The 1993 NCAA Division III football season, part of the college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States, began in August 1993, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, in December 1993 at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia. The Mount Union Purple Raiders won their first Division III championship by defeating the Rowan Profs, 34−24. The first Gagliardi Trophy was awarded to Mount Union's quarterback Jim Ballard.
Conference and program changes Following an NCAA rule change passed in January 1991, which required Division I schools to conduct all sports at the Division I level by 1993, multiple Division I universities were forced to move their football programs from the Division III level. As such, teams from Butler University, the University of Dayton, Drake University, the University of Evansville, Valparaiso University, the University of San Diego, Jacksonville University, Creighton University, Bradley University, Davidson College, Georgetown University, Marist College, Canisius College, Duquesne University, Fairfield University, Iona College, St. John's University, St. Peter's University, and Siena College. Many of these teams became football members of non-scholarship Division I FCS football leagues like the Pioneer Football League, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Patriot League, and the Big South Conference.
Conference changes School 1992 Conference 1993 Conference Buffalo D-III Independent I-AA Independent Canisius D-III Independent MAAC (I-AA) Charleston Southern D-III Independent I-AA Independent C.W. Post Liberty (D-III) D-II Independent Davidson D-III Independent I-AA Independent Dayton D-III Independent Pioneer (I-AA) Drake D-III Independent Pioneer (I-AA) Duquesne D-III Independent I-AA Independent Evansville D-III Independent Pioneer (I-AA) FDU–Florham D-III Independent Middle Atlantic Gannon D-III Independent D-II Independent Georgetown D-III Independent MAAC (I-AA) Iona Liberty MAAC (I-AA) King's (PA) Revived Program MAC Marist Liberty I-AA Independent Mercyhurst D-III Independent D-II Independent Pace Liberty (D-III) D-II Independent Ramapo NJSAC Dropped Program Sacred Heart D-III Independent D-II Independent St. Francis (PA) D-III Independent I-AA Independent St. John's (NY) Liberty MAAC (I-AA) St. Peter's D-III Independent MAAC (I-AA) Salve Regina New Program D-III Independent San Diego D-III Independent Pioneer (I-AA) Siena D-III Independent MAAC (I-AA) UAB D-III Independent I-AA Independent Upsala D-III Independent MAC Wagner Liberty I-AA Independent Wisconsin–Superior WSUC Dropped program
Conference standings
Conference champions Conference championsAssociation of Mideast Colleges – Thomas More Centennial Conference – Dickinson and Franklin & Marshall College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin – Augustana (IL) Freedom Football Conference – WPI Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference – Anderson Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Wartburg Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Albion Middle Atlantic Conference – Wilkes Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference – Coe Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Saint John's (MN) New England Football Conference – Maine Maritime New Jersey State Athletic Conference – Rowan North Coast Athletic Conference – Allegheny Ohio Athletic Conference – Mount Union Old Dominion Athletic Conference – Randolph-Macon Presidents' Athletic Conference – Washington & Jefferson Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – La Verne Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference – Trinity (TX) Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Hardin–Simmons University Athletic Association – Carnegie Mellon Upper Midwest Athletic Conference – Mount Senario Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Wisconsin–La Crosse
Postseason The 1993 NCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs were the 21st annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division III college football. The championship Stagg Bowl game was held at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia for the third time. As of 2014, Salem has remained the yearly host of the Stagg Bowl. Like the previous eight tournaments, this year's bracket featured sixteen teams.
Playoff bracket
See also 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season 1993 NCAA Division I-AA football season 1993 NCAA Division II football season
References