NCAA Division II national football championship
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The NCAA Division II National Football Championship began in 1973. Prior to 1973, four regional bowl games were played in order to provide postseason action for what was then called the NCAA College Division and a poll determined the final champion.
Since 1986 the Division II championship game has been played annually at Braly Municipal Stadium near the campus of the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama.
Since 1998 the games have been broadcast on ESPN.
Contents |
[edit] Champions
† Mississippi College's tournament participation, along with its championship, were vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions.
[edit] Most national championships
| Team | Championships | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State | 5 | 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990 |
| Grand Valley State | 4 | 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 |
| North Alabama | 3 | 1993, 1994, 1995 |
| Northern Colorado | 2 | 1996, 1997 |
| Northwest Missouri State | 2 | 1998, 1999 |
| Troy State | 2 | 1984, 1987 |
| Southwest Texas State | 2 | 1981, 1982 |
| Cal Poly | 1 | 1980 |
| Central Michigan | 1 | 1974 |
| Delta State | 1 | 2000 |
| Delaware | 1 | 1979 |
| Eastern Illinois | 1 | 1978 |
| Jacksonville State | 1 | 1992 |
| Lehigh | 1 | 1977 |
| Louisiana Tech | 1 | 1973 |
| Montana State | 1 | 1976 |
| North Dakota | 1 | 2001 |
| Northern Michigan | 1 | 1975 |
| Pittsburg State | 1 | 1991 |
| Valdosta State | 1 | 2004 |
[edit] Teams that have "moved up"
Most of the participants in early national championship games have moved into Division I, the main catalyst for their moves being the creation of Division I-AA in 1978. The following Division II title game participants later moved to Division I:
- Division I-A
- Akron (runner-up 1976)
- Central Michigan (champion 1974)
- Louisiana Tech (champion 1973)
- Troy (champion 1984, 1987 as Troy State)
- Division I-AA
- Cal Poly (champion 1980)
- Delaware (champion 1979; runner-up 1974, 1978)
- Eastern Illinois (champion 1978; runner-up 1980)
- Jacksonville State (champion 1992; runner-up 1977, 1989, 1991)
- Lehigh (champion 1977)
- Montana State (champion 1976)
- North Dakota State (champion 1965, 1968, 1969, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990; runner-up 1981, 1984)
- Northern Colorado (champion 1996, 1997)
- Portland State (runner-up 1987, 1988)
- Texas State (champion 1981, 1982 as Southwest Texas State)
- UC Davis (runner-up 1982)
- Western Kentucky (runner-up 1973, 1975)
- Youngstown State (runner-up 1979)
[edit] See also
- NCAA Division I-A national football championship
- NCAA Division I-AA national football championship
- NCAA Division I-AA Consensus Mid-Major Football National Championship
- NCAA Division III national football championship
- List of college bowl games
