# 2023 NCAA Division II football season

The 2023 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 and ended on December 16 with the Division II championship at the McKinney Independent School District Stadium in McKinney, Texas. Harding won the title, defeating Colorado Mines, 38–7.

## D-II team wins over FCS teams

September 2: Bowie State 22, Delaware State 11 September 2: Virginia State 33, Norfolk State 24 September 2: Central State (OH) 24, Mississippi Valley State 21 September 8: Barton 33, Davidson 31 September 9: Colorado Mesa 28, San Diego 21 $^{OT}$ September 9: Miles 21, Alabama State 17 September 16: Delta State 35, Mississippi Valley State 7

## Conference changes and new programs

| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Alderson Broaddus Battlers | Mountain East | School closed |
| Bluefield State Big Blues | Independent (D-II) | CIAA |
| Chowan Hawks | CIAA | Gulf South |
| Lincoln (MO) Blue Tigers | MIAA | GLVC |
| Simon Fraser Red Leafs | Lone Star | Dropped program |
| Thomas More Saints | Mid-South (NAIA) | G-MAC |
| Upper Iowa Peacocks | Northern Sun | GLVC |

## Headlines

* January 14 – At the 2023 NCAA Convention, the D-II football membership approved a change to redshirt rules to allow freshmen to play in up to three games without losing a season of athletic eligibility.
* January 26 – Conference Carolinas announced that Shorter University would join from the Gulf South Conference in 2024. This gave the conference 6 football sponsoring members, and accordingly, it was announced that they would begin sponsoring football again effective for the 2025 season, a sport they had previously discontinued in 1975. Inaugural members of the new league would be Barton and Erskine, who currently play in the South Atlantic Conference; UNC Pembroke, who plays in the Mountain East Conference; and Chowan, North Greenville, and Shorter, who all play in the Gulf South Conference.
* December 14 – The NCAA Division II Championships Committee approved a restructuring of the football super regions effective for the 2025 season once Conference Carolinas begins sponsoring football. The new super region alignment is as follows:
** Super Region 1: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Mountain East Conference, Northeast-10 Conference, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
** Super Region 2: Conference Carolinas, Gulf South Conference, South Atlantic Conference, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
** Super Region 3: Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Great Lakes Valley Conference, Great Midwest Athletic Conference, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
** Super Region 4: Great American Conference, Lone Star Conference, Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

## Rankings

The top 25 from the AFCA Coaches' Poll.

### Preseason Poll

AFCA :
| Ranking | Team |
| 1 | Ferris State (29) |
| 2 | Colorado Mines |
| 3 | Grand Valley State |
| 4 | Pittsburg State |
| 5 | Angelo State |
| 6 | NW Missouri State |
| 7 | West Florida |
| 8 | Ouachita Baptist |
| 9 | Minnesota State |
| 10 | Delta State |
| 11 | Bemidji State |
| 12 | Ashland |
| 13 | Shepherd |
| 14 | Harding |
| 15 | Slippery Rock |
| 16 | IUP |
| 17 | Benedict (1) |
| 18 | Virginia Union |
| 19 | Emporia State |
| 20 | Indianapolis |
| 21 | Wingate |
| 22 | West Georgia |
| 23 | Assumption |
| 24 | Newberry |
| 25 | Lenoir–Rhyne |

