2025 NCAA Division III football season

2025 NCAA Division III football season
Total No. of teams	241
Regular season	September 4 – November 15, 2025
Playoffs	November 22 – January 4, 2026
National championship	Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, OH January 4, 2026
Champion	Wisconsin–River Falls
Gagliardi Trophy	Kaleb Blaha, QB, Wisconsin–River Falls
←  2024  · NCAA Division IIIfootball seasons ·  2026  →

The 2025 NCAA Division III football season was the component of the 2025 college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States. The regular season began on September 4 and ended on November 15. This was the 52nd season that the NCAA has sponsored a Division III championship.

North Central (IL) was the defending champion.

The season's playoffs were played between November 22 and January 4, 2026, culminating in the national championship—also known as the Stagg Bowl—at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Wisconsin–River Falls won the 2026 Stagg Bowl 24–14 over North Central (IL).

Conference changes and new programs

• The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference disbanded following the 2024 season, as its remaining members all departed to join other conferences.

Membership changes

Team	Former conference	New conference	Source
Alfred State Pioneers	ECFC	Empire 8	[1]
Anna Maria Amcats	ECFC	MASCAC	[2]
Carnegie Mellon Tartans	PAC	Centennial	[3]
Castleton Spartans	MASCAC	NJAC	[4]
Dean Bulldogs	ECFC	MASCAC	[5]
Ferrum Panthers	ODAC	Carolinas (D-II)	[6]
Gallaudet Bison	ECFC	ODAC	[7]
Hendrix Warriors	SAA	SCAC	[8]
Hilbert Hawks	Empire 8	Liberty	[9]
Hiram Terriers	NCAC	PAC	[10]
John Carroll Blue Streaks	OAC	NCAC	[11]
Keystone Giants	Landmark	Independent	[12]
Maine Maritime Mariners	Independent	CNE	[13]
Maryville Scots	USA South	SAA	[14]
New England College Pilgrims	New program	CNE	[15] [16]
Roanoke Maroons	New program	ODAC	[17]
Western Connecticut Wolves	MASCAC	Landmark	[18]

Other headlines

• April 18 – The NESCAC announced that it would begin allowing its teams to participate in the NCAA Division III Championship, beginning in the 2026 season. ^[19]
• October 18 – Curry running back Montie Quinn ran for 522 yards, a new all-divisions NCAA record, in the Colonels' 71–27 win over Nichols. ^[20]

