# List of NCAA Division I-AA/FCS football seasons

A list of NCAA Division I-AA college football seasons since the divisional split in 1978. In 2006, Division I-AA was renamed Division I Football Championship Subdivision (or Division I FCS for short).
| Year | Conference Champions | National Champion | Payton Award | Buchanan Award |
| 1978 | Big Sky Conference – Northern Arizona Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – South Carolina State Ohio Valley Conference – Western Kentucky Southwestern Athletic Conference – Grambling State Yankee Conference – Massachusetts | Florida A&M | | |
| 1979 | Big Sky Conference – Montana State Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Morgan State Ohio Valley Conference – Murray State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Alcorn State and Grambling State Yankee Conference – Boston U and Massachusetts | Eastern Kentucky | | |
| 1980 | Big Sky Conference – Boise State Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – South Carolina State Ohio Valley Conference – Western Kentucky Southwestern Athletic Conference – Grambling State and Jackson State Yankee Conference – Boston U | Boise State | | |
| 1981 | Big Sky Conference – Idaho State Mid-Continent Athletic Association – Eastern Illinois, Northern Iowa, and Western Illinois Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – South Carolina State Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State Yankee Conference – Massachusetts and Rhode Island | Idaho State | | |
| 1982 | Association of Mid-Continent Universities – Eastern Illinois and Northern Iowa Big Sky Conference – Montana Ivy League – Dartmouth, Harvard, and Penn Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – South Carolina State Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky Southern Conference – Furman Southland Conference – Louisiana Tech Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State Yankee Conference – Boston U, Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts | Eastern Kentucky (2) | | |
| 1983 | Association of Mid-Continent Universities – Eastern Illinois Big Sky Conference – Nevada Ivy League – Harvard and Penn Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – South Carolina State Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky Southern Conference – Furman Southland Conference – Northeast Louisiana and North Texas State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Grambling State Yankee Conference – Boston U and Connecticut | Southern Illinois | | |
| 1984 | Association of Mid-Continent Universities – Eastern Illinois, Northern Iowa, and Western Illinois Big Sky Conference – Montana State Ivy League – Penn Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Bethune-Cookman Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky Southern Conference – Chattanooga Southland Conference – Louisiana Tech Southwestern Athletic Conference – Alcorn State Yankee Conference – Boston U and Rhode Island | Montana State | | |
| 1985 | Big Sky Conference – Idaho Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference – Northern Iowa Ivy League – Penn Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Delaware State Ohio Valley Conference – Middle Tennessee Southern Conference – Furman Southland Conference – Arkansas State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Grambling State and Jackson State Yankee Conference – Rhode Island | Georgia Southern | | |
| 1986 | Big Sky Conference – Nevada Colonial League – Holy Cross Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference – Eastern Illinois Ivy League – Penn Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – North Carolina A&T Ohio Valley Conference – Murray State Southern Conference – Appalachian State Southland Conference – Arkansas State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State Yankee Conference – Connecticut, Delaware, and Massachusetts | Georgia Southern (2) | | |
| 1987 | Big Sky Conference – Idaho Colonial League – Holy Cross Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference – Northern Iowa Ivy League – Harvard Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Howard Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky and Youngstown State Southern Conference – Appalachian State Southland Conference – Northeast Louisiana Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State Yankee Conference – Maine and Richmond | Northeast Louisiana | Kenny Gamble – RB (Colgate) | |
| 1988 | Big Sky Conference – Idaho Colonial League – Lafayette Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference – Western Illinois Ivy League – Cornell and Penn Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Bethune-Cookman, Delaware State, and Florida A&M Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky Southern Conference – Furman and Marshall Southland Conference – Northwestern State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State Yankee Conference – Delaware and Massachusetts | Furman | Dave Meggett – RB (Towson) | |