## Conference standings
### Super Region 1

2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings :
| 2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 14 Tiffin $^  9 –0  11 –1   Ashland #  8 –1  9 –3   Findlay  6 –3  7 –4   Hillsdale  6 –3  6 –5   Northwood  5 –4  5 –6   Thomas More*  4 –5  5 –6   Kentucky Wesleyan  3 –6  4 –7   Ohio Dominican  3 –6  4 –7   Walsh  1 –8  3 –8   Lake Erie  0 –9  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant * – Thomas More ineligible for postseason play due to transition from NAIA # – America's Crossroads Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2023 Mountain East Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 19 Charleston (WV) $^  8 –1  10 –2   Fairmont State  6 –3  8 –3   Frostburg State  6 –3  7 –3   Notre Dame (OH)  6 –3  7 –3   UNC Pembroke  6 –3  7 –3   Glenville State  5 –4  6 –4   Wheeling  4 –5  5 –5   West Liberty  4 –5  4 –6   West Virginia State  4 –5  4 –6   Concord  1 –9  1 –10   West Virginia Wesleyan  0 –9  0 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2023 Northeast-10 Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  New Haven $^  6 –1  8 –3   Bentley  5 –2  6 –4   Saint Anselm  5 –2  6 –4   Assumption  3 –4  5 –5   Franklin Pierce  3 –4  4 –6   Southern Connecticut  3 –4  4 –6   Pace  2 –5  3 –7   American International  1 –6  3 –8   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2023 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East Division No. 7 Kutztown xy$^  7 –0  11 –2   East Stroudsburg ^  5 –2  9 –3   Shepherd ^  5 –2  9 –3   West Chester  3 –4  6 –5   Lock Haven  3 –4  5 –6   Shippensburg  2 –5  3 –8   Bloomsburg  2 –5  3 –8   Millersville  1 –6  3 –8   West Division No. 10 Slippery Rock xy^  7 –0  12 –2   California (PA)  6 –1  7 –3   Gannon  5 –2  5 –6   Seton Hill  4 –3  6 –5   IUP  3 –4  6 –5   Edinboro  1 –6  3 –8   Clarion  1 –6  2 –9   Mercyhurst  1 –6  2 –9   Championship: Kutztown 31, Slippery Rock 7 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2023 NCAA Division II Super Region 1 independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Post   –  1 –9   Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 2

2023 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings :
| 2023 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Northern Division No. 20 Virginia Union xy$^  7 –1  10 –2   Virginia State  6 –2  8 –2   Bowie State  5 –3  6 –4   Lincoln (PA)  3 –5  4 –6   Elizabeth City State  2 –6  3 –7   Bluefield State  0 –8  1 –9   Southern Division Fayetteville State xy  8 –0  8 –3   Johnson C. Smith #  6 –2  7 –4   Livingstone  4 –4  4 –6   Winston-Salem State  4 –4  4 –6   Shaw  3 –5  3 –7   St. Augustine's  0 –8  0 –10   Championship: Virginia Union 21, Fayetteville State 10 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Florida Beach Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2023 Gulf South Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 8 Valdosta State +^  7 –1  12 –2   No. 11 Delta State +^  7 –1  10 –2   No. 23 West Florida ^  6 –2  8 –4   West Georgia  5 –3  6 –4   North Greenville  4 –4  5 –5   West Alabama  4 –4  5 –5   Mississippi College  2 –6  3 –7   Shorter  1 –7  3 –8   Chowan  0 –8  0 –10   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2023 South Atlantic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Mountain Division Mars Hill x  7 –2  8 –2   Tusculum xy  6 –3  6 –5   Carson–Newman  4 –5  5 –6   Emory & Henry*  3 –6  5 –6   Virginia–Wise  1 –8  2 –9   Erskine  0 –9  0 –11   Piedmont Division No. 4 Lenoir–Rhyne xy$^  8 –1  13 –2   Limestone x^  8 –1  8 –4   Wingate  7 –2  8 –3   Barton  4 –5  6 –5   Catawba  3 –6  5 –6   Newberry  3 –6  4 –7   Championship: Lenoir-Rhyne 48, Tusculum 7 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant * – Emory & Henry ineligible for postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division III Rankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2023 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 12 Benedict y$^  8 –0  11 –1   Albany State y  6 –2  6 –5   Fort Valley State #  6 –2  8 –3   Miles  6 –2  7 –3   Tuskegee  6 –2  7 –4   Allen*  5 –3  7 –3   Edward Waters*  5 –3  6 –4   Central State (OH)  4 –4  5 –5   Kentucky State  2 –6  3 –7   Lane  2 –6  2 –8   Morehouse  1 –7  1 –9   Savannah State  1 –7  2 –8   Clark Atlanta  0 –8  0 –10   Championship: Benedict 47, Albany State 10 $ – Conference championy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant * – Allen and Edward Waters ineligible for postseason play due to transition from NAIA # – Florida Beach Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 3

