# 2012 NCAA Division II football season

The 2012 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, 2012, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 15, 2012 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama. The Valdosta State Blazers defeated the Winston-Salem State Rams, 35–7, to win their third Division II national title.
It proved to be the final season for the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). Shortly before the start of the 2012–13 school year, the WVIAC's nine football-playing members announced plans to break away and form a new league. Before the new conference was announced, one of the nine breakaway schools (Seton Hill) chose instead to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference; the remaining eight schools joined with three other football-playing schools and one non-football WVIAC member left out of the original split. The new league, officially unveiled in August 2012 as the Mountain East Conference, began play in 2013.
The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Zach Zulli, quarterback from Shippensburg.

## Conference changes and new programs

* The Great Lakes Valley Conference began football play in 2012.
| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Azusa Pacific | Independent (NAIA) | GNAC |
| Black Hills State | Independent | RMAC |
| Central Oklahoma | Independent | MIAA |
| Central State | Independent | GLVC |
| Indianapolis | GLIAC | GLVC |
| Kentucky Wesleyan | GLFC | GLVC |
| Lindenwood | Independent | MIAA |
| Malone | Independent (NAIA) | GLIAC |
| McKendree | Independent (NAIA) | GLVC |
| McMurry | American Southwest (D-III) | Independent |
| Minot State | Independent | NSIC |
| Missouri S&T | GLFC | GLVC |
| Nebraska–Kearney | RMAC | MIAA |
| Northeastern State | Independent | MIAA |
| Northwestern Oklahoma State | CSFL (NAIA) | Independent |
| Notre Dame (OH) | Independent | GLIAC |
| Quincy | MSFA (NAIA) | GLVC |
| Saint Joseph's | GLFC | GLVC |
| Shorter | Mid-South (NAIA) | Gulf South |
| Sioux Falls | Independent | NSIC |
| Southern Nazarene | CSFL (NAIA) | Independent |
| Southwest Baptist | Independent | MIAA |
| Urbana | GLFC | GLVC |
| Walsh | Independent (NAIA) | GLIAC |
| William Jewell | Independent | GLVC |
Minot State, Notre Dame (OH), Simon Fraser, Sioux Falls, and William Jewell completed their transitions to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.

### Regional realignment

The GNAC, MIAA, and Great American moved from Super Region 4 to Super Region 3, while the RMAC and GLIAC moved in the opposite direction; the GLVC, newly sponsoring football, was assigned to Super Region 4.

## Conference standings
### Super Region 1

2012 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings :
| 2012 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Northern Elizabeth City State # xy  6 –1  8 –4   Chowan  5 –2  6 –4   Virginia Union  3 –4  5 –5   Virginia State  3 –4  4 –6   Bowie State  2 –5  5 –5   Lincoln (PA)  1 –6  1 –9   Southern No. 2 Winston-Salem St. xy$^  7 –0  14 –1   Johnson C. Smith  5 –2  6 –4   St. Augustine's  4 –3  6 –4   Shaw  3 –4  4 –6   Livingstone  2 –5  2 –8   Fayetteville State  1 –6  2 –8   Championship: Winston-Salem State 34, Elizabeth City State 19 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Pioneer Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2012 Northeast-10 Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 8 New Haven y$^  8 –0  10 –1   American International y  7 –1  7 –3   Bentley  6 –2  8 –2   Stonehill  5 –3  5 –5   Merrimack  4 –4  6 –4   Assumption  3 –5  3 –7   Southern Connecticut  2 –6  3 –8   Saint Anselm  1 –7  2 –9   Pace  0 –8  0 –9   Championship: New Haven 37, American International 12 $ – Conference championy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll | 2012 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East No. 14 Shippensburg xy^  7 –0  11 –2   No. 17 Bloomsburg ^  6 –1  10 –2   West Chester  4 –3  7 –4   East Stroudsburg  4 –3  5 –5   Kutztown  4 –3  7 –4   LIU Post  2 –5  3 –7   Millersville  1 –6  2 –9   Cheyney  0 –7  1 –10   West No. 7 IUP xy$^  6 –1  12 –3   Mercyhurst x  6 –1  9 –2   California (PA)  5 –2  8 –3   Slippery Rock  5 –2  6 –5   Edinboro  3 –4  4 –6   Clarion  2 –5  4 –7   Gannon  1 –6  3 –8   Lock Haven  0 –7  1 –10   Championship: IUP 41, Shippensburg 10 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA poll |
| 2012 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 25 Shepherd $^  7 –1  8 –3   Charleston (WV)  6 –2  9 –2   Concord  6 –2  7 –4   Glenville State  6 –2  6 –5   West Liberty  4 –4  6 –5   Fairmont State  4 –4  4 –6   West Virginia Wesleyan  2 –6  3 –8   West Virginia State  1 –7  2 –9   Seton Hill  0 –8  0 –11   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 2

