2025 NAIA football season

2025 NAIA football season
Total No. of teams	94
Regular season	August 28 – November 15, 2025
Postseason	November 22 – December 20, 2025
National Championship	Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium Fort Worth, TX December 20, 2025
Champion	Grand View
Player of the Year	Jackson Waring, QB, Grand View
← 2024 NAIA football season

The 2025 NAIA football season is the component of the 2025 college football season organized by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the United States.

The regular season began on August 28 and concluded on November 15. ^[1]

The playoffs, known as the NAIA Football National Championship, began on November 22 and culminated with the championship game on December 20 at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

Membership changes

• The North Star Athletic Association disbanded prior to the start of the season; the majority of its members subsequently moved to the Frontier Conference. ^[2]

School	Former conference	New conference	Ref
Concordia (MI) Cardinals	Mid-States	Dropped athletics	[3]
Dakota State Trojans	North Star	Frontier	[2]
Dickinson State Blue Hawks	North Star	Frontier	[4]
Jamestown Jimmies	North Star	NSIC (NCAA D-II)	[5]
Mayville State Comets	North Star	Frontier	[2]
North American Stallions	Sooner	Dropped program	[6]
Rio Grande RedStorm	New program	Appalachian	[7]
St. Andrews Knights	Appalachian	School closed	[8]
Simpson Red Hawks	Independent	Frontier	[9]
Valley City State Vikings	North Star	Frontier	[2]

