List of NCAA Division II football seasons explained
A list of NCAA Division II college football seasons since splitting away in 1973. Prior to then, Division II schools participated in the NCAA's College Division.[1] [2] [3]
Three Division Alignment (1973–1978)
Conference realignment
- The Southland Conference, and all of its members, moved from Division II up to Division I in 1975 but returned to Division I-AA in 1982.
- The Big Sky Conference, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Southwestern Athletic Conference, and Yankee Conference, and their respective members, moved from Division II into the newly founded Division I-AA in 1978.
- After forming as a league in 1980, the Association of Mid-Continent Universities, and all of its members, moved from Division II up to Division I-AA in 1982.
- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, after competing as a Division III conference from 1973 to 1979, moved to Division II, along with all of its membership, in 1980.
Four Division Alignment (1978–present)
| Year | Champion | Harlon Hill Trophy Winner | Gene Upshaw Award Winner |
|---|
| 1978 | Eastern Illinois | — | — |
| 1979 | Delaware | — | — |
| 1980 | Cal Poly–SLO | — | — |
| 1981 | Southwest Texas State | — | — |
| 1982 | Southwest Texas State (2) | — | — |
| 1983 | North Dakota State | — | — |
| 1984 | Troy State | — | — |
| 1985 | North Dakota State (2) | — | — |
| 1986 | North Dakota State (3) | Jeff Bentrim, NDSU (QB) | — |
| 1987 | Troy State (2) | Johnny Bailey, TAIU (RB) | — |
| 1988 | North Dakota State (4) | Johnny Bailey, TAIU (RB) | — |
| 1989 | Mississippi College† | Johnny Bailey, TAIU (RB) | — |
| 1990 | North Dakota State (5) | Chris Simdorn, NDSU (QB) | — |
| 1991 | Pittsburg State | Ronnie West, PSU (WR) | — |
| 1992 | Jacksonville State | Ronald Moore, PSU (RB) | — |
| 1993 | North Alabama | Roger Graham, UNH (RB) | — |
| 1994 | North Alabama (2) | Chris Hatcher, VSU (QB) | — |
| 1995 | North Alabama (3) | Ronald McKinnon, UNA (LB) | — |
| 1996 | Northern Colorado | Jarrett Anderson, NEMSU (RB) | — |
| 1997 | Northern Colorado (2) | Irvin Sigler, BU (RB) | — |
| 1998 | Northwest Missouri State | Brian Shay, ESU (RB) | — |
| 1999 | Northwest Missouri State (2) | Corte McGuffey, UNC (QB) | — |
| 2000 | Delta State | Dusty Bonner, VSU (QB) | — |
| 2001 | North Dakota | Dusty Bonner, VSU (QB) | — |
| 2002 | Grand Valley State | Curt Anes, GVSU (QB) | — |
| 2003 | Grand Valley State (2) | Will Hall, UNA (QB) | — |
| 2004 | Valdosta State | Chad Friehauf, CM (QB) | Nathan Baker, PSU (OL) |
| 2005 | Grand Valley State (3) | Jimmy Terwilliger, ESU (QB) | Mike McFadden, GVSU (DL) |
| 2006 | Grand Valley State (4) | Danny Woodhead, CSC (RB) | Mike McFadden, GVSU (DL) |
| 2007 | Valdosta State (2) | Danny Woodhead, CSC (RB) | Brandon Barnes, GVSU (OT) |
| 2008 | Minnesota–Duluth | Bernard Scott, ACU (RB) | Sam Collins, ACU (C) |
| 2009 | Northwest Missouri State (3) | Joique Bell, WSU (RB) | Ben Staggs, WLU (OT) |
| 2010 | Minnesota–Duluth (2) | Eric Czerniewski, CMU (QB) | Brandon Fusco, SRU (C) |
| 2011 | Pittsburg State (2) | Jonas Randolph, MH (RB) | Joe Long, WSU (OT) |
| 2012 | Valdosta State (3) | Zach Zulli, SU (QB) | Garth Heikkinen, MD (OG) |
| 2013 | Northwest Missouri State (4) | Franklyn Quiteh, BU (RB) | Darius Allen, CSUP (DE) |
| 2014 | | Jason Vander Laan, FSU (QB) | Darius Allen, CSUP (DE) |
| 2015 | Northwest Missouri State (5) | Jason Vander Laan, FSU (QB) | Matthew Judon, GVSU (DE) |
| 2016 | Northwest Missouri State (6) | Justin Dvorak, CM (QB) | Jordan Morgan, KT (OT) |
| 2017 | Texas A&M-Commerce | Luis Perez, TAMUC (QB) | Marcus Martin, SRU (DE) |
| 2018 | Valdosta State (4) | Jayru Campbell, FSU (QB) | Markus Jones, ASU (DE) |
| 2019 | West Florida | Roland Rivers III, SRU (QB) | Austin Edwards, FSU (DE) |
| 2020 | The season concluded with the end of the regular season, as the playoffs and championship game were not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 2021 | Ferris State | Tyson Bagent, SU (QB) | Dylan Pasquali, FSU (OT) |
| 2022 | Ferris State (2) | John Matocha, CM (QB) | Caleb Murphy, FSU (DE) |
| 2023 | Harding | Zach Zebrowski, CMU (QB) | Levi Johnson, CM (OT) | |
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Division II All-Time Championship Results Bracket. NCAA. NCAA.org. December 20, 2013. 2.
- Web site: All-Time Conference Champions. NCAA. NCAA.org. December 20, 2013. 15–28.
- Web site: Western Football Conference Champions. College Football Warehouse. cfbdatawarehouse.com. January 4, 2014.