2012 Gulf South Conference football standings :
| 2012 Gulf South Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 21 West Alabama $^  5 –0  9 –4   No. 1 Valdosta State ^  4 –1  12 –2   Shorter #  2 –3  6 –5   North Alabama  2 –3  5 –5   Delta State  1 –4  3 –7   West Georgia  1 –4  3 –7   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional NCAA Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2012 South Atlantic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 20 Lenoir–Rhyne $^  6 –1  9 –3   No. 13 Carson–Newman ^  5 –2  9 –3   Mars Hill  5 –2  6 –4   Wingate  5 –2  6 –5   Newberry  3 –4  5 –6   Catawba  2 –5  4 –7   Brevard  1 –6  2 –9   Tusculum  1 –6  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participantRankings from AFCA Poll | 2012 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  East Fort Valley State xy^  6 –1  8 –4   Albany State  5 –2  6 –4   Morehouse  2 –5  3 –7   Clark Atlanta  1 –6  2 –8   Benedict  1 –6  1 –9   West No. 23 Tuskegee # xy$  7 –0  10 –2   Miles ^  6 –1  8 –2   Stillman  4 –3  6 –5   Lane  3 –4  5 –5   Kentucky State  0 –7  2 –8   Championship: Tuskegee 55, Fort Valley State 24 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participant^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Pioneer Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 2 independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  UNC Pembroke   –  6 –4   North Greenville   –  5 –6   Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 3

2012 Great American Conference football standings :
| 2012 Great American Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 11 Henderson St. $^  8 –0  10 –1   No. 19 Harding ^  7 –1  9 –2   Southern Arkansas #  5 –3  7 –4   Ouachita Baptist  4 –4  6 –4   East Central  4 –4  6 –5   Arkansas Tech  3 –5  5 –6   SE Oklahoma State  2 –6  4 –6   SW Oklahoma State  2 –6  3 –7   Arkansas–Monticello  0 –8  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2012 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  Central Washington $  7 –3  7 –4   Humboldt State  6 –4  7 –4   Western Oregon  6 –4  6 –5   Simon Fraser  4 –6  5 –6   Azusa Pacific #  4 –6  4 –7   Dixie State  3 –7  3 –8   $ – Conference champion # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2012 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 5 Missouri Western $^  9 –1  12 –2   No. 22 Emporia State #  9 –2  10 –2   No. 10 NW Missouri State ^  8 –2  10 –3   Pittsburg State  7 –3  7 –3   Lindenwood @ #  7 –3  8 –4   Washburn  7 –4  7 –4   Central Missouri  6 –4  6 –4   Missouri Southern  5 –5  6 –5   Fort Hays State  4 –6  5 –6   Northeastern State  4 –6  4 –6   Truman  3 –7  4 –7   Southwest Baptist  3 –8  3 –8   Nebraska–Kearney  2 –8  3 –8   Central Oklahoma  2 –8  2 –8   Lincoln (MO)  1 –10  1 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl game participant (Emporia State - Kanza Bowl, Lindenwood - Mineral Water Bowl) @ – Provisional NCAA Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll |
| 2012 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  North No. 12 Minnesota–Duluth ^  10 –1  10 –2   Bemidji State  7 –4  7 –4   St. Cloud State  7 –4  7 –4   Northern State  6 –5  6 –5   Mary  4 –7  4 –7   Minot State  3 –8  3 –8   Minnesota–Crookston  2 –9  2 –9   MSU Moorhead  1 –10  1 –10   South No. 3 Minnesota State $^  11 –0  13 –1   Winona State #  9 –2  10 –2   Sioux Falls  9 –2  9 –2   Wayne State (NE)  6 –5  6 –5   Augustana (SD)  5 –6  5 –6   SW Minnesota State  4 –7  4 –7   Concordia–St. Paul  2 –9  2 –9   Upper Iowa  2 –9  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll |

