NCAA Division II Football Championship

NCAA Division II Football Championship
Name	NCAA Division II Football Championship
Founded	1973
Most champs	North Dakota State (8)
Current champ	Harding
Current season	2023

Contents

History
Format
Champions
Venues
Records and statistics
See also

NCAA Division II Football Championship. The NCAA Division II Football Championship is the annual postseason tournament to determine the national champion of Division II college football in the United States. First contested in 1973, the championship culminates in a title game known as the Division II National Football Championship. The tournament features a 28-team bracket, with participants selected by the NCAA Division II Football Committee from among the division's conferences and at-large qualifiers.

History

The championship was established in 1973, replacing the former NAIA national championship for many schools that transitioned to the NCAA structure. The inaugural title game was held in Wichita Falls, with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defeating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, programs like North Dakota State, Troy State, and UC Davis established early dynasties. The playoff format has undergone several expansions, growing from a four-team field to its current 28-team structure to accommodate the growth of Division II athletics. Significant milestones include the 1988 move to a 16-team bracket and the 2004 expansion to 24 teams, which increased access for teams from regions like the GLIAC and the Lone Star Conference.

Format

The tournament field consists of 28 teams, with 24 automatic qualifiers awarded to conference champions from leagues such as the MIAA, the Gulf South Conference, and the PSAC. The remaining four spots are awarded as at-large bids by the NCAA Division II Football Committee, which uses regional advisory committees and the regional rankings to select teams. The bracket is divided into four super regions—Super Region 1, 2, 3, and 4—each conducting its own six or seven-team bracket. All games prior to the championship are played on campus sites, typically at the higher seed's stadium. The final two teams advance to the national championship game, which is held at a predetermined neutral site, such as McKinney ISD Stadium in Texas.

Champions

The most successful program in the championship's history is North Dakota State, which has won eight titles, including a dominant run in the 1980s under coach Earle Solomonson. Other multiple-time champions include Grand Valley State with six titles, North Alabama with three, and Pittsburg State with two. Recent champions include the Ferris State Bulldogs, who won back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, and the Harding Bisons, who claimed their first championship in 2023. Notable coaches with multiple championships include Brian Kelly of Grand Valley State and Chuck Martin of the same program, who later moved to Miami (Ohio).

Venues

The national championship game has been held at various neutral sites throughout its history. Early title games were played in locations like Wichita Falls and Kingsville. From 2014 to 2017, the game was held at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City. Since 2018, the primary venue has been McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas. Other past host sites include Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Pete's Field in Florence, and Heritage Bank Center in Wichita. The selection of these venues is managed by the NCAA and often involves partnerships with local sports commissions, such as the McKinney Sports Commission.

Records and statistics

North Dakota State holds the record for most championship game appearances with ten. The highest-scoring championship game occurred in 1995, when North Alabama defeated Pittsburg State 27-7 in a defensive struggle, though the 2000 game between Delta State and Bloomsburg featured 80 total points. Individual records include the most rushing yards in a title game by Jake Weyer of Northwest Missouri State and the passing records set by Kelvin Simmons of Texas A&M–Kingsville. Conferences with the most titles include the MIAA and the Lone Star Conference, while the Gulf South Conference has produced recent dominant teams like the West Florida Argonauts.