NAIA Division II Football National Championship
NAIA Logo
In operation1970–1996
Preceded byNAIA Championship
Succeeded byNAIA Championship
Number of playoff teams8
Most playoff championshipsWestminster (PA) (6)
WebsiteNAIA Football

The NAIA Division II Football National Championship was a post-season playoff system featuring the best NAIA Division II college football teams in the United States. It was played annually between 1970 and 1996 when NAIA football play was divided into two divisions based on school enrollment size; the NAIA Division I Football National Championship was played separately. It was typically held at the home field of the higher-seeded team. The championship was discontinued in 1997 after the two divisions were consolidated once again. The singular NAIA Football National Championship has been held every year since.[1]

Westminster (PA) was the most successful team at the Division II level, winning the national title six times.

Results

DateChampionScoreRunner-upSiteWinning head coach(es)
December 5, 1970Westminster (PA)21–16Anderson (IN)New Castle, PennsylvaniaHarold Burry
December 4, 1971Cal Lutheran30–14Westminster (PA)Thousand Oaks, CaliforniaBob Shoup
December 2, 1972Missouri Southern21–14Northwestern (IA)Joplin, MissouriJim Frazier
December 1, 1973Northwestern (IA)10–3Glenville StateHuntington, West VirginiaLarry Korver
December 7, 1974Texas Lutheran42–0Missouri ValleySeguin, TexasJim Wacker
December 6, 1975Texas Lutheran34–8Cal LutheranThousand Oaks, CaliforniaJim Wacker
December 4, 1976Westminster (PA)20–13RedlandsRedlands, CaliforniaJoe Fusco
December 3, 1977Westminster (PA)17–9Cal LutheranThousand Oaks, CaliforniaJoe Fusco
December 9, 1978Concordia (MN)7–0FindlayFindlay, OhioJim Christopherson
December 8, 1979Findlay51–6Northwestern (IA)Findlay, OhioDick Strahm
December 13, 1980Pacific Lutheran38–10WilmingtonTacoma, WashingtonFrosty Westering
December 12, 1981Austin
Concordia (MN)		24–241Sherman, TexasLarry Kramer
Jim Christopherson
December 11, 1982Linfield33–15William JewellMcMinnville, Oregon[2][3]Ad Rutschman
December 10, 1983Northwestern (IA)25–21Pacific LutheranTacoma, WashingtonLarry Korver
December 8, 1984Linfield33–22Northwestern (IA)McMinnville, OregonAd Rutschman
December 13, 1985Wisconsin–La Crosse24–7Pacific LutheranTacoma, WashingtonRoger Harring
December 13, 1986Linfield17–0BakerMcMinnville, OregonAd Rutschman
December 13, 1987Pacific Lutheran
Wisconsin–Stevens Point (forfeited)		16–162Tacoma, WashingtonFrosty Westering
D. J. LeRoy
December 10, 1988Westminster (PA)21–14Wisconsin–La CrosseNew Wilmington, PennsylvaniaJoe Fusco
December 16, 1989Westminster (PA)51–30Wisconsin–La CrosseCanton, OhioJoe Fusco
December 15, 1990Peru State17–7Westminster (PA)Omaha, NebraskaTom Shea
December 21, 1991Georgetown (KY)28–20Pacific LutheranGeorgetown, KentuckyKevin Donley
December 19, 1992Findlay26–13LinfieldPortland, OregonDick Strahm
December 18, 1993Pacific Lutheran50–20Westminster (PA)Portland, OregonFrosty Westering
December 17, 1994Westminster (PA)27–7Pacific LutheranPortland, OregonGene Nicholson
December 16, 1995Central Washington
Findlay		21–21 1Tacoma, WashingtonJeff Zenisek
Dick Strahm
December 21, 1996Sioux Falls47–25Western WashingtonSavannah, TennesseeBob Young

Notes

1 Game ended in a tie and teams are co-champions

2 Pacific Lutheran and the Wisconsin–Stevens Point played to a 16–16 tie in the championship game. Wisconsin–Stevens Point forfeited its entire 1987 schedule because of the use of two ineligible players.[4] Pacific Lutheran is considered a co-champion with the other position vacated.

Championships by school

  • Only includes titles won at the Division II level.
  • Programs that no longer compete in NAIA are indicated in italics with a pink background.
TeamChampionshipsWinning years
Westminster (PA)61970, 1976, 1977, 1988, 1989, 1994
Findlay (OH)31979, 1992, 1995
Pacific Lutheran31980, 1987, 1993
Linfield31982, 1984, 1986
Northwestern (IA)21973, 1983
Concordia–Moorhead21978, 1981
Texas Lutheran21974, 1975
Sioux Falls11996
Central Washington11995
Georgetown (KY)11991
Peru State11990
Wisconsin–La Crosse11985
Austin11981
Missouri Southern11972
Cal Lutheran11971

See also

References

  1. ↑ "NAIA Football Championship History". National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  2. ↑ Turcotte, Steve (December 12, 1982). "Linfield wins NAIA title in familiar fashion, 33-15". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 3B.
  3. ↑ "Mueller leads Linfield to title". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. December 12, 1982. p. 6B.
  4. ↑ "Surprise: Lutes are champs after all". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. May 10, 1988. p. C1. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
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