### Super Region 4

2012 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings :
| 2012 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  8 –3   Michigan Tech  7 –3  7 –3   Hillsdale  7 –3  7 –4   Ferris State  6 –4  7 –4   Wayne State (MI)  5 –5  5 –5   Northwood  4 –6  5 –6   Northern Michigan  4 –6  5 –6   South No. 9 Ashland $^  10 –0  11 –1   Ohio Dominican  7 –3  8 –3   Findlay  7 –3  7 –3   Lake Erie  3 –7  3 –8   Notre Dame (OH)  2 –8  3 –8   Tiffin  2 –8  3 –8   Walsh *  2 –8  3 –8   Malone *  1 –9  1 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant * – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA poll | 2012 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 15 Indianapolis $^  8 –0  10 –3   No. 24 Missouri S&T  7 –1  10 –1   Urbana  5 –3  7 –4   Saint Joseph's (IN)  5 –3  6 –5   Quincy  4 –4  4 –7   McKendree #  3 –5  3 –7   William Jewell  2 –6  3 –8   Central State  2 –6  2 –9   Kentucky Wesleyan  0 –8  2 –9   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2012 Lone Star Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 16 Midwestern State +^  7 –1  9 –2   No. 4 West Texas A&M +^  7 –1  12 –3   Tarleton State  5 –3  6 –4   Texas A&M–Kingsville #  5 –3  6 –6   Abilene Christian  4 –4  7 –4   Angelo State  4 –4  5 –6   Eastern New Mexico †  2 –6  3 –7   Incarnate Word  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 all three wins Rankings from AFCA poll |
| 2012 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall Team W L W L  No. 6 CSU Pueblo $^  9 –0  12 –1   No. 18 Chadron State ^  8 –1  9 –3   New Mexico Highlands  7 –2  8 –3   Adams State  6 –3  8 –3   Colorado Mines  4 –5  6 –5   Colorado Mesa  4 –5  4 –7   Black Hills State #  3 –6  4 –7   Western New Mexico  3 –6  4 –7   Western State  1 –8  1 –10   Fort Lewis  0 –9  0 –10   $ – Conference champion^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll | 2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 4 independents football records vteConfOverall Team W L W L  McMurry *#   –  8 –3   Oklahoma Panhandle State   –  4 –6   NW Oklahoma State *   –  3 –7   South Dakota Mines *   –  2 –9   Southern Nazarene *   –  2 –9   # – C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl participant * – Provisional NCAA Division II member |

### Conference champions

* Conference Champions
* Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Winston-Salem State (14–1, 7–0)
* Great American Conference – Henderson State
* Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Ashland
* Great Lakes Valley Conference – Indianapolis
* Great Northwest Athletic Conference – Central Washington
* Gulf South Conference – West Alabama
* Lone Star Conference – Midwestern State and West Texas A&M
* Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Missouri Western State
* Northeast-10 Conference – New Haven
* Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Minnesota–Duluth (North) and Minnesota State–Mankato (South)
* Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Indiana (PA)
* Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – CSU Pueblo
* South Atlantic Conference – Lenoir-Rhyne
* Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Tuskegee
* West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference‡ – Shepherd

## Postseason

The 2012 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 39th 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 25th time.

