The 1997 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division II level, began on September 6, 1997, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 13, 1997, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama.
Northern Colorado defeated New Haven in the championship game, 51–0, to win their second Division II national title.
The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Irvin Sigler, running back from Bloomsburg.
Conference changes and new programs Team 1996 conference 1997 conference Chico State NCAC dropped program East Central Oklahoma Intercollegiate (NAIA) Lone Star Elon South Atlantic Independent Harding Independent (NAIA) Lone Star Humboldt State NCAC Columbia (NAIA) Mississippi College Independent American Southwest (D-III) Norfolk State Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association NCAA Division I-AA independent Northeastern State Oklahoma Intercollegiate (NAIA) Lone Star Oklahoma Panhandle State Oklahoma Intercollegiate (NAIA) Independent Ouachita Baptist Independent (NAIA) Lone Star Sonoma State NCAC dropped program Southeastern Oklahoma State Oklahoma Intercollegiate (NAIA) Lone Star Southwestern Oklahoma State Oklahoma Intercollegiate (NAIA) Lone Star
Conference standings
Conference summaries
Conference ChampionsCentral Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Livingstone, Virginia State, and Virginia Union Eastern Collegiate Football Conference – Albany Gulf South Conference – Southern Arkansas and West Georgia Lone Star Conference – Texas A&M–Kingsville Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – Northwest Missouri State Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference – Grand Valley State and Ashland North Central Conference – Northern Colorado Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Winona State Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Bloomsburg (East), Slippery Rock (West) Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Western State (CO) South Atlantic Conference – Carson-Newman Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Albany State West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Glenville State and Shepherd
Postseason
The 1997 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 24th single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. The championship game was held at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, for the 11th time.
Playoff bracket
See also 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season 1997 NCAA Division III football season 1997 NAIA Division I football season 1997 NAIA Division II football season
References