NCAA Division III football championship explained

NCAA Division III football championship
Current Season:	2024 NCAA Division III football season
Sport:	American football
Inaugural:	1973
Organiser:	-->
Country:	United States
Continent:	or
Continents:	-->
Champion:	Cortland
Champ Season:	2023
Most Champs:	Mount Union (13 titles)
Level:	3
Related Comps:	Division II

The NCAA Division III football championship is an American college football tournament played annually to determine a champion at the NCAA Division III level. It was first held in 1973, as a single-elimination playoff with eight teams. Over the past 50 seasons, the number of participants has grown to 32, with the current bracket size dating from 2005. In 2023, 28 playoff bids went to conference champions via automatic qualification, leaving just four places for at-large selections.^[1]

The Division III championship game, known as the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl or Stagg Bowl (named after football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg), was held at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia in 2023, where it was previously held annually from 1993 to 2017. Other Stagg Bowl sites have included Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland (2022), Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio (2021), Woodforest Bank Stadium in Shenandoah, Texas (2018–2019), Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton, Florida (1990–1992), Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama (1973–1982, 1985–1989), and Galbreath Field at the College Football Hall of Fame, when the Hall was located in Kings Island, Ohio (1983–1984).

West and East Region Championships (1969–1972)

The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl was founded by the NCAA in October 1969.^[2] Along with its counterpart, the Knute Rockne Bowl, it was "created by the NCAA ... for its College Division II schools, those 100-plus smallest schools in the NCAA."^[3] Eligible schools were divided into an East Region (the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states) and West Region (the rest of the country), with the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl serving as the championship of the West Region, and the Knute Rockne Bowl as the championship of the East Region.

The NCAA thus provided postseason opportunities for College Division teams too small to compete for spots in the four regional bowls it had established in 1964 (as of 1969, these were the Camellia Bowl for the West, the Pecan Bowl for the Midwest, the Grantland Rice Bowl for the Mideast, and the Boardwalk Bowl for the East). At least for the sport of football, this accommodation in 1969 foreshadowed the decision to subdivide the College Division four years later, into Division II and Division III.

Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (West Region championship)

width= px style=""	Year	width= px style=""	Date	width= px style=""	Champion	width= px style=""	Runner-up	width= px style=""	Score	width= px style=""	Location
1969		Wittenberg		27–21	Springfield, Ohio
1970				34–21	Columbus, Ohio
1971		Samford (vacated)		20–10	Phenix City, Alabama
1972	Nov 24	Heidelberg		28–16	Phenix City, Alabama

Knute Rockne Bowl (East Region championship)

width= px style=""	Year	width= px style=""	Date	width= px style=""	Champion	width= px style=""	Runner-up	width= px style=""	Score	width= px style=""	Location
1969	Nov 29	Randolph–Macon		47–28	Bridgeport, Connecticut
1970	Nov 28	Montclair State		7–6	Atlantic City, New Jersey
1971	Nov 26	Bridgeport		17–12	Atlantic City, New Jersey
1972	Nov 24	Bridgeport		27–22	Atlantic City, New Jersey

National Championships (1973–present)

When the College Division was subdivided into the current Division II and Division III in 1973, the NCAA made the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl the Division III national championship game. Initially, Phenix City, Alabama (site of the 1971 and 1972 Stagg Bowls) continued as the host city.

Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl

width= px style=""	Year	width= px style=""	Date	width= px style=""	Champion	width= px style=""	Runner-up	width= px style=""	Score	width= px style=""		width= px style=""	Venue	width= px style=""	City	width= px style=""
1973	Dec. 8			41–0	5,000	Garrett–Harrison Stadium		Dave Maurer
1974	Dec. 7			10–8	5,500			Ron Schipper
1975	Dec. 6			28–0	6,000			Dave Maurer
1976	Dec. 4			31–28	7,214			John Gagliardi
1977	Dec. 3			39–36	7,852			Bill Manlove
1978	Dec. 2			24–10	7,500			Lee Tressel
1979	Dec. 1			14–10	6,500			Jim Butterfield
1980	Dec. 6			63–0	8,701			Rick E. Carter
1981	Dec. 5	Widener		17–10	6,100			Bill Manlove
1982	Dec. 4			14–0	9,000			Bobby Pate
1983	Dec. 1			21–17	3,800	Galbreath Field		Bob Reade
1984	Dec. 8			21–12	2,300			Bob Reade
1985	Dec. 14			20–7	1,879	Garrett–Harrison Stadium		Bob Reade
1986	Dec. 13			31–3	2,000			Bob Reade
1987	Dec. 12			19–3	4,000			Walt Hameline
	Dec. 10			39–24	4,000			Jim Butterfield
1989	Dec. 9			17–7	3,500			Mike Kelly
1990	Dec. 8			21–14 (OT)	4,800	Hawkins Stadium		Ken O'Keefe
1991	Dec. 14			34–20	5,469			Jim Butterfield
1992	Dec. 12			16–12	5,329			Roger Harring
	Dec. 11			34–24	7,304	Salem Football Stadium		Larry Kehres
	Dec. 10			38–15	7,168			Pete Schmidt
1995	Dec. 9			36–7	4,905			Roger Harring
1996	Dec. 14			56–24	5,048			Larry Kehres
1997	Dec. 13			61–12	5,777			Larry Kehres
1998	Dec. 12			44–24	5,145			Larry Kehres
1999	Dec. 18			42–13	4,101			Frosty Westering
2000	Dec. 16			10–7	4,643			Larry Kehres
	Dec. 15			30–27	7,992			Larry Kehres
	Dec. 21			48–7	4,389			Larry Kehres
	Dec. 20			24–6	5,073			John Gagliardi
	Dec. 18			28–21	3,240			Jay Locey
	Dec. 17			35–28	4,619			Larry Kehres
	Dec. 16			35–16	6,051			Larry Kehres
	Dec. 15			31–21	5,099			Lance Leipold
	Dec. 20			31–26	5,344			Larry Kehres
	Dec. 19			38–28	3,468			Lance Leipold
	Dec. 18			31–21	4,598			Lance Leipold
	Dec. 16			13–10	3,784			Lance Leipold
	Dec. 14			28–10	6,027			Larry Kehres
	Dec. 20			52–14	5,371			Lance Leipold
	Dec. 19			43–34	5,465			Lance Leipold
2015	Dec. 18			49–35	5,343			Vince Kehres
2016	Dec. 16				10–7			3,476	Pete Fredenburg
2017	Dec. 15			12–0	4,971			Vince Kehres
2018	Dec. 14			24–16	6,816	Woodforest Bank Stadium		Pete Fredenburg
2019		North Central (IL)		41–14	1,362			Jeff Thorne
	Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
				57–24	1,830			Pete Fredenburg
				28–21	3,231
				38–37	3,381			Curt Fitzpatrick
	Jan. 5

