The 2016 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division II level, began on September 1, 2016 and ended with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 17, 2016 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Northwest Missouri State successfully defended its national title from the previous season (and won its sixth title overall) by defeating North Alabama, 29–3.
D-II wins over FCS teams
September 1, 2016 - Alderson Broaddus 14, Robert Morris 7 September 3, 2016 - Texas A&M-Kingsville 31, Incarnate Word 22 September 3, 2016 - Quincy 38, Drake 35 September 3, 2016 - Western Oregon 38, Sacramento State 30 September 10, 2016 - Oklahoma Panhandle State 20, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 16 September 17, 2016 - Tuskegee 20, Florida A&M 17 September 24, 2016 - Florida Tech 28, Presbyterian 7
Conference changes and new programs
Membership changes School Former conference New conference Alderson Broaddus Battlers Independent G-MAC Dixie State Trailblazers GNAC RMAC Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers Independent G-MAC Malone Pioneers GLIAC G-MAC Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies Independent Lone Star South Dakota Mines Hardrockers GNAC RMAC Stillman Tigers SIAC Dropped program UT Permian Basin Falcons New program Lone Star West Florida Argonauts New program Gulf South Western New Mexico Mustangs RMAC Lone Star
Mississippi College completed their transition to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.
Conference standings
Super Region 1
Super Region 2
Super Region 3
Super Region 4
Postseason The 2016 NCAA Division II Football Championship Postseason involved 28 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football.
The tournament began on November 19, 2016 and concluded on December 17, 2016 with the 2016 NCAA Division II National Football Championship game at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
Format The top seven teams per super regional made up the field of 28 teams.
Twelve first-round games were conducted on the campus of one of highest seed of that matchup. In addition, one team per super regional earned first-round byes. Second-round winners met in the quarterfinals at the campus site of the highest seed. Quarterfinal winners advanced to play in the semifinals on the campus of the highest seed. The championship took place at Children's Mercy Park.
Qualifiers The following teams were qualifiers for the 2016 NCAA Division II Football Tournament. ConferenceTeamAppearanceLast bidPSACCalifornia (PA) 6th 2011Mountain EastFairmont State1stNeverPSACIndiana (PA)17th2015Northeast-10LIU3rd2005CIAAWinston-Salem State 2nd 2013Mountain EastShepherd10th2015Northeast-10Assumption2nd2015MIAANorthwest Missouri State21st2015MIAAEmporia State 4th2015NSICMinnesota–Duluth10th2014NSICSioux Falls3rd2015GNACAzusa Pacific1stNeverGreat AmericanHarding 2nd2014MIAACentral Missouri 3rd2010Gulf SouthNorth Alabama21st2015Gulf SouthValdosta State15th2015IndependentUNC Pembroke3rd2013South AtlanticNewberry4th2015SIACTuskegee4th2015Gulf SouthFlorida Tech1stNeverIndependentNorth Greenville2nd2011GLIACGrand Valley State18th2015Lone StarTexas A&M–Commerce 5th2015RMACColorado Mesa 5th2007GLIACFerris State8th2015Lone StarMidwestern State7th2015Great Lakes ValleySouthwest Baptist1stNeverRMACColorado Mines4th2014
Super Regional One
Super Regional Two
Super Regional Three
Super Regional Four
† Overtime
Final Four Teams that make it to the Final Four are re-seeded for the semifinal matches. The semifinal matchups are hosted by the team with the highest seed.
Bowl games GameDateLocationWinning team(record)Losing team(record)ScoreMVPMineral Water BowlDecember 3Tiger StadiumExcelsior Springs, MissouriBemidji State8–3 (8–3)Washburn7–4 (7–4)36–23Offensive: Jordan Hein (QB, Bemidji State)Defensive: Kameel Al-Khouri (DB, Bemidji State)Live United BowlDecember 3Razorback StadiumTexarkana, ArkansasTexas A&M–Kingsville8–3 (6–3)Southern Arkansas9–2 (9–2)24–17Devonte Williams(SS, Texas A&M–Kingsville)Heart of Texas BowlDecember 3Bulldawg StadiumCopperas Cove, TexasFort Hays State7–4 (7–4)Eastern New Mexico7–4 (6–3)45–12Shaquille Cooper(RB, Fort Hays State)
Attendances 2016 NCAA Division II football teams with an average home attendance of at least 10,000: TeamTotal attendanceHome averageGrand Valley St. 100,388 12,549Tuskegee 40,518 10,130
See also 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season 2016 NCAA Division III football season 2016 NAIA football season
References