Conference standings

2025 Appalachian Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 23 Reinhardt $^   6 – 0     7 – 4   Pikeville   4 – 2     4 – 6   Point   4 – 2     4 – 6   Bluefield   3 – 3     4 – 6   Kentucky Christian   2 – 4     4 – 6   Union Commonwealth   2 – 4     3 – 6   Rio Grande   0 – 6     0 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NAIA playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll	2025 Frontier Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   East Division No. 5 Montana Tech x^   6 – 0     12 – 1   No. 25 Dakota State   5 – 1     8 – 2   Rocky Mountain   4 – 2     4 – 6   Valley City State   3 – 3     6 – 4   Mayville State   2 – 4     5 – 6   Dickinson State   1 – 5     3 – 7   Montana State–Northern   0 – 6     1 – 10   West Division No. 4 College of Idaho x^   6 – 0     11 – 2   No. 13 Carroll (MT) ^   5 – 1     9 – 3   No. 18 Montana Western   4 – 2     7 – 3   Eastern Oregon   3 – 3     4 – 6   Southern Oregon   2 – 4     3 – 7   Arizona Christian   1 – 5     2 – 8   Simpson (CA)   0 – 6     0 – 10   x – Division champion/co-champions ^ – NAIA playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll	2025 Great Plains Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 9 Dordt +^   9 – 1     10 – 1   No. 8 Morningside +^   9 – 1     9 – 3   Concordia (NE)   7 – 3     7 – 3   Northwestern (IA)   6 – 4     6 – 4   Midland   6 – 4     6 – 5   Briar Cliff   5 – 5     6 – 5   Hastings   5 – 5     5 – 5   Mount Marty   3 – 7     4 – 7   Dakota Wesleyan   3 – 7     4 – 7   Doane   2 – 8     2 – 8   Waldorf   0 – 10     0 – 10   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NAIA playoff participant Marian (IN) forfeited its NAIA playoff victory over Dordt. Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll
2025 Heart of America Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   North No. 1 Grand View x^   6 – 0     14 – 0   No. 12 William Penn ^   5 – 1     11 – 2   Peru State   3 – 3     6 – 5   St. Ambrose   3 – 3     4 – 7   Culver–Stockton   2 – 4     5 – 6   Graceland   1 – 5     3 – 7   Clarke   1 – 5     2 – 9   South No. 3 Benedictine (KS) x^   6 – 0     12 – 2   Baker   5 – 1     6 – 4   MidAmerica Nazarene   4 – 2     7 – 4   Missouri Baptist   3 – 3     4 – 6   Central Methodist   2 – 4     3 – 8   William Woods   1 – 5     1 – 10   Missouri Valley   0 – 6     3 – 7   x – Division champion/co-champions ^ – NAIA playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll	2025 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Bissell Division No. 6 Friends x^   5 – 0     12 – 1   No. 22 McPherson   3 – 2     9 – 2   No. 21 Southwestern (KS)   3 – 2     8 – 3   Kansas Wesleyan   3 – 2     7 – 4   Saint Mary (KS)   1 – 4     3 – 8   Sterling   0 – 5     1 – 10   Kessinger Division No. 19 Evangel x^   5 – 0     9 – 3   Ottawa   4 – 1     6 – 5   Tabor   3 – 2     5 – 6   Bethel (KS)   1 – 4     3 – 8   Bethany (KS)   1 – 4     3 – 8   Avila   1 – 4     1 – 10   x – Division champion/co-champions ^ – NAIA playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll	2025 Mid-South Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 7 Lindsey Wilson $^   5 – 1     10 – 2   No. 11 Campbellsville ^   4 – 2     8 – 3   No. 20 Georgetown (KY)   4 – 2     7 – 3   Cumberland (TN)   3 – 3     7 – 4   Bethel (TN)   3 – 3     4 – 5   Faulkner   1 – 5     4 – 6   Cumberlands (KY)   1 – 5     4 – 6   $ – Conference champion ^ – NAIA playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll
2025 Mid-States Football Association standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Mideast League No. 10 Indiana Wesleyan x^   5 – 0     9 – 3   Taylor   4 – 1     7 – 4   Siena Heights   3 – 2     5 – 5   Defiance   2 – 3     4 – 7   Lawrence Tech   1 – 4     2 – 8   Madonna   0 – 5     1 – 10   Midwest League No. 16 Saint Francis (IN) x^   4 – 1     10 – 3   Saint Xavier x   4 – 1     8 – 3   No. 15 Marian (IN) ^   3 – 2     8 – 4   Olivet Nazarene   2 – 3     6 – 4   St. Francis (IL)   1 – 4     3 – 7   Judson   1 – 4     1 – 10   x – League champion/co-champions ^ – NAIA playoff participant Marian compiled an overall record of 10–1 in the regular season with a mark of 5–0 in conference play, winning the Mid-States Football Association's Midwest League title. The Knights advanced to the NAIA playoffs, where, after a first round bye, they defeated Dordt. However, Marian was removed from the NAIA playoffs prior to the team's quarterfinal game against Keiser due to self-reported player eligibility violation. The Vikings forfeited conference wins over Judson and Saint Xavier and the playoff victory over Dordt. Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll	2025 Sooner Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   OUAZ +   7 – 1     8 – 1   Louisiana Christian +   7 – 1     8 – 3   No. 24 Texas Wesleyan +^   7 – 1     7 – 5   Wayland Baptist   5 – 3     6 – 3   Langston   3 – 5     3 – 7   Nelson   3 – 5     3 – 7   OK Panhandle State   2 – 6     3 – 7   Arkansas Baptist   1 – 7     2 – 8   Texas College   1 – 7     1 – 8   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NAIA playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll	2025 Sun Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 2 Keiser $^   7 – 0     12 – 1   No. 14 Southeastern ^   5 – 2     9 – 3   No. 17 St. Thomas (FL) ^   5 – 2     7 – 4   Florida Memorial   4 – 3     4 – 6   Webber International   3 – 4     5 – 6   Ave Maria   2 – 5     3 – 7   Warner   2 – 5     2 – 8   Thomas   0 – 7     0 – 11   $ – Conference champion ^ – NAIA playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll

Postseason

Teams

See also: List of NAIA national football championship series appearances by team

Automatic bids (13) Automatic bids Conference School Record Appearance Last Appalachian Reinhardt 7–3 10th 2023 Frontier East Division Montana Tech 11–0 12th 2024 West Division College of Idaho 9–1 3rd 2023 Great Plains Morningside 9–2 22nd 2024 Heart of America North Division Grand View 10–0 14th 2024 South Division Benedictine (KS) 10–1 17th 2024 KCAC Bissell Division Friends 11–0 6th 2024 Kessinger Division Evangel 9–2 6th 2023 Mid-South Lindsey Wilson 9–1 9th 2022 Mid-States Mideast League Indiana Wesleyan 9–2 5th 2024 Midwest League Marian (IN) 10–1 13th 2023 Sooner Texas Wesleyan 7–4 2nd 2024 Sun Keiser 10–0 7th 2024

At-large bids (7) At-large bids School Conference Record Appearance Last Dordt Great Plains 9–1 3rd 2023 Campbellsville Mid-South 8–2 5th 2015 William Penn Heart of America 10–1 10th 2012 Carroll (MT) Frontier 8–2 25th 2022 Southeasetern Sun 8–2 3rd 2017 Saint Francis (IN) Mid-States 9–2 21st 2024 St. Thomas (FL) Sun 7–3 3rd 2024

