NAIA Division II Football National Championship
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 (similar to the present NCAA division structure); 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]
NAIA Division II Football National Championship | |
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![]() NAIA Logo | |
In operation | 1970–1996 |
Preceded by | NAIA Championship |
Succeeded by | NAIA Championship |
Number of playoff teams | 8 |
Most playoff championships | Westminster (PA) (6) |
Website | NAIA Football |
Westminster (PA) was the most successful team at the Division II level, winning the national title six times.
Results
Date | Champion | Score | Runner-up | Site | Winning head coach(es) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 12, 1970 | Westminster (PA) | 21–16 | Anderson (IN) | New Castle, Pennsylvania | Harold Burry |
December 11, 1971 | Cal Lutheran | 30–14 | Westminster (PA) | Thousand Oaks, California | Bob Shoup |
December 2, 1972 | Missouri Southern | 21–14 | Northwestern (IA) | Joplin, Missouri | Jim Frazier |
December 8, 1973 | Northwestern (IA) | 10–3 | Glenville State | Huntington, West Virginia | Larry Korver |
December 14, 1974 | Texas Lutheran | 42–0 | Missouri Valley | Seguin, Texas | Jim Wacker |
December 13, 1975 | Texas Lutheran | 34–8 | Cal Lutheran | Thousand Oaks, California | Jim Wacker |
December 4, 1976 | Westminster (PA) | 20–13 | Redlands | Redlands, California | Joe Fusco |
December 3, 1977 | Westminster (PA) | 17–9 | Cal Lutheran | Thousand Oaks, California | Joe Fusco |
December 16, 1978 | Concordia (MN) | 7–0 | Findlay | Findlay, Ohio | Jim Christopherson |
December 15, 1979 | Findlay | 51–6 | Northwestern (IA) | Findlay, Ohio | Dick Strahm |
December 20, 1980 | Pacific Lutheran | 38–10 | Wilmington | Tacoma, Washington | Frosty Westering |
December 19, 1981 | Austin Concordia (MN) | 24–241 | Sherman, Texas | Larry Kramer Jim Christopherson | |
December 11, 1982 | Linfield | 33–15 | William Jewell | McMinnville, Oregon [2][3] | Ad Rutschman |
December 17, 1983 | Northwestern (IA) | 25–21 | Pacific Lutheran | Tacoma, Washington | Larry Korver |
December 15, 1984 | Linfield | 33–22 | Northwestern (IA) | McMinnville, Oregon | Ad Rutschman |
December 21, 1985 | Wisconsin–La Crosse | 24–7 | Pacific Lutheran | Tacoma, Washington | Roger Harring |
December 20, 1986 | Linfield | 17–0 | Baker | McMinnville, Oregon | Ad Rutschman |
December 19, 1987 | Pacific Lutheran Vacant | 2 | Tacoma, Washington | Frosty Westering | |
December 17, 1988 | Westminster (PA) | 21–14 | Wisconsin–La Crosse | New Wilmington, Pennsylvania | Joe Fusco |
December 16, 1989 | Westminster (PA) | 51–30 | Wisconsin–La Crosse | Canton, Ohio | Joe Fusco |
December 8, 1990 | Peru State | 17–7 | Westminster (PA) | Omaha, Nebraska | Tom Shea |
December 14, 1991 | Georgetown (KY) | 28–20 | Pacific Lutheran | Georgetown, Kentucky | Kevin Donley |
December 12, 1992 | Findlay | 26–13 | Linfield | Portland, Oregon | Dick Strahm |
December 11, 1993 | Pacific Lutheran | 50–20 | Westminster (PA) | Portland, Oregon | Frosty Westering |
December 17, 1994 | Westminster (PA) | 27–7 | Pacific Lutheran | Portland, Oregon | Gene Nicholson |
December 2, 1995 | Central Washington Findlay | 21–21 1 | Tacoma, Washington | Jeff Zenisek Dick Strahm | |
December 7, 1996 | Sioux Falls | 47–25 | Western Washington | Savannah, Tennessee | Bob Young |
Notes
1 Game ended in a tie and teams are co champions.
2 Pacific Lutheran and the Wisconsin–Stevens Point, lead by head coach D. J. LeRoy, played to a 16–16 tie in the championship game. Wisconsin–Stevens Point forfeited its entire 1987 schedule because of the use of an ineligible student-athlete. Pacific Lutheran is considered a co-champion with the other position vacated.
Championships by school
- Only includes titles won at the Division II level.
Team | Championships | Winning years |
---|---|---|
Westminster (PA) | 6 | 1970, 1976, 1977, 1988, 1989, 1994 |
Findlay (OH) | 3 | 1979, 1992, 1995 |
Pacific Lutheran | 3 | 1980, 1987, 1993 |
Linfield | 3 | 1982, 1984, 1986 |
Northwestern (IA) | 2 | 1973, 1983 |
Concordia–Moorhead | 2 | 1978, 1981 |
Texas Lutheran | 2 | 1974, 1975 |
Sioux Falls | 1 | 1996 |
Central Washington | 1 | 1995 |
Georgetown (KY) | 1 | 1991 |
Peru State | 1 | 1990 |
Wisconsin–La Crosse | 1 | 1985 |
Austin | 1 | 1981 |
Missouri Southern | 1 | 1972 |
Cal Lutheran | 1 | 1971 |
See also
- NAIA Football Player of the Year Award
- NAIA Football National Championship
- NCAA Division I Football Championship
- NCAA Division I FCS Consensus Mid-Major Football National Championship
- NCAA Division II National Football Championship
- NCAA Division III National Football Championship
- NJCAA National Football Championship
References
- "NAIA Football Championship History". National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved 2008-04-07. Cite journal requires
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(help) - Turcotte, Steve (December 12, 1982). "Linfield wins NAIA title in familiar fashion, 33-15". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 3B.
- "Mueller leads Linfield to title". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. December 12, 1982. p. 6B.