The 2025 NCAA Division III football season was the component of the 2025 college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States. The regular season began on September 4 and ended on November 15. This was the 52nd season that the NCAA has sponsored a Division III championship.
North Central (IL) was the defending champion.
The season's playoffs were played between November 22 and January 4, 2026, culminating in the national championship—also known as the Stagg Bowl—at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Wisconsin–River Falls won the 2026 Stagg Bowl 24–14 over North Central (IL).
Conference changes and new programs The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference disbanded following the 2024 season, as its remaining members all departed to join other conferences.
Membership changes TeamFormer conferenceNew conferenceSourceAlfred State PioneersECFCEmpire 8Anna Maria AmcatsECFCMASCACCarnegie Mellon TartansPACCentennialCastleton SpartansMASCACNJACDean BulldogsECFCMASCACFerrum PanthersODACCarolinas (D-II)Gallaudet BisonECFCODACHendrix WarriorsSAASCACHilbert HawksEmpire 8LibertyHiram TerriersNCACPACJohn Carroll Blue StreaksOACNCACKeystone GiantsLandmarkIndependentMaine Maritime MarinersIndependentCNEMaryville ScotsUSA SouthSAANew England College PilgrimsNew programCNERoanoke MaroonsNew programODACWestern Connecticut WolvesMASCACLandmark
Other headlines April 18 – The NESCAC announced that it would begin allowing its teams to participate in the NCAA Division III Championship, beginning in the 2026 season. October 18 – Curry running back Montie Quinn ran for 522 yards, a new all-divisions NCAA record, in the Colonels' 71–27 win over Nichols.
Top 10 matchups Regular season games
Postseason tournament
Upsets This section lists unranked teams defeating D3football.com poll-ranked teams during the season.
Notes:
Conference standings
Rankings
Postseason Teams
Automatic bids (27) Automatic bidsConferenceSchoolRecordAppearanceLastAmerican RiversWartburg10–018th2024American SouthwestHardin–Simmons9–114th2024CentennialFranklin & Marshall9–11st—CCIWNorth Central (IL)10–017th2024Empire 8Cortland8–214th2024HCACHanover8–29th2019LandmarkSusquehanna8–27th2024LibertyUnion (NY)8–214th2023MASCACFramingham State7–37th2021MichiganAlma8–26th2023Middle AtlanticEastern9–11st—MidwestMonmouth (IL)9–18th2019MinnesotaBethel (MN)10–014th2024NEWMACSpringfield8–211th2024New EnglandEndicott9–17th2024New JerseyChristopher Newport10–012th2023North CoastJohn Carroll9–19th2024NACCConcordia (WI)9–15th2013NorthwestWhitworth8–27th2024OhioMount Union10–036th2024Old DominionRandolph–Macon9–18th2024Presidents'Washington & Jefferson8–228th2024SAABerry9–15th2024SCIACChapman8–25th2023Upper MidwestCrown7–31st—USA SouthLaGrange9–12nd2008WisconsinWisconsin–River Falls9–13rd1996
At-large bids (13) At-large bidsSchoolConferenceRecordAppearanceLastJohns HopkinsCentennial9–114th2024Trinity (TX)SAA9–117th2024SalisburyNew Jersey9–115th2024Wisconsin–PlattevilleWisconsin8–24th2024Saint John's (MN)Minnesota9–130th2024HopeMichigan9–17th2024Wisconsin–WhitewaterWisconsin8–221st2023DePauwNorth Coast9–17th2024Wisconsin–La CrosseWisconsin7–216th2024MuhlenbergCentennial8–211th2021Wheaton (IL)CCIW8–27th2024CoeAmerican Rivers8–212th2024Grove CityPresidents'8–23rd2024
Bracket
* - Host team
Bowl games Division III held 14 bowl games in 2025, featuring teams that did not qualify for the Division III postseason tournament. This total is up one from the 13 held in 2024, with the return of the Lynah Bowl.