Conference standings

2025 American Rivers Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 12 Wartburg $^   8 – 0     10 – 1   No. 25 Coe ^   7 – 1     9 – 3   Central (IA)   6 – 2     8 – 2   Simpson (IA)   5 – 3     6 – 4   Dubuque   4 – 4     4 – 6   Loras   3 – 5     3 – 7   Buena Vista   2 – 6     3 – 7   Nebraska Wesleyan   1 – 7     1 – 9   Luther   0 – 8     0 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3football.com	2025 American Southwest Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 20 Hardin–Simmons +^   5 – 1     9 – 2   Mary Hardin–Baylor +   5 – 1     7 – 3   Howard Payne   2 – 4     4 – 6   East Texas Baptist   0 – 6     4 – 6   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3football.com	2025 Centennial Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 23 Franklin & Marshall $^   7 – 0     9 – 2   No. 3 Johns Hopkins ^   6 – 1     12 – 2   Muhlenberg ^   5 – 2     9 – 3   Ursinus   3 – 4     7 – 4   Carnegie Mellon   3 – 4     6 – 5   Dickinson   3 – 4     5 – 6   Gettysburg   1 – 6     1 – 9   McDaniel   0 – 7     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3football.com
2025 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 2 North Central (IL) $^   9 – 0     14 – 1   No. 7 Wheaton (IL) ^   8 – 1     11 – 3   Washington University   7 – 2     8 – 3   Augustana (IL)   6 – 3     7 – 3   Carroll (WI)   4 – 5     4 – 6   Illinois Wesleyan   4 – 5     4 – 6   Carthage   3 – 6     4 – 6   Millikin   2 – 7     3 – 7   North Park   2 – 7     3 – 7   Elmhurst   0 – 9     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com	2025 Conference of New England football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Endicott $^   7 – 0     9 – 2   Curry   6 – 1     8 – 3   New England (ME)   5 – 2     8 – 2   Western New England   4 – 3     6 – 4   Husson   3 – 4     4 – 6   Nichols   2 – 5     2 – 8   New England (NH)   1 – 6     1 – 9   Maine Maritime   0 – 7     0 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com	2025 Empire 8 Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Cortland $^   7 – 0     8 – 3   Utica   6 – 1     8 – 3   St. John Fisher   5 – 2     7 – 4   Brockport   4 – 3     7 – 4   Alfred State   3 – 4     5 – 5   Alfred   2 – 5     4 – 6   Hartwick   1 – 6     4 – 6   Morrisville   0 – 7     0 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com
2025 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Hanover $^   6 – 0     9 – 3   Mount St. Joseph   5 – 1     6 – 5   Bluffton   3 – 3     5 – 5   Franklin (IN)   3 – 3     5 – 5   Rose–Hulman   3 – 3     3 – 7   Anderson (IN)   1 – 5     2 – 8   Manchester   0 – 6     0 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant	2025 Landmark Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 13 Susquehanna $^   6 – 0     11 – 3   Lycoming   5 – 1     5 – 6   Wilkes   4 – 2     7 – 4   Western Connecticut   2 – 4     5 – 5   Catholic University   2 – 4     3 – 7   Moravian   2 – 4     2 – 8   Juniata   0 – 6     2 – 8   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com	2025 Liberty League football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Union (NY) $^   7 – 0     8 – 3   Ithaca   6 – 1     8 – 2   RPI   5 – 2     8 – 3   Hobart   4 – 3     6 – 5   St. Lawrence   3 – 4     4 – 6   Rochester   2 – 5     5 – 5   Buffalo State   1 – 6     1 – 9   Hilbert   0 – 7     0 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
2025 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Plymouth State +   7 – 2     8 – 2   Anna Maria +   7 – 2     7 – 3   Framingham State +^   7 – 2     7 – 4   UMass Dartmouth   6 – 3     6 – 4   Bridgewater State   5 – 4     5 – 5   Massachusetts Maritime   5 – 4     5 – 5   Westfield State   3 – 6     3 – 7   Worcester State   3 – 6     3 – 7   Fitchburg State   2 – 7     3 – 7   Dean   0 – 9     0 – 10   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant	2025 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 24 Alma $^   7 – 0     8 – 3   No. 19 Hope ^   6 – 1     9 – 2   Adrian   5 – 2     8 – 2   Calvin   4 – 3     7 – 3   Trine   3 – 4     5 – 5   Kalamazoo   1 – 6     4 – 6   Albion   1 – 6     3 – 7   Olivet   1 – 6     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com	2025 Middle Atlantic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 21 Eastern $^   8 – 1     10 – 2   Delaware Valley   7 – 2     8 – 3   Misericordia   7 – 2     7 – 4   Lebanon Valley   6 – 3     6 – 5   Stevenson   5 – 4     6 – 4   King's (PA)   5 – 4     5 – 5   Albright   3 – 6     4 – 6   Widener   3 – 6     4 – 6   FDU–Florham   1 – 8     1 – 9   Alvernia   0 – 9     0 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
2025 Midwest Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Monmouth (IL) $^   9 – 0     9 – 2   Illinois College   7 – 2     8 – 3   Chicago   7 – 2     7 – 3   Lake Forest   7 – 2     7 – 3   Ripon   5 – 4     5 – 5   Cornell (IA)   4 – 5     4 – 6   Knox   2 – 6     2 – 7   Grinnell   2 – 7     2 – 8   Beloit   1 – 8     1 – 9   Lawrence   0 – 8     0 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant	2025 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 4 Bethel (MN) $^   9 – 0     12 – 1   No. 11 Saint John's (MN) ^   8 – 1     10 – 2   Concordia–Moorhead   6 – 3     7 – 3   Carleton   6 – 3     6 – 4   Gustavus Adolphus   5 – 4     5 – 5   Augsburg   4 – 5     4 – 6   St. Olaf   3 – 6     4 – 6   Macalester   2 – 7     3 – 7   St. Scholastica   2 – 7     3 – 7   Hamline   0 – 9     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com	2025 New England Small College Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Trinity (CT) +   7 – 2     7 – 2   Wesleyan +   7 – 2     7 – 2   Colby   6 – 3     6 – 3   Amherst   5 – 4     5 – 4   Middlebury   5 – 4     5 – 4   Williams   5 – 4     5 – 4   Tufts   4 – 5     4 – 5   Bates   2 – 7     2 – 7   Bowdoin   2 – 7     2 – 7   Hamilton   2 – 7     2 – 7   + – Conference co-champions
