List of NAIA national football championship series appearances by team explained

The following is a list of current National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) schools that have participated in the playoffs (also known as the championship series) leading to the NAIA football national championship since 1956. The playoffs featured two teams in 1956, four teams from 1958, eight teams from 1978, sixteen teams from 1987, and twenty teams from 2023 until the present. A separate NAIA Division II football national championship was also held between 1970 and 1996, with the same number of teams competing in its annual playoffs.[1]

Many of the teams who participated in past editions of the playoffs have subsequently joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) or disbanded their programs.

Current NAIA members

Qualified teams

TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTiesTotalPct.
Arizona Christian Firestorm2202020220202
Avila Eagles1202220220101
Baker Wildcats20198020231920039
Benedictine Ravens1519852022815023
Bethany Swedes1019781999310013
Bethel (KS) Threshers3198420200303
Bethel (TN) Wildcats72006202347011
Campbellsville Tigers4199720151405
Carroll Fighting Saints24197820224218060
Central Methodist Eagles1202120210101
College of Idaho Coyotes2201920233205
Concordia (MI) Cardinals5201720213508
Concordia (NE) Bulldogs1200220021102
Cumberland Bulldogs1199319930101
Cumberlands Patriots91988201969015
Dakota Wesleyan Tigers1199219920101
Dickinson State Blue Hawks2419812023824032
Doane Tigers6197220163609
Dordt Defenders2202020231203
Eastern Oregon Mountaineers (Oregon College)3197520162305
Evangel Crusaders51988202378015
Faulkner Eagles2201320140202
Friends Falcons4199220080404
Georgetown Tigers23198720232720047
Graceland Yellowjackets1200520050101
Grand View Vikings12201120231511026
Hastings Broncos81991200938011
Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats3202120233306
Jamestown Jimmies5197920071506
Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes62001202146010
Keiser Seahawks520192023104014
Langston Lions81973201828010
Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders820142022127019
Louisiana Christian Wildcats1202320230101
Marian Knights12201020232010030
McPherson Bulldogs2200920100202
MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers1120002014611017
Midland Warriors3197919940303
Missouri Valley Vikings13197420161113024
Montana State–Northern Lights1200620060101
Montana Tech Orediggers1019712023510015
Montana Western Bulldogs5199420231506
Morningside Mustangs20200420233417051
Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves4198820002305
Northwestern Red Raiders25197220233322055
Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies (Panhandle State)1198119810101
Olivet Nazarene Tigers3199820203306
Ottawa (AZ) Spirit2201920210202
Ottawa (KS) Braves1019972023110011
Peru State Bobcats9198919916208
Pikeville Bears1200520050101
Point Skyhawks1201520150101
Reinhardt University Eagles92015202368014
Rocky Mountain Battlin' Bears4199820181405
1319842013412016
2198720111203
Saint Francis (IN) Cougars19199920193317050
1202320231102
Saint Xavier Cougars16200220231915034
Southeastern Fire2201620170202
Southern Oregon Raiders719872017136019
Southwestern Moundbuilders7198420222608
Sterling Warriors3201320170303
Tabor Bluejays5200320153508
Taylor Trojans2199819991203
Union (Kentucky) Bulldogs1200820080101
Valley City State Vikings91976201419010
William Penn Statesmen9197520120202

Not yet qualified

Former NAIA members

NCAA Division I FBS

TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTiesTotalPct.
Sam Houston Bearkats1196419641012
Troy Trojans (Troy State)1196819682002

NCAA Division I FCS

TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTiesTotalPct.
Abilene Christian Wildcats2197319774004
Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions2199419952204
Central Arkansas Bears13197619921210224
Eastern Washington Eagles (Eastern Washington State)2196719671102
Elon Phoenix61973198194013
Gardner–Webb Running Bulldogs2198719923205
Lindenwood Lions61998201056011
Montana State Bobcats1195619560011
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (Arizona State–Flagstaff)1195819581102
Prairie View A&M Panthers1196319631102
Presbyterian Blue Hose2197919872204
St. Thomas (MN) Tommies1198319830101
Tarleton Texans4197819903407
Texas A&M–Commerce Lions (East Texas State)2197219803104
Wofford Terriers1197019701102