2023 Great American Conference football standings :
| 2023 Great American Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 1 Harding $^  11 –0  15 –0   No. 24 Henderson State ^  9 –2  9 –3   Ouachita Baptist  9 –2  9 –2   Southern Arkansas #  9 –2  10 –2   Oklahoma Baptist  6 –5  6 –5   Southern Nazarene #  6 –5  6 –6   Arkansas Tech  5 –6  5 –6   SE Oklahoma State  5 –6  5 –6   East Central  3 –8  3 –8   Arkansas–Monticello  2 –9  2 –9   NW Oklahoma State  1 –10  1 –10   SW Oklahoma State  0 –11  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Southern Nazarene - Heritage Bowl, Southern Arkansas - Live United Texarkana Bowl) Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2023 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 3 Grand Valley State $^  6 –0  11 –2   No. 9 Ferris State ^  5 –1  8 –3   Davenport  4 –2  8 –2   Saginaw Valley State  3 –3  6 –5   Wayne State (MI)  2 –4  3 –8   Michigan Tech  1 –5  5 –5   Northern Michigan  0 –6  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 22 Indianapolis $^  6 –1  9 –2   Truman State  5 –2  9 –2   McKendree #  5 –2  5 –6   Missouri S&T  4 –3  4 –7   Quincy  3 –4  6 –5   Southwest Baptist  3 –4  4 –7   Upper Iowa  1 –6  3 –8   William Jewell  1 –6  2 –8   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – America's Crossroads Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2023 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 6 Central Missouri +^  9 –1  11 –2   No. 5 Pittsburg State +^  9 –1  11 –2   Emporia State #  7 –3  9 –3   Missouri Western #  7 –3  8 –4   Fort Hays State  6 –4  7 –4   NW Missouri State  6 –4  7 –4   Central Oklahoma  4 –6  5 –6   Missouri Southern  4 –6  5 –6   Nebraska–Kearney  2 –8  3 –8   Washburn  1 –9  2 –9   Northeastern State  0 –10  1 –10   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Emporia State - Heritage Bowl, Missouri Western - Live United Texarkana Bowl) Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2023 NCAA Division II Super Region 3 independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Lincoln (MO)   –  0 –11   Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 4

2023 Lone Star Conference football standings :
| 2023 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 18 UT Permian Basin $^  8 –0  10 –2   No. 17 Central Washington ^  7 –1  9 –4   Angelo State  6 –2  7 –3   Texas A&M–Kingsville  5 –3  7 –3   Midwestern State  3 –5  4 –6   Eastern New Mexico  2 –6  5 –6   West Texas A&M  2 –6  3 –7   Western Oregon  2 –6  3 –8   Western New Mexico  1 –7  2 –8   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2023 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 13 Augustana (SD) $^  9 –1  11 –2   No. 25 Minnesota Duluth  8 –2  9 –2   No. 16 Bemidji State ^  8 –2  9 –3   No. 21 Minnesota State ^  8 –2  9 –3   Wayne State (NE)  7 –3  8 –3   MSU Moorhead  6 –4  7 –4   Winona State  5 –5  5 –6   Northern State  4 –6  5 –6   Sioux Falls  3 –7  3 –8   Concordia–St. Paul  2 –8  3 –8   SW Minnesota State  2 –8  2 –9   Mary  2 –8  2 –9   Minot State  1 –9  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2023 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 2 Colorado Mines $^  9 –0  14 –1   No. 15 Western Colorado ^  8 –1  10 –2   CSU Pueblo  7 –2  8 –3   Black Hills State  5 –4  6 –5   Colorado Mesa  5 –4  6 –5   Chadron State  4 –5  5 –6   South Dakota Mines  4 –5  5 –6   Adams State  2 –7  3 –8   New Mexico Highlands  1 –8  2 –9   Fort Lewis  0 –9  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |

