NAIA Football National Championship

NAIA Football National Championship. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has been hosting the championship since 1956, with the first game played between St. Joseph's College (Indiana) and Delaware Valley College. The championship has been contested annually, featuring top teams from the NAIA, including Carroll College (Montana), Sioux Falls University, and Northwestern College (Iowa). The championship game is often played at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium or Hughes Stadium (Murray, Kentucky), and has been broadcast on ESPN3 and CBS Sports Network.

History of the Championship

The NAIA Football National Championship has a rich history, dating back to 1956, when St. Joseph's College (Indiana) won the first title by defeating Delaware Valley College 12-7. Over the years, the championship has been dominated by teams such as Carroll College (Montana), which has won six titles, including back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003, under the guidance of coach Mike Van Diest. Other successful teams include Sioux Falls University, which has won three titles, and Northwestern College (Iowa), which has won two titles. The championship has also featured notable players such as Eric Czerniewski, who played for Carroll College (Montana), and Trey Wooden, who played for Northwestern College (Iowa) and was drafted by the Detroit Lions.

Championship Format

The championship format has undergone several changes over the years, with the current format featuring a 16-team single-elimination tournament. The teams are selected from the NAIA conferences, including the Frontier Conference, Great Plains Athletic Conference, and Mid-States Football Association. The tournament is played over four rounds, with the winners advancing to the next round, and the championship game is played between the two remaining teams. The championship game is often played at a neutral site, such as Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium or Hughes Stadium (Murray, Kentucky), and is broadcast on ESPN3 and CBS Sports Network. The championship is also covered by media outlets such as USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN.

Past Champions

The past champions of the NAIA Football National Championship include St. Joseph's College (Indiana), Delaware Valley College, Carroll College (Montana), Sioux Falls University, and Northwestern College (Iowa). Other teams that have won the championship include Texas A&I University, Cal Poly Pomona, and Georgetown College (Kentucky). The championship has also featured notable coaches such as Mike Van Diest, who coached Carroll College (Montana), and Kalani Sitake, who coached Sioux Falls University and is now the head coach at Brigham Young University. The championship has been won by teams from various conferences, including the Frontier Conference, Great Plains Athletic Conference, and Mid-States Football Association.

Championship Game Records

The championship game has seen several records set over the years, including the most points scored in a game, which was achieved by Carroll College (Montana) in 2003, when they defeated Northwestern College (Iowa) 41-28. The most rushing yards in a game was achieved by Eric Czerniewski, who played for Carroll College (Montana), and the most passing yards in a game was achieved by Trey Wooden, who played for Northwestern College (Iowa). The championship game has also featured notable performances by players such as Jim Harbaugh, who played for Michigan and is now the head coach at University of Michigan, and Pete Carroll, who coached University of Southern California and is now the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

Teams with Multiple Appearances

Several teams have made multiple appearances in the NAIA Football National Championship, including Carroll College (Montana), which has appeared in the championship game seven times, and Sioux Falls University, which has appeared in the championship game five times. Other teams that have made multiple appearances include Northwestern College (Iowa), which has appeared in the championship game four times, and Georgetown College (Kentucky), which has appeared in the championship game three times. The teams that have made multiple appearances have come from various conferences, including the Frontier Conference, Great Plains Athletic Conference, and Mid-States Football Association, and have been coached by notable coaches such as Mike Van Diest and Kalani Sitake. The teams have also featured notable players such as Eric Czerniewski, Trey Wooden, and Jim Harbaugh, who have gone on to play in the National Football League for teams such as the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks. Category:American football