NCAA Division II

Team (former names)AppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTiesTotalPct.
Adams State Grizzlies2198819894206
Angelo State Rams3197819804206
Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys2197119941203
Arkansas–Monticello Boll Weevils2198819932204
Black Hills State Yellow Jackets2200620070202
Carson–Newman Eagles1119721992205126
Catawba Indians1198819880101
Central State Marauders919871995146020
Central Oklahoma Bronchos (Central State)61962198574011
Central Washington Wildcats919841998117119
Chadron State Eagles2198919900202
Colorado Mesa Mavericks (Mesa State)71982199097016
Concord Mountain Lions8197719920808
Concordia Golden Bears2196419692114
CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves (Southern Colorado)1198219820101
East Central Tigers2198319943104
Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds1198319830101
Edinboro Fighting Scots (Edinboro State)1197019700101
Emporia State Hornets5196219892507
Fairmont State Falcons4196519882305
Findlay Oilers1319641997219131
Fort Hays State Tigers1199019900101
Glenville State Pioneers3197319943306
Grand Valley State Lakers1197819781102
Harding Bison2198919920202
Henderson State Reddies2197419852204
Hillsdale Chargers81957198867114
Lenoir–Rhyne Bears3195919624206
Mars Hill Lions1198019800101
Mary Marauders1019932004710017
McKendree Bearcats91997201039012
Midwestern State Mustangs1199119911102
Minnesota–Crookston Golden Eagles1199719970101
Minnesota State–Moorhead Dragons (Moorhead State)81981199428010
Minot State Beavers71970200937010
Missouri Southern State Lions1197219722002
Nebraska–Kearney Lopers (Kearney State)4196319801405
New Mexico Highlands Cowboys3196619690303
Northeastern State RiverHawks91958199597016
Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers (Northwestern State)12198720101210022
Northern Michigan Wildcats2196019670202
Northern State Wolves5196119880505
Ohio Dominican Panthers1200720071102
Ouachita Baptist Tigers2197519820202
Pittsburg State Gorillas71957198895014
Saginaw Valley State Cardinals3197919842305
Shepherd Rams4198319921405
Shorter Hawks1200820080101
Sioux Falls Cougars16198820103612048
Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm (Southeastern State)1198819881102
Southern Connecticut State Owls1195919590101
Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm1201120110101
Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (Southwest State)2198719900202
Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs (Southwestern State)3197719963205
Sul Ross Lobos2196519820202
Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas (Texas A&I)819591979161017
Tiffin Dragons2199319941203
UVA Wise Cavaliers (Clinch Valley)2199519960202
Walsh Cavaliers1200620060101
Washburn Ichabods2198619880202
West Alabama Tigers (Livingston)2197119722103
West Liberty Hilltoppers (West Liberty State)2197019710202
Western New Mexico Mustangs2199019930202
Western Oregon Wolves2198519970202
Western State Colorado Mountaineers (Western State)4197619912406
William Jewell Cardinals61973199066012
Winona State Warriors1199319930101

NCAA Division III

TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTiesTotalPct.
Anderson Ravens2197019811203
Austin Kangaroos4197919902316
Bluffton Beavers2198719881203
Cal Lutheran Kingsmen5197119824408
Carthage Firebirds2197119730202
Central Dutch1196619660101
Concordia–Moorhead Cobbers2197819815016
Concordia–Wisconsin Falcons1199019900101
Eureka Red Devils2199119940202
Franklin Grizzlies1197219720101
Geneva Golden Tornadoes5198720053407
Greenville Panthers1199019900101
Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties1195819580101
Hanover Panthers6197419891607
Hardin–Simmons Cowboys51992199655010
Howard Payne Yellow Jackets2199219950202
Lewis & Clark Pioneers2198919910202
Linfield Wildcats15196119942612038
McMurry War Hawks1198019800101
Pacific Lutheran Lutes15197919962412036
Redlands Bulldogs1197619761102
Saint John's Johnnies3196319824105
Texas Lutheran Bulldogs3197419764105
Trine Thunder (Tri-State)2199820012204
Waynesburg Yellow Jackets1196619662002
Westminster Titans17197019973111042
Whitworth Pirates1196019600101
Willamette Bearcats3196819974307
Wilmington Quakers3198019832305
Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles (Wisconsin State–La Crosse)719731990106016
Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers (Wisconsin State–Platteville)1197019700101
Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons (Wisconsin State–River Falls)1197919790101
Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers (Wisconsin State–Stevens Point)3197719890-505
Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks (Wisconsin State–Whitewater)1196619661102

Discontinued programs

TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTiesTotalPct.
Azusa Pacific Cougars81998201197016
Cameron Aggies4197419877209
Dana Vikings1198719870101
Humboldt State Lumberjacks1196019601102
Huron Screaming Eagles4198620003407
Iowa Wesleyan Tigers1199119910101
Lambuth Eagles81994200978015
Malone Pioneers2199519981203
Oregon Tech Battling Owls1198819882103
Robert Morris Eagles1201620160101
St. Benedict's Ravens1195819580101
Saint Joseph's Pumas1195619560011
3198919910303
Salem International Tigers (Salem)3197519851304
Trinity Trolls1199419940101
Trinity International Trojans1200420040101
West Virginia Tech Golden Bears1198919890101
Westmar Eagles1198719870101
Western Washington Vikings4199219964408
Whittier Poets1196119610101

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NAIA Championship Series All-Time Participation. NAIA. December 9, 2015. 12–14. https://web.archive.org/web/20150715022933/http://www.naia.org/fls/27900/1NAIA/SportsInfo/Championships/FB_Championship.pdf?SPSID=640523. July 15, 2015. dead.