## Postseason
### Qualifiers

Playoff teams :
| Super Region | School | Conference | Record | Appearance | Last bid |
| Super Region 1 | Tiffin | G-MAC | 11–0 | 2nd | 2019 |
| Super Region 1 | Charleston (WV) | Mountain East | 9–1 | 2nd | 2015 |
| Super Region 1 | Kutztown | PSAC | 9–2 | 6th | 2021 |
| Super Region 1 | Slippery Rock | PSAC | 10–1 | 11th | 2022 |
| Super Region 1 | East Stroudsburg | PSAC | 9–2 | 5th | 2009 |
| Super Region 1 | Virginia Union* | CIAA | 10–1 | 11th | 2022 |
| Super Region 1 | New Haven | Northeast-10 | 8–2 | 9th | 2022 |
| Super Region 2 | Benedict | SIAC | 11–0 | 2nd | 2022 |
| Super Region 2 | Delta State | Gulf South | 9–1 | 11th | 2022 |
| Super Region 2 | Valdosta State | Gulf South | 10–1 | 19th | 2021 |
| Super Region 2 | Lenoir–Rhyne | SAC | 10–1 | 7th | 2021 |
| Super Region 2 | Shepherd* | PSAC | 9–2 | 15th | 2022 |
| Super Region 2 | Limestone | SAC | 8–3 | 2nd | 2022 |
| Super Region 2 | West Florida | Gulf South | 8–3 | 5th | 2022 |
| Super Region 3 | Harding | GAC | 11–0 | 6th | 2021 |
| Super Region 3 | Grand Valley State | GLIAC | 9–1 | 22nd | 2022 |
| Super Region 3 | Pittsburg State | MIAA | 10–1 | 20th | 2022 |
| Super Region 3 | Central Missouri | MIAA | 10–1 | 5th | 2019 |
| Super Region 3 | Henderson State | GAC | 9–2 | 4th | 2015 |
| Super Region 3 | Indianapolis | GLVC | 9–1 | 8th | 2022 |
| Super Region 3 | Ferris State | GLIAC | 8–2 | 14th | 2022 |
| Super Region 4 | Colorado Mines | RMAC | 11–0 | 9th | 2022 |
| Super Region 4 | Western Colorado | RMAC | 10–1 | 5th | 2021 |
| Super Region 4 | Texas–Permian Basin | Lone Star | 10–1 | 1st | — |
| Super Region 4 | Augustana (SD) | NSIC | 10–1 | 7th | 2021 |
| Super Region 4 | Minnesota State | NSIC | 9–2 | 14th | 2022 |
| Super Region 4 | Bemidji State | NSIC | 8–2 | 3rd | 2022 |
| Super Region 4 | Central Washington | Lone Star | 7–3 | 7th | 2021 |
* — Indicates a team playing outside of its assigned super region.

### Bracket
#### Super Region 1

| First Round November 18, 2023 Campus sites | First Round November 18, 2023 Campus sites | First Round November 18, 2023 Campus sites | Second Round November 25, 2023 Campus sites | Second Round November 25, 2023 Campus sites | Second Round November 25, 2023 Campus sites | Quarterfinals December 2, 2023 Campus sites | Quarterfinals December 2, 2023 Campus sites | Quarterfinals December 2, 2023 Campus sites |
| | | | 1 | Tiffin* | 35 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Slippery Rock | 45 | | | |
| | East Stroudsburg | 14 | 4 | Slippery Rock | 45 | | | |
| 4 | Slippery Rock* | 45 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Slippery Rock* | 45 | | | | 4 | Slippery Rock* | 16 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Kutztown | 28 |
| 3 | Kutztown* | 38 | | | | | | | 3 | Kutztown | 28 |
| | Virginia Union | 15 | | | | | | |
| | Virginia Union | 15 | 3 | Kutztown | 32 | | | |
| | | | 2 | Charleston (WV)* | 31 | | | |
| | New Haven | 44 | 2 | Charleston (WV)* | 31 | | | |
| 2 | Charleston (WV)* | 52 | | | | | | |

#### Super Region 2

| First Round November 18, 2023 Campus sites | First Round November 18, 2023 Campus sites | First Round November 18, 2023 Campus sites | Second Round November 25, 2023 Campus sites | Second Round November 25, 2023 Campus sites | Second Round November 25, 2023 Campus sites | Quarterfinals December 2, 2023 Campus sites | Quarterfinals December 2, 2023 Campus sites | Quarterfinals December 2, 2023 Campus sites |
| | | | 1 | Benedict* | 25 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Lenoir–Rhyne | 35 | | | |
| | Shepherd | 17 | 4 | Lenoir–Rhyne | 35 | | | |
| 4 | Lenoir–Rhyne* | 63 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Lenoir–Rhyne* | 63 | | | | 4 | Lenoir–Rhyne | 35 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Valdosta State* | 7 |
| 3 | Valdosta State* | 62 | | | | | | | 3 | Valdosta State* | 7 |
| | Limestone | 41 | | | | | | |
| | Limestone | 41 | 3 | Valdosta State | 38 | | | |
| | | | 2 | Delta State* | 31 | | | |
| | West Florida | 14 | 2 | Delta State* | 31 | | | |
| 2 | Delta State* | 48 | | | | | | |

