# 2004 NCAA Division II football season

The 2004 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 August 26, 2004, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 11, 2004 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama. The Valdosta State Blazers defeated the Pittsburg State Gorillas, 36–31, to win their first Division II national title.
The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Chad Friehauf, quarterback from Colorado Mines.

## Conference changes and new programs

| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Gannon | Independent | GLIAC |
| Kentucky Wesleyan | Independent | Mid-South (NAIA) |
| Minnesota–Duluth | NSIC | NCC |
| New Haven | Independent | Dropped program |
| Northern Colorado | Independent | Great West (I-AA) |
| North Dakota State | NCC | Great West (I-AA) |
| South Dakota State | NCC | Great West (I-AA) |
| Upper Iowa | IIAC (D-III) | Independent |

### Regional realignment

The South Region was renamed the Southeast Region but stayed the same, while the Northeast Region lost the GLIAC. The West Region lost the GNAC, gained the MIAA, and became the Southwest Region. The new Northwest Region contained the GLIAC and GNAC, plus the NCC and NSIC from the former Midwest Region.

## Conference standings
### Northeast Region

2004 Northeast-10 Conference football standings :
| 2004 Northeast-10 Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 20 Bentley +^  8 –1  8 –2   C. W. Post +^  8 –1  8 –3   Southern Connecticut  7 –2  8 –2   Merrimack  7 –2  8 –2   American International  5 –4  5 –4   Bryant  4 –5  4 –5   Saint Anselm  3 –6  4 –6   Stonehill  2 –7  2 –7   Assumption  1 –8  1 –9   Pace  0 –9  0 –10   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2004 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East No. 7 West Chester x^  6 –0  11 –4   No. 12 East Stroudsburg ^  5 –1  10 –2   Bloomsburg  4 –2  7 –3   Millersville  3 –3  5 –5   Kutztown  2 –4  4 –6   Mansfield  1 –5  1 –9   Cheyney  0 –6  1 –10   West No. 15 Shippensburg x^  5 –1  10 –2   No. 18 Edinboro x^  5 –1  9 –3   IUP x  5 –1  7 –3   California (PA)  2 –4  6 –4   Slippery Rock  2 –4  4 –7   Clarion  1 –5  3 –8   Lock Haven  1 –5  3 –8   x – Division champion/co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2004 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Shepherd $  7 –0  7 –3   Glenville State  5 –2  5 –6   West Virginia Wesleyan  4 –3  6 –5   Fairmont State  4 –3  5 –5   Concord  4 –3  5 –6   West Virginia State  2 –5  3 –8   West Virginia Tech  2 –5  2 –9   West Liberty State  0 –7  2 –8   $ – Conference champion |
| 2004 NCAA Division II Northeast Region independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Charleston (WV)   –  3 –7 |

### Southeast Region

2004 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings :
| 2004 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Eastern Shaw # xy$  5 –2  10 –2   Bowie State  4 –3  5 –5   Virginia State  3 –4  6 –4   Virginia Union  2 –5  2 –8   Elizabeth City State  2 –5  3 –7   Western Fayetteville State xy^  6 –1  8 –4   North Carolina Central x  6 –1  8 –2   Winston-Salem State  4 –3  4 –6   Livingstone  2 –5  2 –8   St. Augustine's @  0 –4  0 –6   Johnson C. Smith  0 –7  0 –10   Championship: Shaw 10, Fayetteville State 7 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – [Pioneer Bowl]] participant @ – St. Augustine's vacated 4 wins including 3 in conference play. | 2004 Gulf South Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 1 Valdosta State $^  9 –0  13 –1   No. 16 Arkansas Tech ^  8 –1  10 –2   Central Arkansas  6 –3  8 –3   Delta State  6 –3  6 –4   Arkansas–Monticello  5 –4  6 –5   Harding  4 –5  6 –5   North Alabama  4 –5  5 –5   Southern Arkansas  3 –6  5 –6   West Georgia  2 –6  2 –7   Ouachita Baptist  2 –6  2 –7   Henderson State  2 –7  2 –8   West Alabama  2 –7  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2004 South Atlantic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 14 Carson–Newman $^  6 –1  9 –3   Wingate  4 –3  8 –3   Catawba ^  4 –3  7 –4   Tusculum  4 –3  6 –4   Presbyterian  4 –3  6 –5   Mars Hill  3 –4  6 –4   Lenoir–Rhyne  2 –5  3 –8   Newberry  1 –6  5 –6   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll |
| 2004 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 5 Albany State $^  8 –0  11 –1   No. 22 Tuskegee  7 –1  10 –2   Miles  6 –2  7 –3   Kentucky State  5 –3  7 –4   Fort Valley State  4 –4  7 –4   Morehouse  3 –5  4 –6   Benedict  2 –6  3 –8   Clark Atlanta  1 –7  1 –9   Lane  0 –8  2 –9   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2004 NCAA Division II Southeast Region independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Stillman #   –  5 –5   North Greenville   –  3 –7   # – Provisional Division II member |