Bracket

	First Round November 22 Campus sites					Second Round November 29 Campus sites					Quarterfinals December 6 Campus sites					Semifinals December 13 Campus sites					Championship December 20 Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium Fort Worth, Texas
						7	Lindsey Wilson	57
						11	Indiana Wesleyan	31
											7	Lindsey Wilson	7
											1	Grand View	35
						1	Grand View	62
	16	Saint Francis (IN)	13			16	Saint Francis (IN)	20
																1	Grand View	17
	18	Evangel	12
																5	Benedictine (KS)	10
						5	Benedictine (KS)	21
						12	Campbellsville	17
											5	Benedictine (KS)	24
											4	Friends	18
						4	Friends	53
	13	William Penn	38			13	William Penn	36
																					1	Grand View	22
	20	Texas Wesleyan	9
																					2	Keiser	16
						8	College of Idaho	37
						9	Morningside	19
											8	College of Idaho	41
											3	Montana Tech	26
						3	Montana Tech	31
	14	Carroll (MT)	42			14	Carroll (MT)	21
																8	College of Idaho	27
	17	St. Thomas (FL)	35
																2	Keiser	36
						6	Marian (IN)	26
						10	Dordt	18
											6	Marian (IN)	*
											2	Keiser	w/o
						2	Keiser	44
	15	Southeastern	24			15	Southeastern	16
	19	Reinhardt	22

*– Marian was removed from the NAIA playoffs prior to the team's quarterfinal game against Keiser due to a self-reported player eligibility violation. ^[10]

Rankings

Main article: 2025 NAIA football rankings

Coaching changes

Preseason and in-season

This is restricted to coaching changes that took place on or after May 1, 2025, and will include any changes announced after a team's last regularly scheduled games but before its playoff games.

School	Outgoing coach	Date	Reason	Replacement	Previous position
Thomas	Orlando Mitjans	Before May 13, 2025	Resigned[ citation needed ]	Vincent Mason [11]	Webber International assistant head coach and defensive line coach (2022–2024)
Judson	Quintin Demps	Before May 19, 2025	Hired as defensive pass came coordinator and safeties coach for Central State (OH)	Shawn Flynn [12]	Colorado Springs Christian HS (CO) associate head coach and quarterbacks coach (2024)
Graceland	Patrick Ross	July 31, 2025	Resigned (named as team's general manager) [13]	Phil Staback	Graceland offensive coordinator (2024)

End of season

This list includes coaching changes announced during the season that did not take effect until the end of the season.

School	Outgoing coach	Date	Reason	Replacement	Previous position
Peru State	Phil Ockinga	November 17, 2025	Contract not renewed [14]	Sean Wilkerson [15]	Peru State defensive coordinator (2022–2025)
Langston	Quinton Morgan	November 18, 2025	Fired [16]
Waldorf	Tyler Chapa	November 20, 2025	Resigned [17]	David Calloway [18]	Missouri Valley associate head coach and defensive coordinator (2025)
Eastern Oregon	Tim Camp	November 21, 2025	Resigned [19]
Southeastern	Adam Waugh	December 2, 2025	Resigned [20]	Jake Russell [21]	Campbellsville head coach (2023–2025)
Arizona Christian	Jeff Bowen	December 3, 2025	Resigned [22]	Drew Maddox [23]	John Melvin (FL) head coach (2025)
Rocky Mountain	Chris Stutzriem	December 12, 2025	Hired as head coach for Bismarck State [24]	Randy Bandelow [25]	Carroll (MT) defensive coordinator (2022–2025)
Avila	Derrick Alexander	Before December 15, 2025	Resigned[ citation needed ]	Ed Warinner [26]	St. Thomas (FL) tight ends coach (2024–2025)
St. Thomas (FL)	Bill Rychel	December 17, 2025	Resigned (became school's athletic director)	Drew Davis [27]	St. Thomas (FL) quarterbacks coach (2024–2025)
Missouri Baptist	Jason Burianek	Before December 19, 2025	Resigned[ citation needed ]	Marc Lillibridge [28]	Missouri Baptist linebackers coach (2025)
Simpson (CA)	Shawn Daniel	December 19, 2025	Resigned [29]	Trevor Utter [30]	Simpson (CA) wide receivers coach and tight ends coach (2025)
Saint Mary (KS)	Lance Hinson	Before December 30, 2025	N/A	Taylor Calvert [31]	Saint Mary (KS) offensive coordinator (2021–2025)
Rio Grande	Mark Thurston	December 2025	Fired [32]	Mike Bartrum [33]	Marshall senior analyst/special assistant (2021–2025)
Campbellsville	Jake Russell	January 8, 2026	Hired as head coach for Southeastern [21]