| 1989 | Big Sky Conference – Idaho Colonial League – Holy Cross Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference – Southwest Missouri State Ivy League – Princeton and Yale Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Delaware State Ohio Valley Conference – Middle Tennessee Southern Conference – Furman Southland Conference – Stephen F. Austin Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State Yankee Conference – Connecticut, Maine, and Villanova | Georgia Southern (3) | John Friesz – QB (Idaho) | |
| 1990 | Big Sky Conference – Nevada Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference – Northern Iowa Ivy League – Cornell and Dartmouth Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Florida A&M Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky and Middle Tennessee Patriot League – Holy Cross Southern Conference – Furman Southland Conference – Northeast Louisiana Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State Yankee Conference – Massachusetts | Georgia Southern (4) | Walter Dean – RB (Grambling State) | |
| 1991 | Big Sky Conference – Nevada Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference – Northern Iowa Ivy League – Dartmouth Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – North Carolina A&T Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky Patriot League – Holy Cross Southern Conference – Appalachian State Southland Conference – McNeese State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Alabama State Yankee Conference – Delaware, New Hampshire, and Villanova | Youngstown State | Jamie Martin – QB (Weber State) | |
| 1992 | Big Sky Conference – Eastern Washington and Idaho Gateway Football Conference – Northern Iowa Ivy League – Dartmouth and Princeton Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – North Carolina A&T Ohio Valley Conference – Middle Tennessee Patriot League – Lafayette Southern Conference – The Citadel Southland Conference – Northeast Louisiana Southwestern Athletic Conference – Alcorn State Yankee Conference – Delaware | Marshall | Michael Payton – QB (Marshall) | |
| 1993 | American West Conference – Southern Utah and UC Davis Big Sky Conference – Montana Gateway Football Conference – Northern Iowa Ivy League – Penn Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Iona Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Howard Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky Patriot League – Lehigh Pioneer Football League – Dayton Southern Conference – Georgia Southern Southland Conference – McNeese State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Southern Yankee Conference – Boston University | Youngstown State (2) | Doug Nussmeier – QB (Idaho) | |
| 1994 | American West Conference – Cal Poly Big Sky Conference – Boise State Gateway Football Conference – Northern Iowa Ivy League – Penn Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Marist and St. John's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – South Carolina State Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky Patriot League – Lafayette Pioneer Football League – Butler and Dayton Southern Conference – Marshall Southland Conference – North Texas Southwestern Athletic Conference – Alcorn State and Grambling State Yankee Conference – New Hampshire | Youngstown State (3) | Steve McNair – QB (Alcorn State) | |
| 1995 | American West Conference – Sacramento State Big Sky Conference – Montana Gateway Football Conference – Eastern Illinois and Northern Iowa Ivy League – Princeton Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Florida A&M Ohio Valley Conference – Murray State Patriot League – Lehigh Pioneer Football League – Drake Southern Conference – Appalachian State Southland Conference – McNeese State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State Yankee Conference – Delaware | Montana | Dave Dickenson – QB (Montana) | Dexter Coakley – LB (Appalachian State) |
| 1996 | Big Sky Conference – Montana Gateway Football Conference – Northern Iowa Ivy League – Dartmouth Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Florida A&M Northeast Conference – Monmouth and Robert Morris Ohio Valley Conference – Murray State Patriot League – Bucknell Pioneer Football League – Dayton Southern Conference – Marshall Southland Football League – Troy State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State Yankee Conference – William & Mary | Marshall (2) | Archie Amerson – RB (Northern Arizona) | Dexter Coakley – LB (Appalachian State) |
| 1997 | Atlantic 10 Conference – Villanova Big Sky Conference – Eastern Washington Gateway Football Conference – Western Illinois Ivy League – Harvard Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Georgetown Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Hampton Northeast Conference – Robert Morris Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky Patriot League – Colgate Pioneer Football League – Dayton Southern Conference – Georgia Southern Southland Football League – McNeese State and Northwestern State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Southern | Youngstown State (4) | Brian Finneran – WR (Villanova) | Chris McNeil – DE (North Carolina A&T) |
