| Year: | 1978 |
| Regular Season: | August–November 1978 |
| Playoffs: | December 2–16, 1978 |
| Championship: | McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium McAllen, TX |
| Champions: | Angelo State |
The 1978 NAIA Division I football season was the 23rd season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the ninth season of play of the NAIA's top division for football.
The season was played from August to November 1978 and culminated in the 1978 NAIA Division I Football National Championship. Known this year as the Palm Bowl, the title game was played on December 16, 1978 at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen, Texas.[1]
Angelo State defeated in the Palm Bowl, 24–14, to win their first NAIA national title.[2]
| Conference | Champion | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Intercollegiate | Central Arkansas | 6–0 | |
| Central States | Kearney State | 7–0 | |
| Evergreen | Oregon College | 5–1 | |
| Great Lakes | Grand Valley State | 5–0 | |
| Lone Star | Angelo State | 7–0 | |
| NIC | Minnesota–Morris | 8–0 | |
| Oklahoma | East Central State | 4–0 | |
| PSAC | Clarion State Shippensburg State | 5–1 | |
| RMAC | Western State | 8–0 | |
| South Atlantic | Elon Presbyterian | 6–0–1 | |
| SWAC | Grambling State | 5–0–1 | |
| WVIAC | North: Shepherd South: Concord | 6–3 8–1 | |
| Wisconsin State | Wisconsin–La Crosse Wisconsin–Whitewater | 7–1 7–1 |