# 2011 NCAA Division II football season

The 2011 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 1, 2011, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 17, 2011 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama. The Pittsburg State Gorillas defeated the Wayne State Warriors, 35–21, to win their second Division II national title.
The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Jonas Randolph, running back from Mars Hill.

## Conference and program changes

* The Great American Conference began play this season with nine member teams from Arkansas and Oklahoma.
| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Arkansas–Monticello Boll Weevils | Gulf South | Great American |
| Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys | Gulf South | Great American |
| Black Hills State Yellow Jackets | DAC (NAIA) | Independent |
| Central Oklahoma Bronchos | Lone Star | Independent |
| East Central Tigers | Lone Star | Great American |
| Harding Bisons | Gulf South | Great American |
| Henderson State Reddies | Gulf South | Great American |
| Lambuth Eagles | Independent | School closed |
| Lincoln Blue Tigers | Independent | MIAA |
| Lindenwood Lions | HAAC (NAIA) | Independent |
| Minot State Beavers | DAC (NAIA) | Independent |
| Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks | MIAA | Dropped program |
| Northeastern State RiverHawks | Lone Star | Independent |
| Ouachita Baptist Tigers | Gulf South | Great American |
| Saint Paul's Tigers | CIAA | Dropped program |
| Sioux Falls Cougars | GPAC (NAIA) | Independent |
| South Dakota Mines Hardrockers | DAC (NAIA) | Independent |
| Southern Arkansas Muleriders | Gulf South | Great American |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm | Lone Star | Great American |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs | Lone Star | Great American |
| William Jewell Cardinals | HAAC (NAIA) | Independent |
Ohio Dominican completed their transition to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.

## Conference standings
### Super Region 1

2011 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings :
| 2011 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Northern Elizabeth City State xy^  6 –1  8 –4   Virginia State  4 –3  5 –5   Virginia Union  3 –4  5 –5   Bowie State  3 –4  4 –6   Chowan  2 –5  3 –7   Lincoln (PA)  2 –5  2 –8   Southern No. 3 Winston-Salem State xy$^  7 –0  13 –1   Johnson C. Smith #  4 –3  6 –5   Fayetteville State  4 –3  4 –6   St. Augustine's  3 –4  4 –6   Shaw  3 –4  3 –7   Livingstone  0 –7  1 –9   Championship: Winston–Salem State 38, Elizabeth City State 18 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Pioneer Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2011 Northeast-10 Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 8 New Haven $^  8 –0  11 –2   Southern Connecticut  6 –2  7 –3   American International  5 –3  6 –4   Bentley  5 –3  6 –4   Merrimack  5 –3  6 –4   Assumption  3 –5  4 –6   Stonehill  3 –5  4 –7   Saint Anselm  1 –7  1 –9   Pace  0 –8  1 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2011 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East No. 13 Kutztown xy$^  6 –1  11 –2   C. W. Post x  6 –1  7 –4   No. 21 Bloomsburg  5 –2  9 –2   Shippensburg  4 –3  7 –4   West Chester  4 –3  5 –6   Millersville  2 –5  3 –8   East Stroudsburg  1 –6  3 –8   Cheyney  0 –7  1 –10   West No. 15 California (PA) x^  6 –1  10 –3   Slippery Rock xy  6 –1  8 –3   IUP  5 –2  7 –3   Edinboro  4 –3  7 –4   Gannon  3 –4  4 –7   Mercyhurst  2 –5  4 –7   Clarion  2 –5  3 –8   Lock Haven  0 –7  0 –10   Championship: Kutztown 21, Slippery Rock 14 x – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll |
| 2011 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Concord $^  7 –1  7 –4   No. 22 Shepherd  6 –2  9 –2   No. 24 West Virginia Wesleyan  6 –2  9 –2   Charleston (WV)  5 –3  5 –6   Glenville State  5 –3  5 –6   Fairmont State  4 –4  7 –4   Seton Hill  1 –7  1 –10   West Liberty  1 –7  1 –10   West Virginia State  1 –7  1 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 2

2011 Gulf South Conference football standings :
| 2011 Gulf South Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 4 Delta State $^  3 –1  11 –3   No. 14 North Alabama ^  2 –2  9 –4   No. 23 West Alabama ^  2 –2  8 –4   West Georgia  2 –2  6 –4   Valdosta State  1 –3  6 –4   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2011 South Atlantic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 19 Mars Hill +^  6 –1  8 –3   Lenoir–Rhyne +  6 –1  7 –3   Wingate  4 –3  5 –6   Newberry  4 –3  4 –6   Carson–Newman  3 –4  5 –6   Catawba  2 –5  3 –8   Tusculum  2 –5  3 –8   Brevard  1 –6  3 –8   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2011 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East Albany State xy^  6 –1  8 –4   Morehouse x  6 –1  8 –2   Fort Valley State  2 –5  2 –8   Benedict  1 –6  2 –8   Clark Atlanta  1 –6  2 –8   West Miles # xy$  5 –2  7 –5   Stillman x  5 –2  7 –4   Tuskegee  4 –3  4 –6   Kentucky State  3 –4  6 –4   Lane  2 –5  4 –6   Championship: Miles 20, Albany State 17 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Pioneer Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2011 NCAA Division II Super Region 2 independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 12 North Greenville ^   –  11 –3   UNC Pembroke   –  8 –3   ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 3

