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

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