Coaching changes Preseason and in-season This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2025, 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 position Western Connecticut Joe Loth May 6, 2025 Hired as head coach by Southern Connecticut Kevin Jones (interim) Western Connecticut defensive coordinator (2018–2024) Chapman Bob Owens May 9, 2025 Retired Casey Shine (interim; named full-time on March 2, 2026) Chapman offensive coordinator (2012–2024) Augsburg Derrin Lamker May 21, 2025 Hired as head coach by Osseo HS (MN) KiJuan Ware Shippensburg offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2024) Lawrence Tony Aker June 9, 2025 Fired Adam Gonzaga Lake Forest defensive coordinator and associate head coach (2024) Wittenberg Jim Collins October 23, 2025 Fired Joe Nemith (interim) Wittenberg defensive passing game coordinator & defensive backs coach (2023–2025) Sewanee Andy McCollum November 10, 2025 Fired Tracy Malone (interim) Sewanee offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach (2025)
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 Geneva Geno DeMarco June 30, 2025 Retired (effective at season's end)Tom ContentaGeneva defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Kalamazoo Jamie Zorbo October 29, 2025 Resigned (effective at season's end) John Krajacic Kalamazoo co-offensive coordinator and associate head coach (2016–2025) Averett Patrick Henry November 2, 2025 Moved to administrative position (effective at season's end) Matt Quinn Scotland HS offensive coordinator (2025) Nebraska Wesleyan Brian Keller November 11, 2025 RetiredJacob DonohoeCoe offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2025) Waynesburg Cornelius Coleman November 11, 2025 Fired Larry Wilson Clarion offensive coordinator and quarterbacks/wide receivers coach (2025) Alvernia Steve Azzanesi November 16, 2025 Fired Steve Devlin Ursinus defensive coordinator and associate head coach (2018–2025) Knox Aaron Willits November 17, 2025 Resigned Adam Gonzaga Lawrence head coach (2025) Bethany (WV) Brandon Robinson November 17, 2025 Fired David Blake Kent State special teams analyst (2025) Hamline Chip Taylor November 18, 2025 Resigned Bob Davies Gustavus Adolphus offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2025) Gettysburg Maurice Banks November 18, 2025 Fired Michael Green Hobart defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach (2021–2025) Loras Steve Helminiak November 20, 2025 Fired Brandon Novak Saint John's defensive coordinator (2014–2025) Wittenberg Joe Nemith (interim) December 1, 2025 Permanent replacement BJ Coad Ohio Dominican associate head coach and offensive coordinator (2024–2025) Catholic University Mike Gutelius December 2, 2025 Moved to administrative position Kory David Eastern defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2024–2025) Sewanee Tracy Malone (interim) December 11, 2025 Permanent replacement hired Joe Freitag Monmouth (IL) offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2025) Lawrence Adam Gonzaga December 11, 2025 Fired Daniel Galante St. Patrick HS (IL) assistant coach (2021–2025)IthacaMichael ToerperDecember 14, 2025Hired as defensive coordinator by CornellBrandon MaguireIthaca offensive coordinator (2024–2025)MariettaTom KaufmanDecember 15, 2025Hired as head coach by Saint Ignatius HS (OH)Tom HinkleMarietta associate head coach and defensive line coach (2025) Susquehanna Tom Perkovich December 23, 2025 Hired as head coach by Albany Chris Pincince Post wide receivers coach (2025)John CarrollJeff BehrmanJanuary 1, 2026Hired as head coach by BucknellBrian PolianJohn Carroll athletic director (2023–present)Wisconsin–La CrosseMatt JanusJanuary 5, 2026Hired as head coach by Northern MichiganMichael ZweifelWisconsin–La Crosse defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach (2023–2025)Delaware ValleyMike IsgroJanuary 5, 2026Hired as special teams coordinator by West ChesterBill Zwaan Jr.West Chester assistant head coach and offensive coordinator (2013–2025)MoravianJeffrey LongJanuary 9, 2026Hired as defensive coordinator by BucknellChris SappRochester associate head coach/defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach (2018–2025)MaritimeAnthony TrottaJanuary 21, 2026Hired as assistant coach by BucknellAndrew DresnerHoly Cross offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2024–2025)EurekaRandy StarksBefore January 26, 2026ResignedDion JordanEureka associate head coach (2024–2025)William PatersonShaun WilliamsBefore February 10, 2026FiredEdwyn EdwardsTCNJ defensive coordinator (2019–2025)Buffalo StateLazarus MorganBefore February 11, 2026FiredMike NealeDelaware Valley defensive coordinator (2024–2025)StevensonEd HottleFebruary 12, 2026ResignedJosh HoegStevenson associate head coach and offensive coordinator (2019–2025)Wisconsin–River FallsMatt WalkerFebruary 22, 2026Hired as head coach by DrakeJake Wissing (interim)Wisconsin–River Falls defensive coordinator (2021–2025)Westminster (PA)Scott BenzelFebruary 23, 2026Hired as assistant coach by DukeEJ White (interim)Westminster (PA) offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2025)
See also 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season 2025 NCAA Division II football season 2025 NAIA football season 2025 U Sports football season
References