The NAIA Division II football national championship was a postseason 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 based on school enrollment size; 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.
Westminster (PA) was the most successful team at the Division II level, winning the national title six times.
Results 1970 December 5, 1970 Westminster (PA) 21–16 New Castle, Pennsylvania Harold Burry 1971 December 4, 1971 Cal Lutheran 30–14 Thousand Oaks, California Bob Shoup 1972 December 2, 1972 Missouri Southern 21–14 Joplin, Missouri Jim Frazier 1973 December 1, 1973 Northwestern (IA) 10–3 Huntington, West Virginia Larry Korver 1974 December 7, 1974 Texas Lutheran 42–0 Seguin, Texas Jim Wacker 1975 December 6, 1975 Texas Lutheran 34–8 Thousand Oaks, California Jim Wacker 1976 December 4, 1976 Westminster (PA) 20–13 Redlands, California Joe Fusco 1977 December 3, 1977 Westminster (PA) 17–9 Thousand Oaks, California Joe Fusco 1978 December 9, 1978 Concordia (MN) 7–0 Findlay, Ohio Jim Christopherson 1979 December 8, 1979 Findlay 51–6 Findlay, Ohio Dick Strahm 1980 December 13, 1980 Pacific Lutheran 38–10 Tacoma, Washington Frosty Westering 1981 December 12, 1981 AustinConcordia (MN) 24–24 Sherman, Texas Larry KramerJim Christopherson 1982 December 11, 1982 Linfield 33–15 McMinnville, Oregon Ad Rutschman 1983 December 10, 1983 Northwestern (IA) 25–21 Tacoma, Washington Larry Korver 1984 December 8, 1984 Linfield 33–22 McMinnville, Oregon Ad Rutschman 1985 December 13, 1985 Wisconsin–La Crosse 24–7 Tacoma, Washington Roger Harring 1986 December 13, 1986 Linfield 17–0 McMinnville, Oregon Ad Rutschman 1987 December 13, 1987 Pacific LutheranWisconsin–Stevens Point (forfeited) 16–16 Tacoma, Washington Frosty WesteringD. J. LeRoy 1988 December 10, 1988 Westminster (PA) 21–14 New Wilmington, Pennsylvania Joe Fusco 1989 December 16, 1989 Westminster (PA) 51–30 Canton, Ohio Joe Fusco 1990 December 15, 1990 Peru State 17–7 Omaha, Nebraska Tom Shea 1991 December 21, 1991 Georgetown (KY) 28–20 Georgetown, Kentucky Kevin Donley 1992 December 19, 1992 Findlay 26–13 Portland, Oregon Dick Strahm 1993 December 18, 1993 Pacific Lutheran 50–20 Portland, Oregon Frosty Westering 1994 December 17, 1994 Westminster (PA) 27–7 Portland, Oregon Gene Nicholson 1995 December 16, 1995 Central WashingtonFindlay 21–21 Tacoma, Washington Jeff ZenisekDick Strahm 1996 December 21, 1996 Sioux Falls 47–25 Savannah, Tennessee Bob Young
Championships by school Only includes titles won at the Division II level. Programs that no longer compete in NAIA are indicated in italics with a pink background.
Active NAIA programs Team Titles Years Northwestern (IA) 2 1973, 1983 Georgetown (KY) 1 1991 Peru State 1 1990
Former NAIA programs Team Titles Years Westminster (PA) 6 1970, 1976, 1977, 1988, 1989, 1994 Findlay 3 1979, 1992, 1995 Pacific Lutheran 3 1980, 1987, 1993 Linfield 3 1982, 1984, 1986 Concordia Moorhead 2 1978, 1981 Texas Lutheran 2 1974, 1975 Sioux Falls 1 1996 Central Washington 1 1995 Wisconsin–La Crosse 1 1985 Austin 1 1981 Missouri Southern 1 1972 Cal Lutheran 1 1971
See also NAIA Division I football national championship
References