The 2024 NCAA Division III football season was the component of the 2024 college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States. The regular season began on September 1 and ended on November 16. This was the 51st season that the NCAA has sponsored a Division III championship.
Cortland is the defending national champion.
The playoffs were expanded from 32 from last season to 40 teams.
The season's playoffs was played between November 23 and January 5, 2025, culminating in the national championship—also known as the Stagg Bowl. The game was initially set for Turner Stadium in Humble, Texas, but was later moved to Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. The move also makes the 2024 championship game the first since 2004 to be played on a grass field. North Central (IL) was the 2025 Stagg Bowl champions, defeated Mount Union 41–25.
Conference changes and new programs Membership changes Team Former conference New conference Hilbert Hawks Independent Empire 8 Castleton Spartans ECFC MASCAC Calvin Knights New program MIAA Austin Kangaroos ASC SCAC Centenary Gentlemen Restarted program SCAC Lyon Scots Independent SCAC McMurry War Hawks ASC SCAC Texas Lutheran Bulldogs ASC SCAC Sul Ross Lobos ASC LSC (NCAA D-II) Defiance Yellow Jackets HCAC MSFA (NAIA) Birmingham–Southern Panthers SAA School closed Maine Maritime Mariners Restarted program Independent
Other headlines April 18 – The NCAA D-III Management Council announced that they would support an expansion of the playoff bracket from 32 teams to 40 effective for this season. The amount of automatic qualifier bids will remain unchanged, but the amount of available at-large bids will increase from 4 to 12. August 1 – The Commonwealth Coast Conference announced that it would be rebranding to the Conference of New England, effective for the 2024 season.
Conference standings
Rankings
Postseason Teams
Automatic bids (28) Automatic bidsConferenceSchoolRecordAppearanceLastAmerican RiversWartburg9–117th2023American SouthwestHardin–Simmons10–013th2023CentennialJohns Hopkins9–113th2023CCIWNorth Central (IL)10–016th2023ECFCAlfred State5–52nd2023Empire 8Cortland10–013th2023HCACMount St. Joseph8–28th2023LandmarkSusquehanna9–16th2023LibertyHobart9–113th2016MASCACUMass Dartmouth10–03rd2022MichiganHope10–06th2019Middle AtlanticKing's (PA)9–12nd2002MidwestLake Forest10–04th2022MinnesotaSaint John's (MN)10–029th2022NEWMACSpringfield10–010th2023New EnglandEndicott9–16th2023New JerseySalisbury10–014th2022North CoastDePauw10–06th2023NACCAurora9–19th2023NorthwestLinfield9–118th2022OhioMount Union10–035th2023Old DominionRandolph–Macon9–17th2023Presidents'Washington & Jefferson9–127th2018SAABerry8–24th2019SCIACPomona-Pitzer8–22nd2022Upper MidwestNorthwestern (MN)7–33rd2022USA SouthMaryville8–13rd2018WisconsinWisconsin–Platteville9–13rd2016
At-large bids (12) At-large bidsSchoolConferenceRecordAppearanceLastCarnegie MellonPresidents'9–19th2022Grove CityPresidents'9–12nd2023UrsinusCentennial9–13rd1999WhitworthNorthwest9–16th2023Texas LutheranSCAC9–12nd2014Bethel (MN)Minnesota8–213th2023CoeAmerican Rivers9–111th2023CentreSAA8–24th2018Wisconsin–La CrosseWisconsin7–315th2023Trinity (TX)SAA8–216th2023Mary Hardin–BaylorAmerican Southwest6–319th2022John CarrollOhio8–28th2018
Bracket
* - Host team
Bowl games Division III held 13 bowl games in 2024, featuring teams that did not qualify for the Division III postseason tournament; this is the same number of games contested in 2023 season, but saw the addition of the Fusion Bowl and two bowls organized by NIL company Opendorse, as well as the subtraction of the ECAC Lynah Bowl and the New England Bowl series.