2025 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Springfield $^   7 – 0     9 – 3   Merchant Marine   5 – 2     8 – 2   Coast Guard   5 – 2     7 – 3   MIT   4 – 3     6 – 3   Salve Regina   3 – 4     6 – 4   Maritime   3 – 4     5 – 6   WPI   1 – 6     2 – 8   Norwich   0 – 7     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant	2025 New Jersey Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 17 Christopher Newport $^ 7 – 0 – 0 10 – 1 – 0 No. 15 Salisbury ^ 6 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0 Rowan 5 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 1 Montclair State 4 – 3 – 0 5 – 5 – 0 TCNJ 3 – 4 – 0 6 – 4 – 0 Kean 2 – 5 – 0 3 – 7 – 0 William Paterson 1 – 6 – 0 2 – 8 – 0 Castleton 0 – 7 – 0 2 – 8 – 0 $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com	2025 North Coast Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 5 John Carroll $^   8 – 0     12 – 2   No. 14 DePauw ^   7 – 1     10 – 2   Wabash   6 – 2     9 – 2   Denison   5 – 3     6 – 4   Wooster   4 – 4     5 – 5   Wittenberg   3 – 5     4 – 6   Ohio Wesleyan   2 – 6     3 – 7   Kenyon   1 – 7     1 – 9   Oberlin   0 – 8     0 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com
2025 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Concordia (WI) $^   8 – 0     9 – 2   Aurora   6 – 2     8 – 3   Benedictine (IL)   5 – 3     7 – 3   St. Norbert   5 – 3     5 – 5   Wisconsin Lutheran   5 – 3     5 – 5   Lakeland   4 – 4     4 – 6   Concordia (IL)   2 – 6     4 – 6   Eureka   1 – 7     2 – 8   Rockford   0 – 8     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant	2025 Northwest Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Whitworth $^   7 – 0     8 – 3   Linfield   6 – 1     7 – 2   Pacific Lutheran   5 – 2     6 – 4   George Fox   4 – 3     4 – 6   Lewis & Clark   3 – 4     6 – 4   Pacific (OR)   2 – 5     3 – 7   Puget Sound   1 – 6     1 – 9   Willamette   0 – 7     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com	2025 Ohio Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 6 Mount Union $^   8 – 0     11 – 1   Ohio Northern   7 – 1     8 – 3   Baldwin Wallace   6 – 2     8 – 2   Heidelberg   5 – 3     6 – 4   Muskingum   4 – 4     4 – 6   Marietta   3 – 5     5 – 5   Capital   1 – 7     3 – 7   Wilmington (OH)   1 – 7     3 – 7   Otterbein   1 – 7     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com
2025 Old Dominion Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 22 Randolph–Macon $^   8 – 0     9 – 2   Shenandoah   6 – 2     8 – 3   Washington and Lee   6 – 2     7 – 4   Hampden–Sydney   5 – 3     7 – 3   Roanoke   3 – 4     5 – 4   Bridgewater   3 – 4     3 – 6   Guilford   1 – 6     2 – 7   Averett   1 – 6     1 – 8   Gallaudet   1 – 7     1 – 8   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant	2025 Presidents' Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Washington & Jefferson $^ 8 – 0 – 0 8 – 3 – 0 Grove City ^ 7 – 1 – 0 8 – 3 – 0 Westminster (PA) 6 – 2 – 0 8 – 3 – 0 Geneva 6 – 2 – 0 6 – 5 – 0 Case Western Reserve 4 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 1 Allegheny 4 – 4 – 0 4 – 6 – 0 Waynesburg 4 – 4 – 0 4 – 6 – 0 Hiram 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 7 – 0 Saint Vincent 1 – 7 – 0 2 – 8 – 0 Bethany (WV) 1 – 7 – 0 1 – 9 – 0 Thiel 1 – 7 – 0 1 – 9 – 0 $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com	2025 Southern Athletic Association football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 9 Berry $^   7 – 0     11 – 2   No. 16 Trinity (TX) ^   6 – 1     10 – 2   Maryville (TN)   4 – 3     7 – 3   Millsaps   4 – 3     6 – 4   Centre   4 – 3     5 – 5   Southwestern (TX)   2 – 5     4 – 6   Sewanee   1 – 6     3 – 7   Rhodes   0 – 7     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com
2025 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Sun Division Cal Lutheran xy   4 – 4     6 – 4   Redlands   4 – 4     6 – 4   Claremont-Mudd-Scripps   3 – 5     5 – 5   Surf Division Chapman xy$^   8 – 0     9 – 3   Pomona–Pitzer   4 – 4     5 – 5   La Verne   1 – 7     1 – 8   $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant	2025 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Texas Lutheran $   5 – 0     6 – 4   McMurry   4 – 1     6 – 4   Hendrix   3 – 2     6 – 4   Austin   1 – 4     3 – 6   Lyon   1 – 4     2 – 7   Centenary   1 – 4     1 – 8   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant	2025 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Crown $^   6 – 1     7 – 4   Northwestern (MN)   4 – 3     4 – 6   Martin Luther   3 – 4     5 – 5   Greenville   3 – 4     4 – 5   Minnesota Morris   3 – 4     3 – 7   Westminster (MO)   2 – 5     4 – 6   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
2025 USA South Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   LaGrange $^   7 – 0     10 – 2   Belhaven   5 – 2     6 – 4   Huntingdon   5 – 2     6 – 4   Brevard   4 – 3     6 – 4   Southern Virginia   3 – 4     6 – 4   North Carolina Wesleyan   2 – 5     4 – 6   Greensboro   2 – 5     3 – 7   Methodist   0 – 7     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant	2025 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 1 Wisconsin–River Falls $^   6 – 1     14 – 1   No. 10 Wisconsin–Platteville ^   5 – 2     9 – 3   No. 18 Wisconsin–Whitewater ^   5 – 2     8 – 3   No. 8 Wisconsin–La Crosse ^   5 – 2     8 – 3   Wisconsin–Stout   3 – 4     6 – 5   Wisconsin–Oshkosh   3 – 4     5 – 5   Wisconsin–Stevens Point   1 – 6     4 – 6   Wisconsin–Eau Claire   0 – 7     3 – 7   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant Rankings from D3Football.com	2025 NCAA Division III independents football records v t e Conf. Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Keystone   –     5 – 4