| 1998 | Atlantic 10 Conference – Richmond Big Sky Conference – Montana Gateway Football Conference – Western Illinois Ivy League – Penn Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Fairfield and Georgetown Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Florida A&M and Hampton Northeast Conference – Monmouth and Robert Morris Ohio Valley Conference – Tennessee State Patriot League – Lehigh Pioneer Football League – Drake Southern Conference – Georgia Southern Southland Football League – Northwestern State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Southern | Massachusetts | Jerry Azumah – RB (New Hampshire) | James Milton – LB (Western Illinois) |
| 1999 | Atlantic 10 Conference – James Madison and Massachusetts Big Sky Conference – Montana Gateway Football Conference – Illinois State Ivy League – Brown and Yale Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – North Carolina A&T Northeast Conference – Robert Morris Ohio Valley Conference – Tennessee State Patriot League – Colgate and Lehigh Pioneer Football League – Dayton Southern Conference – Appalachian State, Furman, and Georgia Southern Southland Football League – Stephen F. Austin and Troy State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Southern | Georgia Southern (5) | Adrian Peterson – RB (Georgia Southern) | Al Lucas – DT (Troy State) |
| 2000 | Atlantic 10 Conference – Delaware and Richmond Big Sky Conference – Montana Gateway Football Conference – Western Illinois Ivy League – Penn Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Florida A&M Northeast Conference – Robert Morris Ohio Valley Conference – Western Kentucky Patriot League – Lehigh Pioneer Football League – Dayton, Drake, and Valparaiso Southern Conference – Georgia Southern Southland Football League – Troy State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Grambling State | Georgia Southern (6) | Louis Ivory – RB (Furman) | Edgerton Hartwell – LB (Western Illinois) |
| 2001 | Atlantic 10 Conference – Hofstra, Maine, Villanova, and William & Mary Big Sky Conference – Montana Gateway Football Conference – Northern Iowa Ivy League – Harvard Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Florida A&M Northeast Conference – Sacred Heart Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Illinois Patriot League – Lehigh Pioneer Football League – Dayton Southern Conference – Furman and Georgia Southern Southland Football League – McNeese State and Sam Houston State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Grambling State | Montana (2) | Brian Westbrook – RB (Villanova) | Derrick Lloyd – LB (James Madison) |
| 2002 | Atlantic 10 Conference – Maine and Northeastern Big Sky Conference – Idaho State, Montana, and Montana State Big South Conference – Gardner-Webb Gateway Football Conference – Western Illinois and Western Kentucky Ivy League – Penn Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Bethune-Cookman Northeast Conference – Albany Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Illinois and Murray State Patriot League – Colgate and Fordham Pioneer Football League – Dayton Southern Conference – Georgian Southern Southland Football League – McNeese State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Grambling State | Western Kentucky | Tony Romo – QB (Eastern Illinois) | Rashean Mathis – FS (Bethune-Cookman) |
| 2003 | Atlantic 10 Conference – Delaware and Massachusetts Big Sky Conference – Montana, Montana State, and Northern Arizona Big South Conference – Gardner-Webb Gateway Football Conference – Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois Ivy League – Penn Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – North Carolina A&T Northeast Conference – Albany and Monmouth Ohio Valley Conference – Jacksonville State Patriot League – Colgate Pioneer Football League – Valparaiso Southern Conference – Wofford Southland Conference – McNeese State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Southern | Delaware | Jamaal Branch – RB (Colgate) | Jared Allen – DE (Idaho State) |
| 2004 | Atlantic 10 Conference – Delaware, James Madison, and William & Mary Big Sky Conference – Eastern Washington and Montana Big South Conference – Coastal Carolina Gateway Football Conference – Southern Illinois Great West Football Conference – Cal Poly Ivy League – Harvard Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Hampton and South Carolina State Northeast Conference – Central Connecticut State and Monmouth Ohio Valley Conference – Jacksonville State Patriot League – Lafayette and Lehigh Pioneer Football League – Drake Southern Conference – Furman and Georgia Southern Southland Conference – Northwestern State and Sam Houston State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Alabama State | James Madison | Lang Campbell – QB (William & Mary) | Jordan Beck – LB (Cal Poly) |
