1977 NAIA Division I football season explained

Year:1977
Regular Season:August–November 1977
Playoffs:December 3–10, 1977
Championship:Kingdome
Seattle, WA
Champions:Abilene Christian (2)

The 1977 NAIA Division I football season was the 22nd season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the eighth season of play of the NAIA's top division for football.

The season was played from August to November 1977 and culminated in the 1977 NAIA Division I Football National Championship. Known this year as the Apple Bowl, the title game was played on December 10, 1977 at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington.[1] [2] Abilene Christian defeated Southwestern Oklahoma State in the Apple Bowl, 24–7, to win their second NAIA national title.[3]

Conference realignment

Conference changes

Membership changes

Team 1976 conference 1977 conference
Independent (NAIA)
Independent (NAIA)
Lone Star (NAIA Division I) TIAA (NAIA Division II)
Lone Star (NAIA Division I) TIAA (NAIA Division II)
Central States

Conference champions

ConferenceChampionRecord
ArkansasHenderson State6–0
Central StatesKearney State7–0
EvergreenOregon College6–0
Lone StarAbilene Christian
Texas A&I
5–1–1
NICMinnesota–Morris7–0
OklahomaSouthwestern Oklahoma State4–0
PSACClarion State5–0–1
RMACWestern State8–1
South AtlanticElon6–1
SWACGrambling State6–0
WVIACConcord7–1–1
Wisconsin StateWisconsin–Stevens Point7–0–1

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NAIA Championship History. NAIA. November 21, 2015. 4–11. https://web.archive.org/web/20150715022933/http://www.naia.org/fls/27900/1NAIA/SportsInfo/Championships/FB_Championship.pdf?SPSID=640523. July 15, 2015. dead.
  2. Web site: Spokane Daily Chronicle - Google News Archive Search.
  3. Web site: 1977 Division I NAIA Football Playoffs. JonFMorse.com. November 21, 2015.
  4. Web site: NAIA Football Regular Season Records. NAIA. 11 December 2021. 20–23.