2011 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings :
| 2011 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  North Grand Valley State  7 –3  8 –3   Saginaw Valley State ^  7 –3  7 –4   Indianapolis  6 –4  7 –4   Michigan Tech  6 –4  7 –4   Ferris State  5 –5  6 –5   Northern Michigan  3 –7  4 –7   Northwood  1 –9  2 –9   South Hillsdale $  8 –2  8 –3   No. 2 Wayne State (MI) ^  7 –3  12 –4   Ohio Dominican  6 –4  7 –4   Ashland  6 –4  6 –5   Findlay  6 –4  6 –5   Lake Erie  2 –8  3 –8   Tiffin  0 –10  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2011 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  North No. 6 Minnesota–Duluth +^  8 –2  11 –3   No. 17 St. Cloud State +^  8 –2  9 –3   Bemidji State  7 –3  8 –3   Mary  4 –6  5 –6   Northern State  4 –6  5 –6   MSU Moorhead  1 –9  2 –9   Minnesota–Crookston  0 –10  1 –10   South Minnesota State # +  8 –2  9 –3   Wayne State (NE)  7 –3  7 –4   Winona State  7 –3  7 –4   Augustana (SD)  6 –4  6 –5   Concordia–St. Paul  5 –5  6 –5   SW Minnesota State  3 –7  3 –8   Upper Iowa  2 –8  3 –8   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2011 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 9 CSU Pueblo $^  9 –0  11 –1   No. 10 Nebraska–Kearney ^  8 –1  10 –2   Colorado Mines  6 –3  8 –3   Chadron State  6 –3  6 –5   Adams State  4 –5  6 –5   Western New Mexico  4 –5  5 –6   Colorado Mesa  3 –6  4 –7   New Mexico Highlands  2 –7  4 –7   Fort Lewis  2 –7  3 –8   Western State  1 –8  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2011 Great Lakes Football Conference standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Urbana $  3 –0  8 –3   Missouri S&T  2 –1  6 –5   Saint Joseph's (IN)  1 –2  2 –8   Kentucky Wesleyan  0 –3  1 –10   $ – Conference championRankings from AFCA Poll | 2011 NCAA Division II Super Region 3 independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Sioux Falls #   –  5 –4   Notre Dame (OH) #   –  5 –6   William Jewell #   –  4 –6   Black Hills State #   –  3 –7   Minot State #   –  2 –8   Central State   –  1 –10   South Dakota Mines #   –  1 –10   # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 4

2011 Great American Conference football standings :
| 2011 Great American Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Ouachita Baptist $  6 –1  7 –3   Henderson State  4 –1  6 –4   East Central  6 –2  8 –3   Arkansas–Monticello  3 –3  5 –6   Harding  3 –3  4 –7   Southern Arkansas  3 –4  3 –7   SW Oklahoma State  3 –5  5 –6   Arkansas Tech  1 –4  2 –8   SE Oklahoma State  1 –7  2 –8   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2011 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 20 Humboldt State $  7 –1  9 –1   Western Oregon  6 –2  6 –5   Central Washington  4 –4  4 –6   Simon Fraser #  2 –6  3 –7   Dixie State  1 –7  1 –10   $ – Conference champion # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2011 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 7 Midwestern State $^  8 –0  10 –1   No. 16 Abilene Christian ^  7 –1  8 –3   No. 25 West Texas A&M #  6 –2  8 –3   Tarleton State  5 –3  6 –5   Texas A&M–Kingsville  4 –4  6 –5   Angelo State  2 –6  5 –6   Incarnate Word  2 –6  2 –8   Eastern New Mexico †  1 –7  2 –9   Texas A&M–Commerce  1 –7  1 –9   + – Conference co-champions^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Kanza Bowl participant † – Eastern New Mexico vacated both wins Rankings from AFCA poll |
| 2011 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 1 Pittsburg State $^  8 –1  13 –1   No. 5 NW Missouri State ^  7 –2  11 –3   No. 11 Washburn ^  7 –2  10 –3   No. 18 Missouri Western ^  7 –2  9 –3   Central Missouri #  6 –3  8 –4   Emporia State  3 –6  5 –6   Fort Hays State  3 –6  4 –7   Truman  2 –7  4 –7   Missouri Southern  2 –7  3 –7   Lincoln (MO)  0 –9  1 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Kanza Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2011 NCAA Division II Super Region 4 independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Lindenwood @   –  8 –3   Northeastern State #   –  7 –5   Southwest Baptist   –  6 –5   OK Panhandle State   –  3 –7   Central Oklahoma   –  2 –9   # – Mineral Water Bowl participant @ – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll |

## Conference summaries

* Conference Champions
* Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Winston-Salem State
* Great American Conference – Ouachita Baptist
* Great Lakes Football Conference – Urbana
* Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Hillsdale
* Great Northwest Athletic Conference – Humboldt State
* Gulf South Conference – Delta State
* Lone Star Conference – Midwestern State
* Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Pittsburg State
* Northeast-10 Conference – New Haven
* Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Minnesota–Duluth (North) and Minnesota State–Mankato (South)
* Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Kutztown
* Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – CSU Pueblo
* South Atlantic Conference – Lenoir-Rhyne and Mars Hill
* Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Miles
* West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Concord (WV)

## Postseason

The 2011 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 38th 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 24th time.

### Seeded teams

* CSU Pueblo
* Delta State
* Mars Hill
* Midwestern State
* Nebraska–Kearney
* New Haven
* Pittsburg State
* Winston-Salem State

### Playoff bracket

| First Round November 19 Campus Sites | First Round November 19 Campus Sites | First Round November 19 Campus Sites | | | Second Round November 26 Campus Sites | Second Round November 26 Campus Sites | Second Round November 26 Campus Sites | Quarterfinals December 3 Campus Sites | Quarterfinals December 3 Campus Sites | Quarterfinals December 3 Campus Sites | Semifinals December 10 Campus Sites | Semifinals December 10 Campus Sites | Semifinals December 10 Campus Sites | National Championship Game December 17 Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama | National Championship Game December 17 Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama | National Championship Game December 17 Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama |
| | | | | | 1 | Delta State* | 42 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | North Alabama | 14 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | North Alabama | 43 | | | 5 | North Alabama | 14 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | West Alabama* | 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | West Alabama* | 27 | | | | | | 1 | Delta State* | 28 | | | | | | |
| 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 | Delta State* | 28 | | | | | | |
| Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | 3 | North Greenville | 23 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Mars Hill* | 38 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | North Greenville | 52 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | North Greenville* | 63 | | | 3 | North Greenville | 52 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Albany State | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Albany State | 14 | | | | | | | | | 1 | Delta State | 23 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Pittsburg State* | 49 | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | Midwestern State* | 31 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | NW Missouri State† | 38 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | NW Missouri State | 35 | | | 5 | NW Missouri State† | 38 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Missouri Western* | 29 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Missouri Western* | 29 | | | | | | 5 | NW Missouri State | 16 | | | | | | |
| Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | 5 | NW Missouri State | 16 | | | | | | |
| 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 | Pittsburg State* | 41 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Pittsburg State* | 31 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Washburn | 22 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Washburn* | 52 | | | 3 | Washburn | 22 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Abilene Christian | 49 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Abilene Christian | 49 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Pittsburg State | 35 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Wayne State (MI) | 21 |
| | | | | | 1 | Winston-Salem State* | 35 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | California (PA) | 28 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | California (PA)* | 44 | | | 5 | California (PA) | 28 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Elizabeth City State | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Elizabeth City State | 0 | | | | | | 1 | Winston-Salem State* | 27 | | | | | | |
| 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 | Winston-Salem State* | 27 | | | | | | |
| 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 | New Haven | 7 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | New Haven* | 44 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | Kutztown | 37 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Kutztown* | 17 | | | 3 | Kutztown | 37 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Concord | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Concord | 14 | | | | | | | | | 1 | Winston-Salem State* | 14 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Wayne State (MI) | 21 | | | |
| | | | | | 1 | CSU Pueblo* | 21 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Minnesota–Duluth | 24 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Minnesota–Duluth*† | 30 | | | 4 | Minnesota–Duluth | 24 | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Saginaw Valley State | 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Saginaw Valley State | 27 | | | | | | 4 | Minnesota–Duluth* | 25 | | | | | | |
| Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | 4 | Minnesota–Duluth* | 25 | | | | | | |
| 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 | Wayne State (MI) | 31 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Nebraska–Kearney* | 14 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | Wayne State (MI) | 38 | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Wayne State (MI) | 48 | | | 6 | Wayne State (MI) | 38 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | St. Cloud State* | 38 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* Home team † Overtime