| 2005 | Atlantic 10 Conference – New Hampshire and Richmond Big Sky Conference – Eastern Washington, Montana, and Montana State Big South Conference – Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina Gateway Football Conference – Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, and Youngstown State Great West Football Conference – Cal Poly and UC Davis Ivy League – Brown Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Hampton Northeast Conference – Central Connecticut State and Stony Brook Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Illinois Patriot League – Colgate and Lafayette Pioneer Football League – San Diego Southern Conference – Appalachian State Southland Conference – Nicholls State and Texas State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Grambling State | Appalachian State | Erik Meyer – QB (Eastern Washington) | Chris Gocong – DE (Cal Poly) |
| 2006 | Atlantic 10 Conference – Massachusetts Big Sky Conference – Montana Big South Conference – Coastal Carolina Gateway Football Conference – Youngstown State Great West Football Conference – North Dakota State Ivy League – Princeton and Yale Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne and Marist Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Hampton Northeast Conference – Monmouth Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Illinois and Tennessee-Martin Patriot League – Colgate, Lafayette, and Lehigh Pioneer Football League – San Diego Southern Conference – Appalachian State Southland Conference – McNeese State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Alabama A&M | Appalachian State (2) | Ricky Santos – QB (New Hampshire) | Kyle Shotwell – LB (Cal Poly) |
| 2007 | Big Sky Conference – Montana Big South Conference – Liberty CAA Football – Massachusetts and Richmond Gateway Football Conference – Northern Iowa Great West Football Conference – South Dakota State Ivy League – Harvard Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference – Duquesne, Iona, and Marist Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Delaware State Northeast Conference – Albany Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky Patriot League – Fordham Pioneer Football League – Dayton and San Diego Southern Conference – Appalachian State and Wofford Southland Conference – McNeese State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Jackson State | Appalachian State (3) | Jayson Foster – QB (Georgia Southern) | Kroy Biermann – DE (Montana) |
| 2008 | Big Sky Conference – Montana and Weber State Big South Conference – Liberty CAA Football – James Madison Great West Conference – Cal Poly Ivy League – Brown and Harvard Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – South Carolina State Missouri Valley Football Conference – Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois Northeast Conference – Albany Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Kentucky Patriot League – Colgate Pioneer Football League – Jacksonville Southern Conference – Appalachian State Southland Conference – Texas State Southwestern Athletic Conference – Grambling State | Richmond | Armanti Edwards – QB (Appalachian State) | Greg Peach – DE (Eastern Washington) |
| 2009 | Big Sky Conference – Montana Big South Conference – Liberty and Stony Brook CAA Football – Richmond and Villanova Great West Conference – UC Davis Ivy League – Pennsylvania Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – South Carolina State Missouri Valley Football Conference – Southern Illinois Northeast Conference – Central Connecticut State Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Illinois Patriot League – Holy Cross Pioneer Football League – Butler and Dayton Southern Conference – Appalachian State Southland Conference – McNeese State and Stephen F. Austin Southwestern Athletic Conference – Prairie View A&M | Villanova | Armanti Edwards – QB (Appalachian State) | Arthur Moats – DE (James Madison) |
| 2010 | Big Sky Conference - Eastern Washington, Montana State Big South Conference - Coastal Carolina, Liberty, Stony Brook CAA Football - Delaware, William & Mary Great West Conference - Southern Utah Ivy League - Pennsylvania Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference - Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M, South Carolina State Missouri Valley Football Conference - Northern Iowa Northeast Conference - Central Connecticut State, Robert Morris Ohio Valley Conference - Southeast Missouri State Patriot League - Lehigh Pioneer Football League - Dayton, Jacksonville Southern Conference - Appalachian State, Wofford Southland Conference - Stephen F. Austin Southwestern Athletic Conference - Texas Southern | Eastern Washington | Jeremy Moses – QB (Stephen F. Austin) | J. C. Sherritt – LB (Eastern Washington) |