DateTime (EST)GameSiteTelevisionTeamsAffiliationsResultsNov23NoonCentennial-MACBowl SeriesCampus sitesCentennialTVMACtv(streaming)WidenerMuhlenberg*CentennialMACMuhlenberg 34Widener 7Franklin & MarshallDelaware Valley*Franklin & Marshall 7Delaware Valley 0DickinsonFDU–Florham*FDU–Florham 49Dickinson 14Whitelaw BowlStevensonMorrisville*MACEmpire 8Morrisville 21Stevenson 18Chapman BowlRochesterBrockport*LibertyEmpire 8Brockport 42Rochester 23Bushnell BowlAlfredWestern Connecticut*Empire 8MASCACWestern Connecticut 45Alfred 14Lakefront BowlRaabe StadiumWauwatosa, WisconsinMonmouth (IL)St. NorbertMWCNACCSt. Norbert 20Monmouth (IL) 141:00 pmFusion BowlCampus sitesNortheast Sports NetworkHussonMaritime*CNENEWMACMaritime 21Husson 14Cape Henry BowlSalem Football StadiumSalem, VirginiaODAC Sports Network(streaming)WilkesWashington & LeeLandmarkODACWashington & Lee 40Wilkes 215:00 pmCape Charles BowlMoravianShenandoahMoravian 35Shenandoah 143:00 pmIsthmus BowlBank of Sun Prairie StadiumSun Prairie, WisconsinWisconsin–StoutWheaton (IL)WIACCCIWWheaton (IL) 35Wisconsin-Stout 321:00 pmForeverLawn BowlTom Benson Hall of Fame StadiumCanton, OhioFloSportsHanoverWabashHCACNCACHanover 13Wabash 106:00 pmExtra Points BowlMariettaWestminster (PA)OACPACWestminster (PA) 27Marietta 13 * - Host team
Coaching changes Preseason and in-season This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2024, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games. School Outgoing coach Date Reason Replacement Previous positionTCNJCasey GoffMay 7, 2024Hired as head coach for Brooke HS (WV)Eric Jendryaszek (interim)TCNJ offensive line coach (2022–2023)CastletonTony VolponeMay 9, 2024ResignedTyler Higley (interim; named full-time on June 13)Castleton defensive coordinator (2022–2023)Westfield StatePete KowalskiMay 21, 2024RetiredLou ConteAmerican International head coach (2023)ChicagoTodd Gilcrist Jr.July 5, 2024ResignedMax Andrews (full-season interim)Chicago offensive line coach (2023)OtterbeinTommy ZagorskiJuly 12, 2024ResignedJake Schaefer (full-season interim)Otterbein offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2023)Southwestern (TX)Joe AustinJuly 26, 2024Retired Bill Kriesel (interim; named full-time on November 5)Southwestern (TX) associate head coach, defensive coordinator, and defensive backs coach (2023)Worcester StateAdam PeloquinAugust 6, 2024ResignedZach Besaw (full-season interim)Worcester State defensive backs coach (2020–2023) Maine Maritime Calvin Powell October 11, 2024 Resigned Bill Mottola Jr. (interim) Lely HS (FL) head coach (2014–2023)MillikinCarlton HallOctober 27, 2024FiredPatrick Allgeier (interim)Millikin offensive line coach (1996–2024)
End of season This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season. School Outgoing coach Date Reason Replacement Previous position Wabash Don Morel September 2024 Retired (effective at before team's bowl game) Jake Gilbert Wabash defensive coordinator (2024)Anna MariaSteve CroceOctober 17, 2024Retired (effective at season's end)Tanner KingsleyAnna Maria associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach (2024) Dean Andrae Murphy November 7, 2024 Fired (effective before conference playoffs) Eric Desmond Lee (interim) Dean athletic director Illinois Wesleyan Norm Eash November 10, 2024 Retired (effective at season's end) Jared Williamson Roosevelt head coach (2020–2024) Saint Vincent Aaron Smetanka November 13, 2024 Fired Casey Goff Brooke HS (WV) head coach (2024) Olivet Dan Musielewicz November 18, 2024 Fired Erik Ieuter Muskingum head coach (2018–2024) St. John Fisher Paul Vosburgh November 19, 2024 Retired Ed Raby Jr. Morrisville head coach (2020–2024) Franklin (IN) Alan Hensell November 22, 2024 Fired Mike Leonard Franklin (IN) head coach (2003–2019) Albright Isaac Collins November 25, 2024 Moved to administrative position Shaun Weaver Frostburg State defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator (2024) Hiram Jack Mrozinski November 26, 2024 Fired Xavier Dupree Catawba wide receivers coach (2023–2024) Marietta Andy Waddle December 9, 