The 2004 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 August 26, 2004, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 11, 2004, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama. The Valdosta State Blazers defeated the Pittsburg State Gorillas, 36–31, to win their first Division II national title.
The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Chad Friehauf, quarterback from Colorado Mines.
Conference changes and new programs School Former conference New conference Gannon Independent GLIAC Kentucky Wesleyan Independent Mid-South (NAIA) Minnesota–Duluth NSIC NCC New Haven Independent Dropped program Northern Colorado Independent Great West (I-AA) North Dakota State NCC Great West (I-AA) South Dakota State NCC Great West (I-AA) Stillman Independent (D-III) Independent (D-II) Upper Iowa IIAC (D-III) Independent (D-II)
Regional realignment The South Region was renamed the Southeast Region but stayed the same, while the Northeast Region lost the GLIAC. The West Region lost the GNAC, gained the MIAA, and became the Southwest Region. The new Northwest Region contained the GLIAC and GNAC, plus the NCC and NSIC from the former Midwest Region.
Conference standings Northeast Region
Southeast Region
Northwest Region
Southwest Region
Conference summaries
Conference ChampionsCentral Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Shaw Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Michigan Tech and Northwood Great Northwest Athletic Conference – Central Washington Gulf South Conference – Valdosta State Lone Star Conference – Texas A&M–Kingsville Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – Pittsburg State North Central Conference – Nebraska–Omaha Northeast-10 Conference – Bentley and C.W. Post Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Winona State Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – West Chester (East), Edinboro, Indiana (PA), and Shippensburg (West) Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Colorado Mines South Atlantic Conference – Carson-Newman Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Albany State West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Shepherd
Postseason
The 2004 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 31st 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 17th time. This was the first year of a 24-team playoff bracket.
Seeded teams Albany State East Stroudsburg Michigan Tech Northwest Missouri State Northwood Pittsburg State Shippensburg Valdosta State
Playoff bracket
* Home team † Overtime
See also 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season 2004 NCAA Division I-AA football season 2004 NCAA Division III football season 2004 NAIA football season
References