| 2011 | Big Sky Conference - Montana State Big South Conference - Stony Brook CAA Football - Towson Great West Conference - Cal Poly, North Dakota Ivy League - Harvard Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference - Norfolk State Missouri Valley Football Conference - North Dakota State, Northern Iowa Northeast Conference - Albany, Duquesne Ohio Valley Conference - Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Tennessee Tech Patriot League - Lehigh Pioneer Football League - Drake, San Diego Southern Conference - Georgia Southern Southland Conference - Sam Houston State Southwestern Athletic Conference - Grambling State | North Dakota State | Bo Levi Mitchell – QB (Eastern Washington) | Matt Evans – LB (New Hampshire) |
| 2012 | Big Sky Conference – Eastern Washington, Montana State, Cal Poly Big South Conference – Coastal Carolina, Liberty, Stony Brook CAA Football – Old Dominion, New Hampshire, Richmond, Towson, Villanova Ivy League – Pennsylvania Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference – Bethune-Cookman Missouri Valley Football Conference – North Dakota State Northeast Conference – Wagner and Albany Ohio Valley Conference – Eastern Illinois Patriot League – Colgate Pioneer Football League – Drake, San Diego and Butler Southern Conference – Georgia Southern, Wofford and Appalachian State Southland Conference – Central Arkansas and Sam Houston Southwestern Athletic Conference – Arkansas-Pine Bluff | North Dakota State (2) | Taylor Heinicke – QB (Old Dominion) | Caleb Schreibeis – DE (Montana State) |
| 2013 | Big Sky Conference - Eastern Washington Big South Conference - Coastal Carolina, Liberty CAA Football - Maine Ivy League - Harvard, Princeton Mid-Eastern Athletic Association - Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State Missouri Valley Football Conference - North Dakota State Northeast Conference - Duquesne, Sacred Heart Ohio Valley Conference - Eastern Illinois Patriot League - Lafayette Pioneer Football League - Butler, Marist Southern Conference - Chattanooga, Furman, Samford Southland Conference - Southeastern Louisiana Southwestern Athletic Conference - Southern | North Dakota State (3) | Jimmy Garoppolo – QB (Eastern Illinois) | Brad Daly – DE (Montana State) |
| 2014 | Big Sky Conference - Eastern Washington Big South Conference - Coastal Carolina, Liberty CAA Football - New Hampshire Ivy League - Harvard, Princeton Mid-Eastern Athletic Association - Bethune-Cookman, Morgan State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, South Carolina State Missouri Valley Football Conference - Illinois State, North Dakota State Northeast Conference - Sacred Heart, Wagner Ohio Valley Conference - Jacksonville State Patriot League - Fordham Pioneer Football League - San Diego Southern Conference - Chattanooga Southland Conference - Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana Southwestern Athletic Conference - Alcorn State | North Dakota State (4) | John Robertson – QB (Villanova) | Kyle Emanuel – DE (North Dakota State) |
| 2015 | Big Sky Conference - Southern Utah Big South Conference - Charleston Southern CAA Football - James Madison, Richmond, William & Mary Ivy League - Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn Mid-Eastern Athletic Association - Bethune-Cookman, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central Missouri Valley Football Conference - Illinois State, North Dakota State Northeast Conference - Duquesne Ohio Valley Conference - Jacksonville State Patriot League - Colgate Pioneer Football League - Dayton, San Diego Southern Conference - Chattanooga, The Citadel Southland Conference - McNeese State Southwestern Athletic Conference - Alcorn State | North Dakota State (5) | Cooper Kupp – WR (Eastern Washington) | Deon King – LB (Norfolk State) |
| 2016 | Big Sky Conference - Eastern Washington, North Dakota Big South Conference - Charleston Southern, Liberty CAA Football - James Madison Ivy League - Princeton, Penn Mid-Eastern Athletic Association - North Carolina Central Missouri Valley Football Conference - North Dakota State, South Dakota State Northeast Conference - Duquesne, St Francis (PA) Ohio Valley Conference - Jacksonville State Patriot League - Lehigh Pioneer Football League - San Diego Southern Conference - The Citadel Southland Conference - Sam Houston State Southwestern Athletic Conference - Grambling State | James Madison (2) | Jeremiah Briscoe – QB (Sam Houston State) | Karter Schult – DE (Northern Iowa) |
| 2017 | Big Sky Conference - Southern Utah, Weber State Big South Conference - Kennesaw State CAA Football - James Madison Ivy League - Yale Mid-Eastern Athletic Association - North Carolina A&T Missouri Valley Football Conference - North Dakota State Northeast Conference - Central Connecticut Ohio Valley Conference - Jacksonville State Patriot League - Colgate, Lehigh Pioneer Football League - San Diego Southern Conference - Wofford Southland Conference - Central Arkansas Southwestern Athletic Conference - Grambling State | North Dakota State (6) | Jeremiah Briscoe – QB (Sam Houston State) | Darius Jackson – DE (Jacksonville State) |