### Northwest Region

2004 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings :
| 2004 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 10 Northwood +^  9 –1  10 –2   No. 11 Michigan Tech +^  9 –1  9 –2   No. 9 Grand Valley State ^  8 –2  10 –3   No. 25 Saginaw Valley State  7 –3  7 –3   Ferris State  6 –4  6 –5   Findlay  5 –5  6 –5   Ashland  4 –6  5 –6   Hillsdale  4 –6  4 –7   Mercyhurst  4 –6  4 –7   Gannon  3 –7  4 –7   Indianapolis  3 –7  4 –7   Northern Michigan  2 –8  2 –8   Wayne State (MI)  1 –9  1 –9   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2004 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Central Washington $  5 –1  7 –4   Western Washington  3 –3  6 –4   Humboldt State  3 –3  5 –5   Western Oregon  1 –5  1 –9   $ – Conference champion | 2004 North Central Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 24 Nebraska–Omaha $  5 –1  8 –3   No. 19 South Dakota  4 –2  9 –2   No. 4 North Dakota ^  4 –2  11 –3   No. 17 St. Cloud State ^  4 –2  8 –3   Minnesota State  3 –3  6 –5   Minnesota–Duluth  1 –5  4 –7   Augustana (SD)  0 –6  3 –8   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2004 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 13 Winona State $^  7 –0  10 –2   Bemidji State  5 –2  8 –3   Northern State #  5 –2  6 –5   Concordia–St. Paul  4 –3  7 –4   SW Minnesota State  3 –4  5 –6   Minnesota–Crookston  2 –5  2 –8   Wayne State (NE)  2 –5  3 –8   Minnesota State–Moorhead  0 –7  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2004 NCAA Division II Northwest Region independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Saint Joseph's (IN)   –  7 –4   Tiffin   –  5 –6   Upper Iowa #   –  2 –8   # – Provisional Division II member |

### Southwest Region

2004 Lone Star Conference football standings :
| 2004 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  North No. 21 Central Oklahoma  7 –2  8 –2   No. 23 SE Oklahoma State ^  7 –2  8 –3   Tarleton State  6 –3  7 –4   East Central  5 –4  6 –4   SW Oklahoma State  1 –8  1 –9   Northeastern State  0 –9  0 –10   South No. 6 Texas A&M–Kingsville $^  8 –1  9 –2   Midwestern State ^  7 –2  8 –3   Eastern New Mexico  5 –4  6 –5   Abilene Christian  5 –4  5 –5   Texas A&M–Commerce  4 –5  4 –6   West Texas A&M  2 –7  2 –8   Angelo State  2 –7  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2004 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 2 Pittsburg State $^  9 –0  14 –1   No. 3 NW Missouri State ^  8 –1  11 –2   Washburn #  6 –3  8 –4   Central Missouri State  5 –4  7 –4   Emporia State  4 –5  5 –6   Missouri Southern  4 –5  5 –6   Missouri Western  4 –5  5 –6   Missouri–Rolla  2 –7  3 –8   Truman  2 –7  2 –9   Southwest Baptist  1 –8  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2004 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 8 Colorado Mines $^  8 –0  12 –1   Chadron State  6 –2  7 –3   Adams State  6 –2  7 –4   Fort Hays State  5 –3  6 –5   Nebraska–Kearney  4 –4  5 –6   Fort Lewis  3 –5  4 –6   New Mexico Highlands  2 –6  3 –8   Western State  2 –6  3 –8   Mesa State  0 –8  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2004 NCAA Division II Southwest Region independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  OK Panhandle State   –  6 –5   Western New Mexico   –  2 –8   Lincoln (MO)   –  1 –9 |

