The 2025 NAIA football national championship was a college football game played on December 20, 2025, at Crowley ISD Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The 70th annual NAIA football national championship game concluded the postseason tournament for the 2025 NAIA football season. The top-seeded Grand View Vikings defeated the second-seeded Keiser Seahawks, 22–16.

Grand View finished 14–0, winning its second consecutive national championship and third overall. The victory came in E. J. Peterson's first season as head coach. Running back Dalten Van Pelt and defensive lineman Jackson Filer received the game's offensive and defensive player awards, respectively.

The game was a rematch of the 2024 NAIA Football National Championship, which Grand View won 35–7. Keiser made its fourth consecutive championship-game appearance and finished the season 12–1.

Teams Grand View

Grand View represented Grand View University of Des Moines, Iowa, and the North Division of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Led by first-year head coach E. J. Peterson, the Vikings completed a 10–0 regular season and won the division championship.

The Vikings received the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. They defeated Saint Francis (Indiana), Lindsey Wilson, and Benedictine (Kansas) to enter the championship game at 13–0, with a 27-game winning streak.

2025 Grand View football Date Opponent Result September 6 W 27–24 September 13 W 49–17 September 20 at W 24–7 September 27 W 63–3 October 4 at W 41–9 October 16 W 34–20 October 25 at W 32–28 November 1 at W 21–10 November 8 W 62–7 November 15 at W 58–0 NAIA playoffs — No. 1 seed November 29 W 62–20 December 6 W 35–7 December 13 Benedictine (KS) W 17–10 Source: Grand View University.

Keiser

Keiser represented Keiser University of West Palm Beach, Florida, and the Sun Conference. Led by head coach Myles Russ, the Seahawks entered the championship game with a 12–0 record as the No. 2 seed.

After receiving a first-round bye, Keiser defeated Southeastern in the second round. The Seahawks advanced to the semifinals without playing their scheduled quarterfinal against Marian after Marian reported an eligibility violation and was removed from the tournament. Keiser then defeated the College of Idaho, 36–27, to reach the championship game.

2025 Keiser football Date Opponent Result August 30 at W 38–31 September 13 W 7–0 (forfeit) September 20 at W 42–12 October 4 W 49–3 October 11 at W 49–28 October 18 W 35–14 October 25 W 45–0 November 1 at W 42–7 November 8 W 34–23 November 15 at W 42–24 NAIA playoffs — No. 2 seed November 29 Southeastern W 44–16 December 6 Not played; Keiser advanced December 13 W 36–27 Source: Keiser University Athletics.

Series history The championship game was the third meeting between Grand View and Keiser. The teams split their previous two meetings, both in the NAIA playoffs.

+ Previous meetings Date Location Round Winning team Score Losing team December 3, 2022 Des Moines, Iowa Semifinal Keiser 38–21 Grand View December 21, 2024 Durham, North Carolina Championship Grand View 35–7 Keiser

Game summary Grand View led 13–3 at halftime following two Cory Wood field goals and an 80-yard touchdown run by Dalten Van Pelt. Keiser tied the game in the third quarter on a touchdown pass from Shea Spencer to Maurico Porcha and a Dorian Hall field goal. Jackson Waring's 40-yard touchdown pass to Corey Phillips restored Grand View's lead in the fourth quarter, and Wood added a third field goal to make the score 22–13.

Keiser kicked a late field goal and recovered the ensuing onside kick, leaving one second for a final pass attempt. Grand View's Triston Williams broke up the pass to secure the victory.

Statistics + Team statistics Statistic Keiser Grand View First downs 19 14 Total yards 337 350 Rushes–yards 20–47 39–206 Passing yards 290 144 Passing: completions–attempts–interceptions 28–51–0 9–21–0 Third-down conversions 5–18 8–19 Fourth-down conversions 2–3 0–0 Fumbles–lost 0–0 1–0 Penalties–yards 6–46 6–40 Time of possession 27:19 32:40

+ Individual leaders Team Category Player Statistics Keiser Passing Shea Spencer 28/50, 290 yards, 1 TD Rushing Jaden Miller 9 carries, 21 yards Receiving Maurico Porcha 9 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD Grand View Passing Jackson Waring 9/21, 144 yards, 1 TD Rushing Dalten Van Pelt 19 carries, 144 yards, 1 TD Receiving Bryant Williams 2 receptions, 51 yards

Postseason playoffs The 20-team tournament began with four first-round games on November 22. Twelve teams received first-round byes. The second round was played on November 29, followed by the quarterfinals on December 6 and semifinals on December 13.

On December 4, the NAIA announced that Marian had been removed from the tournament following a self-reported eligibility violation. Marian's second-round victory over Dordt was vacated, and Keiser advanced directly to the semifinals.

Bracket Numbers indicate tournament seeds. Scores show results on the field; Marian's vacated result is marked with a dagger.

† Marian's second-round victory was vacated following an eligibility violation. Marian was removed before the quarterfinals, and Keiser advanced without playing a game.

References

External links Official box score