Notes

National championships by team

Programs that no longer compete in Division III are indicated in italics with a pink background.

width= px style=""	Team	width= px style=""	Titles	width=400px style=""	Winning Years
	13	1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017
	6	2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014
	4	1983, 1984, 1985, 1986
	3	1979, 1988, 1991
	2	2016, 2018, 2021
	2	1976, 2003
	2	1992, 1995
Dayton	2	1980, 1989
	2	1977, 1981
	2	1973, 1975
North Central (IL)	2	2019, 2022
	1	2023
	1	2004
	1	1999
	1	1994
	1	1990
Wagner	1	1987
West Georgia	1	1982
	1	1978
	1	1974

Notes

Championship game appearances

See main article: List of NCAA Division III Football Championship appearances by team.

width= 200px style=""	Team	width= px style=""		width= 500px style=""	Years
	22	1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022
	10	2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2019
	7	1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1991
	5	1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986
Dayton	5	1980, 1981, 1987, 1989, 1991
	5	1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999
	4	2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Mary Hardin–Baylor	4	2004, 2016§, 2017, 2018, 2021
	4	1973, 1975, 1978, 1979
	3	1976, 2001, 2003
	3	1974, 1984, 1988
	2	1992, 1995
	2	1977, 1981
St. Thomas (MN)	2	2012, 2015
	2	1990, 1997
	2	1992, 1994
	2	1983, 1989
	1	2023
	1	2004
	1	1999
	1	1994
	1	1990
Wagner	1	1987
West Georgia	1	1982
	1	1978
	1	2016
	1	2002
	1	2001
	1	1986
	1	1977
Towson State	1	1976
	1	1973

Stagg Bowl Most Outstanding Player Award

As voted by the media at the game since 2000.

width= px style=""	Year	width= px style=""	Player	width= px style=""	Team	width= px style=""	Class	width= px style=""
2000	Chuck Moore	Mount Union	Senior	RB
2001	Chuck Moore	Mount Union	5th year Senior	RB
2002	Dan Pugh	Mount Union	Senior	RB
2003	Blake Elliot	Saint John's (MN)	Senior	WR
2004	Riley Jenkins	Linfield	Senior	RB
2005	Nate Kmic	Mount Union	Freshman	RB
2006	Greg Micheli	Mount Union	Sophomore	QB
2007	Justin Beaver	Wisconsin–Whitewater	Senior	RB
2008	Greg Micheli	Mount Union	Senior	QB
2009	Levell Coppage	Wisconsin–Whitewater	Sophomore	RB
2010	Levell Coppage	Wisconsin–Whitewater	Junior	RB
2011	Loussaint Minett	Wisconsin–Whitewater	Sophomore	DE
2012	Kevin Burke	Mount Union	Sophomore	QB
2013		Wisconsin–Whitewater	Junior	QB
2014		Wisconsin–Whitewater	Senior	QB
2015	Taurice Scott	Mount Union	Senior	QB
2016
2017	Nick Brish	Mount Union	Sophomore	DB
2018	T.J. Josey	Mary Hardin–Baylor	Senior	WR
2019	Ethan Greenfield	North Central	Sophomore	RB
2021	Micah Hackett	Mary Hardin–Baylor	Senior	LB
2022	Ethan Greenfield	North Central	Senior	RB
2023	Zac Boyes	Cortland	Junior	QB

See also

• List of NCAA Division III football programs
• List of NCAA Division III football championship appearances by team
• List of NCAA Division I FBS football bowl records
• List of NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearances by team
• List of NCAA Division II football championship appearances by team
• List of NAIA national football championship series appearances by team

References

Sources

• NCAA Division III national football championship history from NCAA.org
• NCAA Division III Football Championships Records Book from NCAA.org
• Division III football playoff history from d3football.com

Notes and References

1. Web site: NCAA Division III Football Committee selects championship field. ncaa.com . December 17, 2023.
2. News: Bowl Games Ok'd. Chicago Tribune. October 22, 1969. December 31, 2023.
3. News: Stagg Bowl Foes Set. The Pantagraph. Bloomington, IL. November 17, 1969. December 31, 2023.