2024 Hired as head coach by ValparaisoTom KaufmanGilmour Academy (OH) head coach (2023–2024) Muskingum Erik Ieuter December 10, 2024 Resigned Matt Nardo Bluffton head coach (2022–2024)HartwickMark CarrDecember 13, 2024RetiredMatt RogersWilkes offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2024)MillikinPatrick Allgeier (interim)December 16, 2024Permanent replacement hiredBilly RiebockMidwestern State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2023–2024) Maine Maritime Bill Mottola Jr. (interim) December 17, 2024 Permanent replacement hired Nick Sheehan Maine Maritime offensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach (2024)OtterbeinJake Schaefer (interim)December 19, 2024Permanent replacement hiredDave MarquisValparaiso co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach (2023–2024)Worcester StateZach Besaw (interim)December 19, 2024Permanent replacement hiredLazaro Mitjans Jr.Harvard running backs coach (2023–2024)CortlandCurt FitzpatrickDecember 21, 2024Hired as head coach by ColgateTom BlumenauerFranklin & Marshall head coach (2022–2024)DeanEric Desmond Lee (interim)January 9, 2025Permanent replacemint hiredLuke BakanowskyNew England (NH) offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2024)La VerneChris KirchJanuary 10, 2025Hired as associate head coach and general manager by Southwestern (CA)Richard SanchezCardinal Newman HS (CA) head coach (2021–2024)ElmhurstMike MurrayJanuary 13, 2025ResignedMike Heffernan St. Scholastica head coach (2019–2024)Lewis & ClarkJoe BushmanJanuary 13, 2025Hired as head coach by Casteel HS (AZ)Brett ElliottLinfield offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2019–2024) George Fox Chris Casey January 14, 2025 RetiredSpencer CracePacific Lutheran assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach (2024) Wooster Frank Colaprete January 20, 2025 Hired as head coach by Cardinal Mooney HS (OH)Austin HolterWooster HS (OH) head coach (2021–2024) Chicago Max Andrews (interim) February 5, 2025 Permanent replacement hiredCraig KnocheWalter Payton College Preparatory HS head coach (2020–2024)Howard PayneKevin BachtelFebruary 5, 2025ResignedCoby GipsonLamar assistant head coach and wide receivers coach (2022–2024) Bluffton Matt Nardo February 11, 2025 Hired as head coach by MuskingumChris HeddenTrine offensive coordinator (2024)Cornell (IA)Dan PiferFebruary 11, 2025ResignedCurt Ritchie Williamsburg HS (IA) head coach (2001–2024) SchreinerKenny TreschittaFebruary 11, 2025Resigned Keith Allen Klein HS (TX) offensive coordinator (2022–2024) Franklin & Marshall Tom Blumenauer February 13, 2025 Hired as head coach by Cortland Michael Phelan Franklin & Marshall defensive coordinator (2022–2024) Misericordia Tyler Cottle (interim) February 14, 2025 Permanent replacement hired Steve Cushing Cortland defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2021–2024) St. Scholastica Mike HeffernanFebruary 15, 2025Hired as head coach by Elmhurst Matt Bremer St. Scholastica assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach (2020–2024) Morrisville Ed Raby Jr. February 18, 2025Hired as head coach by St. John Fisher Eric Jendryaszek TCNJ interim head coach (2024) TCNJ Eric Jendryaszek (interim) February 24, 2025 Permanent replacement hired Tyler Moody Stonehill associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach (2020–2024)Lebanon ValleyJ. R. DrakeFebruary 28, 2025ResignedChris Thompson (interim; named full-time on December 11)Lebanon Valley offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2021–2024)GallaudetChuck GoldsteinMarch 11, 2025ResignedStefan LeForsParkview Baptist HS (LA) head coach (2019–2024)BeloitTed SoenksenMarch 19, 2025ResignedKyle LanghoffBeloit associate head coach and defensive coordinator (2019–2024)KeystoneJustin HigginsApril 24, 2025ResignedHugh KirwanKeystone special teams coordinator and passing game coordinator (2019–2024)
See also 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season 2024 NCAA Division II football season 2024 NAIA football season 2024 U Sports football season
References