### Seeded teams

* Ashland
* Carson–Newman
* CSU Pueblo
* Henderson State
* Minnesota State–Mankato
* New Haven
* Winston-Salem State
* Valdosta State

### Playoff bracket

| First Round November 17 Campus Sites | First Round November 17 Campus Sites | First Round November 17 Campus Sites | | | Second Round November 24 Campus Sites | Second Round November 24 Campus Sites | Second Round November 24 Campus Sites | Quarterfinals December 1 Campus Sites | Quarterfinals December 1 Campus Sites | Quarterfinals December 1 Campus Sites | Semifinals December 8 Campus Sites | Semifinals December 8 Campus Sites | Semifinals December 8 Campus Sites | National Championship Game December 15 Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, Alabama | National Championship Game December 15 Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, Alabama |
| | | | | | * | Winston-Salem State | 37 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Shippensburg | 14 | | | | | | | | |
| * | Shippensburg | 58 | | | | Shippensburg | 14 | | | | | | | | |
| | Bloomsburg | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Bloomsburg | 20 | | | | | | * | Winston-Salem State | 21 | | | | | |
| Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | * | Winston-Salem State | 21 | | | | | |
| Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | Super Region 1 | | IUP | 17 | | | | | |
| | | | | | * | New Haven | 14 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | IUP | 17 | | | | | | | | |
| * | IUP | 27 | | | | IUP | 17 | | | | | | | | |
| | Shepherd | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Shepherd | 17 | | | | | | | | | * | Winston-Salem State | 41 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | West Texas A&M | 18 | | |
| | | | | | * | CSU Pueblo | 28 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Indianapolis | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| * | Indianapolis | 31 | | | | Indianapolis | 7 | | | | | | | | |
| | Midwestern State | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Midwestern State | 14 | | | | | | * | CSU Pueblo | 13 | | | | | |
| Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | * | CSU Pueblo | 13 | | | | | |
| Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | Super Region 4 | | West Texas A&M | 34 | | | | | |
| | | | | | * | Ashland | 28 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | West Texas A&M | 33 | | | | | | | | |
| | West Texas A&M | 38 | | | | West Texas A&M | 33 | | | | | | | | |
| * | Chadron State | 30 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| * | Chadron State | 30 | | | | | | | | | | | | Winston-Salem State | 7 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Valdosta State | 35 |
| | | | | | * | Valdosta State | 49 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | West Alabama | 21 | | | | | | | | |
| * | West Alabama | 41 | | | | West Alabama | 21 | | | | | | | | |
| | Miles | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Miles | 7 | | | | | | * | Valdosta State | 48 | | | | | |
| Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | * | Valdosta State | 48 | | | | | |
| Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | Super Region 2 | | Carson–Newman | 26 | | | | | |
| | | | | | * | Carson–Newman | 38 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Lenoir–Rhyne | 35 | | | | | | | | |
| * | Lenoir–Rhyne | 21 | | | | Lenoir–Rhyne | 35 | | | | | | | | |
| | Fort Valley State | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fort Valley State | 6 | | | | | | | | | | Valdosta State | 35 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | * | Minnesota State | 19 | | |
| | | | | | * | Minnesota State | 38 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Northwest Missouri State | 35 | | | | | | | | |
| * | NW Missouri State | 35 | | | | Northwest Missouri State | 35 | | | | | | | | |
| | Harding | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Harding | 0 | | | | | | * | Minnesota State | 17 | | | | | |
| Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | * | Minnesota State | 17 | | | | | |
| Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | Super Region 3 | | Missouri Western | 10 | | | | | |
| | | | | | * | Henderson State | 21 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Missouri Western | 45 | | | | | | | | |
| * | Missouri Western ††† | 57 | | | | Missouri Western | 45 | | | | | | | | |
| | Minnesota–Duluth | 55 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
* Home team † Overtime

## Awards and honors
### Harlon Hill Trophy

The Harlon Hill Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player.
| Player | School | Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
| Zach Zulli | Shippensburg | QB | 52 | 14 | 18 | 202 |
| Michael Hill | Missouri Western | RB | 23 | 26 | 17 | 138 |
| Franklyn Quiteh | Bloomsburg | RB | 8 | 27 | 23 | 101 |
| Dustin Vaughan | West Texas A&M | QB | 10 | 14 | 10 | 68 |
| Taylor Housewight | Ashland | QB | 7 | 14 | 15 | 64 |