#### Super Region 3

| First Round November 18, 2023 Campus sites | First Round November 18, 2023 Campus sites | First Round November 18, 2023 Campus sites | Second Round November 25, 2023 Campus sites | Second Round November 25, 2023 Campus sites | Second Round November 25, 2023 Campus sites | Quarterfinals December 2, 2023 Campus sites | Quarterfinals December 2, 2023 Campus sites | Quarterfinals December 2, 2023 Campus sites |
| | | | 1 | Harding* | 35 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Central Missouri | 34 | | | |
| | Henderson State | 14 | 4 | Central Missouri | 34 | | | |
| 4 | Central Missouri* | 56 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Central Missouri* | 56 | | | | 1 | Harding* | 7 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Grand Valley State | 6 |
| 3 | Pittsburg State* | 35 | | | | | | | 2 | Grand Valley State | 6 |
| | Indianapolis | 14 | | | | | | |
| | Indianapolis | 14 | 3 | Pittsburg State | 21 | | | |
| | | | 2 | Grand Valley State* | 24 | | | |
| | Ferris State | 14 | 2 | Grand Valley State* | 24 | | | |
| 2 | Grand Valley State* | 21 | | | | | | |

#### Super Region 4

| First Round November 18, 2023 Campus sites | First Round November 18, 2023 Campus sites | First Round November 18, 2023 Campus sites | Second Round November 25, 2023 Campus sites | Second Round November 25, 2023 Campus sites | Second Round November 25, 2023 Campus sites | Quarterfinals December 2, 2023 Campus sites | Quarterfinals December 2, 2023 Campus sites | Quarterfinals December 2, 2023 Campus sites |
| | | | 1 | Colorado Mines* | 56 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Augustana (SD) | 10 | | | |
| | Minnesota State | 24 | 4 | Augustana (SD) | 10 | | | |
| 4 | Augustana (SD)* | 51 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Augustana (SD)* | 51 | | | | 1 | Colorado Mines* | 38 |
| | | | | | | | Central Washington | 14 |
| 3 | Texas–Permian Basin* | 3 | | | | | | | Central Washington | 14 |
| | Bemidji State | 10 | | | | | | |
| | Bemidji State | 10 | | Bemidji State* | 17 | | | |
| | | | | Central Washington | 21 | | | |
| | Central Washington | 16 | | Central Washington | 21 | | | |
| 2 | Western Colorado* | 13 | | | | | | |

### Semifinals & Championship

Teams were re-seeded prior to semifinals.
| Semifinals December 9, 2023 Hosted by higher seeded team | Semifinals December 9, 2023 Hosted by higher seeded team | Semifinals December 9, 2023 Hosted by higher seeded team | Championship December 16, 2023 McKinney, Texas | Championship December 16, 2023 McKinney, Texas | Championship December 16, 2023 McKinney, Texas |
| 1 | Colorado Mines | 35 | | | |
| 4 | Kutztown | 7 | | | |
| 4 | Kutztown | 7 | 1 | Colorado Mines | 7 |
| | | | 2 | Harding | 38 |
| 3 | Lenoir–Rhyne | 14 | 2 | Harding | 38 |
| 2 | Harding | 55 | | | |

### Bowl games

There were four bowl games, which featured teams that did not qualify for the Division II postseason tournament.
The schedule included the inaugural edition of the Florida Beach Bowl, contested between teams from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), two conferences mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
| Date | Time (EST) | Game | Site | Television | Teams | Affiliations | Results |
| Dec. 1 | 7:00 p.m. | America's Crossroads Bowl | Hammond Central High School Hammond, Indiana | No broadcast | McKendree (5–5) Ashland (8–3) | GLVC GMAC | Ashland 23 McKendree 20 |
| Dec. 2 | 1:00 p.m. | Live United Bowl | Arkansas High School Texarkana, Arkansas | No broadcast | Southern Arkansas (9–2) Missouri Western (8–3) | GAC MIAA | Southern Arkansas 43 Missouri Western 27 |
| Dec. 2 | 1:00 p.m. | Heritage Bowl | Tiger Stadium Corsicana, Texas | No broadcast | Southern Nazarene (6–5) Emporia State (8–3) | GAC MIAA | Emporia State 55 Southern Nazarene 24 |
| Dec. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Florida Beach Bowl | DRV PNK Stadium Fort Lauderdale, Florida | HBCU Go | Johnson C. Smith (7–3) Fort Valley State (7–3) | CIAA SIAC | Fort Valley State 23 Johnson C. Smith 10 |

## Coaching changes
### Preseason and in-season

This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2023, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games.
| School | Outgoing coach | Date | Reason | Replacement | Previous position |
| Clark Atlanta | Willie Slater | October 2, 2023 | Fired | Richard Moncrief | Clark Atlanta offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2022–2023) |
| St. Augustine's | Howard Feggins | October 13, 2023 | Fired | Jody Owens | St. Augustine's defensive coordinator (2023) |