Rankings

Main article: 2025 NCAA Division III football rankings

Postseason

Teams

See also: List of NCAA Division III football championship appearances by team

Automatic bids (27) Automatic bids Conference School Record Appearance Last American Rivers Wartburg 10–0 18th 2024 American Southwest Hardin–Simmons 9–1 14th 2024 Centennial Franklin & Marshall 9–1 1st — CCIW North Central (IL) 10–0 17th 2024 Empire 8 Cortland 8–2 14th 2024 HCAC Hanover 8–2 9th 2019 Landmark Susquehanna 8–2 7th 2024 Liberty Union (NY) 8–2 14th 2023 MASCAC Framingham State 7–3 7th 2021 Michigan Alma 8–2 6th 2023 Middle Atlantic Eastern 9–1 1st — Midwest Monmouth (IL) 9–1 8th 2019 Minnesota Bethel (MN) 10–0 14th 2024 NEWMAC Springfield 8–2 11th 2024 New England Endicott 9–1 7th 2024 New Jersey Christopher Newport 10–0 12th 2023 North Coast John Carroll 9–1 9th 2024 NACC Concordia (WI) 9–1 5th 2013 Northwest Whitworth 8–2 7th 2024 Ohio Mount Union 10–0 36th 2024 Old Dominion Randolph–Macon 9–1 8th 2024 Presidents' Washington & Jefferson 8–2 28th 2024 SAA Berry 9–1 5th 2024 SCIAC Chapman 8–2 5th 2023 Upper Midwest Crown 7–3 1st — USA South LaGrange 9–1 2nd 2008 Wisconsin Wisconsin–River Falls 9–1 3rd 1996