See also

• 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season
• 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season
• 2025 NCAA Division II football season
• 2025 NCAA Division III football season
• 2025 U Sports football season
• 2025 NAIA flag football season

References

1. "NAIA Football Scoreboard". NAIA.com. NAIA. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
2. "Frontier Conference Expands to 11 Full-time Members". Frontier Conference (Press release). May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
3. Cunningham, Darren (June 14, 2024). "Concordia University Ann Arbor discontinuing athletics after 2024-25 academic year". WXYZ. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
4. "Frontier Adding Dickinson State as Newest Conference Member". Frontier Conference (Press release). December 12, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
5. "NSIC Extends Invitation to the University of Jamestown". Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (Press release). November 21, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
6. "North American University Discontinues Stallion Football Program" (Press release). North American Stallions Athletics. February 10, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
7. Dannelly, Jason (April 23, 2024). "University of Rio Grande Adding Football in Fall '25". victorysportsnetwork.co. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
8. "St. Andrews University to Cease Operations — A Heartbreaking Goodbye". St. Andrews University (North Carolina). April 25, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
9. "Simpson University Football Joins Frontier Conference, Ushering in a New Era of Simpson Athletics" (Press release). Simpson University Athletics. May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
10. Schroeder, Joe (December 4, 2025). "Marian University football removed from NAIA Playoffs over ineligible player". WXIN . Retrieved December 4, 2025.
11. Thomas, Trinity (May 13, 2025). "Vincent Davis Named Second Head Coach of Thomas University Military Transition Football". Thomas University. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
12. "Eagles Announce Shawn Flynn As New Head Football Coach". Judson University. May 19, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
13. "Graceland Announces Football Leadership Transition: Phil Staback Promoted to Head Coach" (Press release). Graceland Yellowjackets Athletics. July 31, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
14. "Peru State Announces Football Program Leadership Transition; Wilkerson Named Interim". Peru State College. November 17, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2026.
15. "Sean Wilkerson Named Head Football Coach". Peru State College. December 18, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
16. Taylor, Kyle (November 18, 2025). "Langston University Announces Leadership Change for Football". Langston University. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
17. Kleveland, Josiah (November 20, 2025). "Waldorf Head Football Coach Tyler Chapa Resigns". KIOW . Retrieved January 2, 2026.
18. "Waldorf University Hires David S. Calloway as Head Football Coach". Waldorf University. December 11, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
19. "Eastern Oregon Transitions Leadership in Football Program" (Press release). Eastern Oregon University. November 21, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
20. "Waugh Steps Down as SEU Head Football Coach". Southeastern University. December 2, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
21. "Southeastern Names Jake Russell Head Football Coach". Southeastern University. January 8, 2026. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
22. Dryer, Peter (December 3, 2025). "Bowen Resigns Following Successful 10-year Tenure as Head Football Coach". Arizona Christian University. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
23. Dryer, Peter (January 5, 2026). "ACU Hires Drew Maddox As Head Football Coach". Arizona Christian University. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
24. "Rocky Head Football Coach Chris Stutzriem Announces Resignation; National Search Beginning Immediately". Rocky Mountain College. December 12, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
25. "Rocky Athletics Announces Randy Bandelow as the 19th Head Coach For Battlin' Bear Football". Rocky Mountain College. January 16, 2026. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
26. "Ed Warinner Named Avila Football Coach". Avila University. December 15, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
27. "STU Names Drew Davis as Head Coach of Bobcat Football". St. Thomas University (FL). December 17, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
28. "Marc Lillibridge Named Second MBU Football Head Coach in Program History". Missouri Baptist University. December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
29. "Simpson University Head Football Coach Shawn Daniel Announces Resignation". Simpson University. December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
30. "Simpson University Elevates Trevor Utter to Head Football Coach". Simpson University. December 19, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
31. VanCleave, Hannah (December 30, 2025). "USM Names Taylor Calvert New Head Football Coach". University of Saint Mary. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
32. Glandon, Aaron (December 27, 2025). "Mike Bartrum Named Head Football Coach at the University of Rio Grande". Litter Media. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
33. "Rio names Bartrum new head football coach". University of Rio Grande. December 26, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.