| NAIA Division II football national championship | |
| In Operation: | 19701996 |
| Preceded By: | NAIA Championship |
| Succeeded By: | NAIA Championship |
| Type: | playoff |
| Number Type: | playoff teams |
| Number: | 8 |
| Most Champs: | Westminster (PA) (6) |
| Website: | NAIA Football |
The NAIA Division II football national championship was a post-season playoff system featuring the best NAIA Division II college football teams in the United States. It was played annually between 1970 and 1996 when NAIA football play was divided into two divisions based on school enrollment size; the NAIA Division I football national championship was played separately. It was typically held at the home field of the higher-seeded team. The championship was discontinued in 1997 after the two divisions were consolidated once again. The singular NAIA football national championship has been held every year since.[1]
Westminster (PA) was the most successful team at the Division II level, winning the national title six times.
| Date | Champion | Score | Runner-up | Site | Winning head coach(es) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 5, 1970 | 21–16 | Harold Burry | ||||
| December 4, 1971 | 30–14 | Bob Shoup | ||||
| December 2, 1972 | Missouri Southern | 21–14 | Jim Frazier | |||
| December 1, 1973 | 10–3 | Larry Korver | ||||
| December 7, 1974 | 42–0 | Jim Wacker | ||||
| December 6, 1975 | 34–8 | Jim Wacker | ||||
| December 4, 1976 | 20–13 | Joe Fusco | ||||
| December 3, 1977 | 17–9 | Joe Fusco | ||||
| December 9, 1978 | 7–0 | Jim Christopherson | ||||
| December 8, 1979 | 51–6 | Dick Strahm | ||||
| December 13, 1980 | 38–10 | Frosty Westering | ||||
| December 12, 1981 | Austin | 24–241 | Larry Kramer Jim Christopherson | |||
| December 11, 1982 | 33–15 | McMinnville, Oregon[2] [3] | Ad Rutschman | |||
| December 10, 1983 | 25–21 | Larry Korver | ||||
| December 8, 1984 | 33–22 | Ad Rutschman | ||||
| December 13, 1985 | 24–7 | Roger Harring | ||||
| December 13, 1986 | 17–0 | Ad Rutschman | ||||
| December 13, 1987 | Pacific Lutheran Wisconsin–Stevens Point (forfeited) | 16–162 | Frosty Westering D. J. LeRoy | |||
| December 10, 1988 | 21–14 | Joe Fusco | ||||
| December 16, 1989 | 51–30 | Joe Fusco | ||||
| December 15, 1990 | 17–7 | Tom Shea | ||||
| December 21, 1991 | 28–20 | Kevin Donley | ||||
| December 19, 1992 | 26–13 | Dick Strahm | ||||
| December 18, 1993 | 50–20 | Frosty Westering | ||||
| December 17, 1994 | 27–7 | Gene Nicholson | ||||
| December 16, 1995 | 21–21 1 | Jeff Zenisek Dick Strahm | ||||
| December 21, 1996 | 47–25 | Bob Young |
| Team | Championships | Winning years | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster (PA) | 6 | 1970, 1976, 1977, 1988, 1989, 1994 | |
| Findlay (OH) | 3 | 1979, 1992, 1995 | |
| Pacific Lutheran | 3 | 1980, 1987, 1993 | |
| Linfield | 3 | 1982, 1984, 1986 | |
| 2 | 1973, 1983 | ||
| Concordia–Moorhead | 2 | 1978, 1981 | |
| Texas Lutheran | 2 | 1974, 1975 | |
| Sioux Falls | 1 | 1996 | |
| Central Washington | 1 | 1995 | |
| 1 | 1991 | ||
| 1 | 1990 | ||
| Wisconsin–La Crosse | 1 | 1985 | |
| Austin | 1 | 1981 | |
| Missouri Southern | 1 | 1972 | |
| Cal Lutheran | 1 | 1971 |