## Conference summaries

* Conference Champions
* Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Shaw
* Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Michigan Tech and Northwood
* Great Northwest Athletic Conference – Central Washington
* Gulf South Conference – Valdosta State
* Lone Star Conference – Texas A&M–Kingsville
* Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – Pittsburg State
* North Central Conference – Nebraska–Omaha
* Northeast-10 Conference – Bentley and C.W. Post
* Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Winona State
* Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – West Chester (East), Edinboro, Indiana (PA), and Shippensburg (West)
* Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Colorado Mines
* South Atlantic Conference – Carson-Newman
* Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Albany State
* West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Shepherd

## Postseason

The 2004 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 31st 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 17th time. This was the first year of a 24-team playoff bracket.

### Seeded teams

* Albany State
* East Stroudsburg
* Michigan Tech
* Northwest Missouri State
* Northwood
* Pittsburg State
* Shippensburg
* Valdosta State

### Playoff bracket

| First round November 13 Campus Sites | First round November 13 Campus Sites | First round November 13 Campus Sites | | | Second round November 20 Campus Sites | Second round November 20 Campus Sites | Second round November 20 Campus Sites | Quarterfinals November 27 Campus Sites | Quarterfinals November 27 Campus Sites | Quarterfinals November 27 Campus Sites | Semifinals December 4 Campus Sites | Semifinals December 4 Campus Sites | Semifinals December 4 Campus Sites | National Championship Game December 11 Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama | National Championship Game December 11 Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama | National Championship Game December 11 Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama |
| | | | | | 1 | Michigan Tech* | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | North Dakota | 20 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | North Dakota†† | 20 | | | 5 | North Dakota | 20 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | St. Cloud State | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | St. Cloud State | 17 | | | | | | 5 | North Dakota | 19 | | | | | | |
| Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | 5 | North Dakota | 19 | | | | | | |
| Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | 6 | Grand Valley State | 15 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Northwood* | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | Grand Valley State | 10 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Grand Valley State | 16 | | | 6 | Grand Valley State | 10 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Winona State | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Winona State | 13 | | | | | | | | | 5 | North Dakota | 19 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Pittsburg State | 31 | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | Pittsburg State* | 70 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Colorado Mines | 35 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Colorado Mines | 52 | | | 4 | Colorado Mines | 35 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Midwestern State | 33 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Midwestern State | 33 | | | | | | 1 | Pittsburg State | 50 | | | | | | |
| 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 | Pittsburg State | 50 | | | | | | |
| 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 | Northwest Missouri State | 36 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Northwest Missouri State* | 34 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | 14 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | 40 | | | 3 | Texas A&M–Kingsville | 14 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | SE Oklahoma State | 30 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | SE Oklahoma State | 30 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Pittsburg State | 31 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Valdosta State | 36 |
| | | | | | 1 | Shippensburg | 28 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | West Chester | 33 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | West Chester | 35 | | | 4 | West Chester | 33 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | C.W. Post | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | C.W. Post | 3 | | | | | | 4 | West Chester | 48 | | | | | | |
| Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | 4 | West Chester | 48 | | | | | | |
| 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 | East Stroudsburg | 38 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | East Stroudsburg* | 36 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | Edinboro | 32 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Edinboro | 47 | | | 6 | Edinboro | 32 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Bentley | 44 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Bentley | 44 | | | | | | | | | 4 | West Chester | 21 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Valdosta State | 45 | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | Albany State* | 42 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Arkansas Tech | 24 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Arkansas Tech | 24 | | | 4 | Arkansas Tech | 24 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Catawba | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Catawba | 20 | | | | | | 1 | Albany State (GA) | 24 | | | | | | |
| Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | 1 | Albany State (GA) | 24 | | | | | | |
| 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 | Valdosta State | 38 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Valdosta State* | 38 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Carson–Newman | 12 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Carson–Newman | 35 | | | 3 | Carson–Newman | 12 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Fayetteville State | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* Home team † Overtime