| 2018 | Big Sky Conference - Weber State, Eastern Washington, UC Davis Big South Conference - Kennesaw State CAA Football - Maine Ivy League - Princeton Mid-Eastern Athletic Association - North Carolina A&T Missouri Valley Football Conference - North Dakota State Northeast Conference - Duquesne, Sacred Heart Ohio Valley Conference - Jacksonville State Patriot League - Colgate Pioneer Football League - San Diego Southern Conference - Wofford, East Tennessee State, Furman Southland Conference - Nicholls, Incarnate Word Southwestern Athletic Conference - Alcorn State | North Dakota State (7) | Devlin Hodges – QB (Samford) | Zach Hall – LB (Southeast Missouri State) |
| 2019 | Big Sky Conference - Sacramento State, Weber State Big South Conference - Monmouth CAA Football - James Madison Ivy League - Dartmouth, Yale Mid-Eastern Athletic Association - North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State Missouri Valley Football Conference - North Dakota State Northeast Conference - Central Connecticut Ohio Valley Conference - Austin Peay, Southeast Missouri State Patriot League - Holy Cross Pioneer Football League - San Diego Southern Conference - Wofford Southland Conference - Central Arkansas, Nicholls Southwestern Athletic Conference - Alcorn State | North Dakota State (8) | Trey Lance QB (North Dakota State) | Dante Olson LB (Montana) |
| 2020 | Big Sky Conference - Weber State Big South Conference - Monmouth CAA Football - Delaware Ivy League - No season Mid-Eastern Athletic Association - No champion Missouri Valley Football Conference - Missouri State, South Dakota State Northeast Conference - Sacred Heart Ohio Valley Conference - Jacksonville State Patriot League - Holy Cross Pioneer Football League - Davidson Southern Conference - VMI Southland Conference - Sam Houston State Southwestern Athletic Conference - Alabama A&M | Sam Houston State | Cole Kelley QB (Southeastern Louisiana) | Jordan Lewis DL (Southern) |
| 2021 | Big Sky Conference - Sacramento State Big South Conference - Kennesaw State CAA Football - James Madison and Villanova Ivy League - Dartmouth and Princeton Mid-Eastern Athletic Association - South Carolina State Missouri Valley Football Conference - North Dakota State Northeast Conference - Sacred Heart Ohio Valley Conference - UT Martin Patriot League - Holy Cross Pioneer Football League - Davidson and San Diego Southern Conference - East Tennessee State Southland Conference - Incarnate Word Southwestern Athletic Conference - Jackson State Western Athletic Conference - Sam Houston State | North Dakota State (9) | Eric Barriere QB (Eastern Washington) | Isaiah Land LB (Florida A&M) |
| 2022 | ASUN Conference - Jacksonville State Big Sky Conference - Montana State and Sacramento State Big South Conference - Gardner–Webb CAA Football - New Hampshire and William & Mary Ivy League - Yale Mid-Eastern Athletic Association - Howard and North Carolina Central Missouri Valley Football Conference - South Dakota State Northeast Conference - Saint Francis (PA) Ohio Valley Conference - Southeast Missouri State and UT Martin Patriot League - Holy Cross Pioneer Football League - St. Thomas (MN) Southern Conference - Samford Southland Conference - Incarnate Word and Southeastern Louisiana Southwestern Athletic Conference - Jackson State Western Athletic Conference - Abilene Christian and Stephen F. Austin | South Dakota State | Lindsey Scott Jr. QB (Incarnate Word) | Zeke Vandenburgh LB (Illinois State) |
| 2023 | Big Sky Conference - Montana Big South–OVC - Gardner–Webb and UT Martin CAA Football - Albany, Delaware, Richmond, and Villanova Ivy League - Dartmouth, Harvard, and Yale Mid-Eastern Athletic Association - Howard and North Carolina Central Missouri Valley Football Conference - South Dakota State Northeast Conference - Duquense Patriot League - Lafayette Pioneer Football League - Drake Southern Conference - Furman Southland Conference - Nicholls Southwestern Athletic Conference - Florida A&M United Athletic Conference - Abilene Christian | South Dakota State | Mark Gronowski QB (South Dakota State) | Terrell Allen DB (Tennessee State) |
| 2024 | Big Sky Conference - Montana State Big South–OVC - Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, and UT Martin CAA Football - Rhode Island, Richmond Ivy League - Columbia, Dartmouth, and Harvard Mid-Eastern Athletic Association - South Carolina State Missouri Valley Football Conference - North Dakota State, South Dakota, and South Dakota State Northeast Conference - Central Connecticut and Duquense Patriot League - Holy Cross and Lehigh Pioneer Football League - Drake Southern Conference - Mercer Southland Conference - Incarnate Word Southwestern Athletic Conference - Jackson State United Athletic Conference - Abilene Christian | North Dakota State (10) | Tommy Mellott QB (Montana State) | David Walker LB (Central Arkansas) |