 –0 Alabama State 4 –1 –18 –1 –1 Lane 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 Fort Valley State 4 –2 –07 –2 –0 Clark (GA) 3 –4 –04 –5 –0 Morehouse 2 –3 –13 –3 –2 Fisk 1 –6 –02 –8 –0 Knoxville 0 –7 –00 –7 –0 x – Division champion/co-championsRankings from UPI small college poll | 1968 Southwestern Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 3 Alcorn A&M + 6 –1 –08 –1 –0 Grambling + 6 –1 –09 –2 –0 Texas Southern + 6 –1 –06 –4 –0 Arkansas AM&N 4 –3 –05 –5 –0 Southern 3 –4 –04 –6 –0 Prairie View A&M 2 –5 –04 –6 –0 Jackson State 1 –6 –03 –6 –0 Wiley 0 –7 –02 –8 –0 + – Conference co-championsRankings from NAIA poll |
| 1968 Tri-State Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Westmar $ 6 –0 –09 –0 –0 Concordia (NE) 5 –1 –06 –3 –0 Northwestern (IA) 4 –2 –07 –2 –0 Dana 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 Sioux Falls 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 Yankton 1 –4 –11 –7 –1 Midland 0 –5 –10 –8 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1968 West Penn Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 19 Waynesburg $ 2 –0 –07 –2 –0 Westminster (PA) 1 –1 –06 –2 –0 Geneva 0 –2 –00 –7 –1 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll | 1968 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T West Virginia State $ 5 –1 –08 –1 –0 Fairmont State 3 –1 –06 –2 –0 Salem 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 West Liberty State 5 –2 –05 –3 –1 Glenville State 5 –2 –06 –3 –0 Bluefield State 3 –4 –03 –4 –0 West Virginia Tech 3 –4 –04 –4 –0 West Virginia Wesleyan 1 –5 –01 –7 –0 Concord 0 –7 –00 –10 –0 Shepherd * 0 –3 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion * – Did not qualify for conference standings Conference standings based on power ratings |
| 1968 Wisconsin State University Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 13 Platteville State + 7 –1 –08 –1 –0 Oshkosh State + 7 –1 –08 –2 –0 Whitewater State 5 –3 –06 –3 –1 La Crosse State 5 –3 –05 –5 –0 Eau Claire State 3 –3 –23 –4 –2 River Falls State 2 –5 –13 –6 –1 Stout State 2 –5 –13 –6 –1 Stevens Point State 2 –5 –12 –7 –1 Superior State 0 –7 –10 –9 –1 + – Conference co-championsRankings from NAIA poll | 1968 NAIA independents football records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 7 Doane   –  10 –0 –0 New Mexico Highlands   –  9 –0 –0 No. 15 Ferris State   –  7 –0 –1 No. 9 Cal Lutheran   –  9 –1 –0 No. 10 Emory and Henry   –  9 –1 –0 Indiana (PA)   –  9 –1 –0 No. 16 Austin   –  8 –1 –0 No. 11 Appalachian State   –  8 –2 –0 Boise State   –  8 –2 –0 No. 20 Carson–Newman   –  8 –2 –0 La Verne   –  7 –2 –0 Hillsdale   –  6 –3 –0 St. Mary of the Plains   –  6 –4 –0 Wheaton (IL)   –  5 –4 –0 Oklahoma Panhandle State   –  5 –5 –1 Eastern New Mexico   –  4 –5 –1 Simon Fraser   –  4 –5 –0 Southern Colorado State   –  4 –6 –0 Southwest State (MN)   –  3 –5 –0 Wofford   –  4 –7 –0 Georgetown (KY)   –  2 –6 –0 Azusa Pacific   –  2 –7 –0 Kentucky State   –  2 –7 –0 Missouri Southern   –  2 –8 –0 Iowa Wesleyan   –  1 –7 –1 Rankings from NAIA poll |

## Postseason

| Semifinals November 28–30, 1968 | Semifinals November 28–30, 1968 | Semifinals November 28–30, 1968 | NAIA Championship Bowl December 14, 1968 Montgomery, AL | NAIA Championship Bowl December 14, 1968 Montgomery, AL | NAIA Championship Bowl December 14, 1968 Montgomery, AL |
| Northern State | Northern State | 0 | | | |
| Texas A&I* | Texas A&I* | 20 | | | |
| Texas A&I* | Texas A&I* | 20 | Texas A&I | Texas A&I | 35 |
| | | | Troy State | Troy State | 43 |
| Willamette | Willamette | 10 | Troy State | Troy State | 43 |
| Troy State* | Troy State* | 63 | | | |