### End of season

This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season.
| School | Outgoing coach | Date | Reason | Replacement | Previous position |
| Morehouse | Gerard Wilcher | November 6, 2023 | Fired | Terance Mathis | Fellowship Christian (GA) assistant coach (2021) |
| West Chester | Bill Zwaan | November 6, 2023 | Retired | Duke Greco | Delaware Valley head coach (2014–2023) |
| Northeastern State | J. J. Eckert | November 13, 2023 | Contract expired | Darrin Chiaverini | Chaffey College head coach (2023) |
| Mississippi College | John Bland | November 13, 2023 | Resigned | Mike Kershaw | Rice wide receivers coach (2019–2023) |
| West Georgia | David Dean | November 13, 2023 | Resigned | Joel Taylor | Mercer defensive coordinator (2020–2023) |
| Wingate | Joe Reich | November 14, 2023 | Resigned (became school's athletic director) | Rashaan Jordan | Wingate defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2013–2023) |
| Hillsdale | Keith Otterbein | November 14, 2023 | Retired | Nate Shreffler | Hillsdale offensive coordinator (2011–2023) |
| UVA Wise | Dane Damron | November 14, 2023 | Resigned | Gary Bass | Quincy head coach (2017–2023) |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State | Ruzell McCoy (interim) | November 16, 2023 | Permanent replacement | Andrew Rice | Southern Arkansas offensive coordinator (2022–2023) |
| Lake Erie | DJ Boldin | November 21, 2023 | Resigned | David Price | Tiffin assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, and defensive line coach (2023) |
| Clark Atlanta | Richard Moncrief (interim) | November 27, 2023 | Permanent replacement | Teddy Keaton | Allen head coach (2018–2023) |
| Allen | Teddy Keaton | November 27, 2023 | Hired by Clark Atlanta | Cedric Pearl | Alabama A&M defensive line coach (2022–2023) |
| William Jewell | Neil Linhart (interim) | November 28, 2023 | Permanent replacement | Jason Ambroson | Smithville HS (MO) head coach (2015–2023) |
| Carson–Newman | Mike Clowney | November 29, 2023 | Fired | Ashley Ingram | Navy assistant head coach and offensive line coach (2023) |
| Pittsburg State | Brian Wright | December 3, 2023 | Hired by Northern Arizona | Tom Anthony | Pittsburg State assistant head coach and defensive coordinator (2022) |
| Benedict | Chennis Berry | December 7, 2023 | Hired by South Carolina State | Ron Dickerson Jr. | West Florida offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach (2023) |
| Tusculum | Jerry Odom | December 8, 2023 | Resigned | Billy Taylor | East Tennessee State associate head coach and defensive coordinator (2013–2023) |
| Midwestern State | Bill Maskill | December 10, 2023 | Retired | Rich Renner | Midwestern State defensive coordinator (2008–2023) |
| Lincoln (MO) | Jermaine Gales | December 11, 2023 | Hired as offensive coordinator by Alcorn State | Moses Harper | Nebraska–Kearney wide receivers coach (2023) |
| Tiffin | Cris Reisert | December 12, 2023 | Hired by Gardner–Webb | Brett Ekkens | Saginaw Valley State offensive coordinator and offensive line coach (2022–2023) |
| Quincy | Gary Bass | December 13, 2023 | Hired by UVA Wise | Jason Killday | Truman assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach (2016–2023) |
| Fairmont State | Jason Woodman | December 19, 2023 | Hired by Morehead State | Luke Barker | Charleston (WV) associate head coach and offensive coordinator (2021–2023) |
| Bluefield State | Tony Coaxum | January 10, 2024 | Fired | Davon Morgan | Florida A&M defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach (2022–2023) |
| Lenoir–Rhyne | Mike Jacobs | January 18, 2024 | Hired as head coach by Mercer | Doug Socha | Keiser head coach (2017–2023) |
| Truman | Gregg Nesbitt | February 9, 2024 | Retired | Kellen Nesbitt (full-season interim; named full-time on December 30, 2024) | Truman assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, and special teams coordinator (2016–2023) |
| Limestone | Mike Furrey | February 29, 2024 | Hired as wide receivers coach for South Carolina | Jerricho Cotchery | Limestone assistant head coach and wide receivers coach (2022–2023) |