At-large bids (13) At-large bids School Conference Record Appearance Last Johns Hopkins Centennial 9–1 14th 2024 Trinity (TX) SAA 9–1 17th 2024 Salisbury New Jersey 9–1 15th 2024 Wisconsin–Platteville Wisconsin 8–2 4th 2024 Saint John's (MN) Minnesota 9–1 30th 2024 Hope Michigan 9–1 7th 2024 Wisconsin–Whitewater Wisconsin 8–2 21st 2023 DePauw North Coast 9–1 7th 2024 Wisconsin–La Crosse Wisconsin 7–2 16th 2024 Muhlenberg Centennial 8–2 11th 2021 Wheaton (IL) CCIW 8–2 7th 2024 Coe American Rivers 8–2 12th 2024 Grove City Presidents' 8–2 3rd 2024

Bracket

First round November 22 Campus sites

Second round November 29 Campus sites

Third round December 6 Campus sites

Quarterfinals December 13 Campus sites

Semifinals December 20 Campus sites

Championship 2026 Stagg Bowl January 4, 2026 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, Ohio

*

Mount Union

49

*

Muhlenberg

34

Muhlenberg

7

Union (NY)

26

*

Mount Union

7

John Carroll (2OT)

10

*

John Carroll

35

Randolph–Macon

6

John Carroll

21

*

Berry

13

*

Berry

18

*

Framingham State

21

LaGrange

14

LaGrange

24

*

Berry

31

Trinity (TX)

23

*

Trinity (TX)

34

Hardin–Simmons

24

John Carroll

21

*

North Central (IL)

41

*

North Central (IL)

38

*

Hanover

23

Hanover

6

Grove City

15

*

North Central (IL)

35

Wisconsin–La Crosse

27

*

Hope

7

Wisconsin–La Crosse

9

*

North Central (IL)

35

Bethel (MN)

21

*

Bethel (MN)

51

*

Concordia Wisconsin

7

Coe

26

Coe

44

*

Bethel (MN)

35

Wisconsin–Platteville

24

*

Wisconsin–Platteville

24

Alma

7

North Central (IL)

14

Wisconsin–River Falls

24

*

Wartburg

24

*

Wheaton (IL)

76

Wheaton (IL)

28

Crown

14

Wheaton (IL)

49

*

DePauw

24

*

Wisconsin–Whitewater

23

DePauw

26

Wheaton (IL)

21

*

Wisconsin–River Falls

46

*

Wisconsin–River Falls

58

*

Whitworth

16

Chapman

7

Chapman

18

*

Wisconsin–River Falls

42

Saint John's (MN)

14

*

Saint John's (MN)

49

Monmouth (IL)

15

*

Wisconsin–River Falls

48

Johns Hopkins

41

*

Christopher Newport

28

*

Susquehanna

38

Susquehanna

42

Washington & Jefferson

32

Susquehanna

29

*

Eastern

0

*

Franklin & Marshall

24

Eastern

28

Susquehanna

10

*

Johns Hopkins

40

*

Johns Hopkins

34

*

Springfield

21

Springfield

14

Cortland

7

*

Johns Hopkins

45

Salisbury

13

*

Salisbury

35

Endicott

28

* - Host team

Bowl games

Division III held 14 bowl games in 2025, featuring teams that did not qualify for the Division III postseason tournament. This total is up one from the 13 held in 2024, with the return of the Lynah Bowl.

Date	Time (EST)	Game	Site	Television	Teams	Affiliations	Results
Nov 21	5:00 pm	Fusion Bowl	Campus sites	Northeast Sports Network (streaming)	Curry * Merchant Marine	CNE NEWMAC	Curry 24 Merchant Marine 27
Nov 22	Noon	Centennial-MAC Bowl Series		Centennial Digital Network MACtv (streaming)	Carnegie Mellon * Misericordia	Centennial MAC	Misericordia 17 Carnegie Mellon 24
					Dickinson Delaware Valley *		Dickinson 13 Delaware Valley 14
	1:00 pm				Ursinus * Lebanon Valley		Lebanon Valley 13 Ursinus 31
	Noon	Whitelaw Bowl			Brockport * Geneva	Empire 8 PAC	Geneva 10 Brockport 46
		Chapman Bowl			St. John Fisher * RPI	Empire 8 Liberty	RPI 35 St. John Fisher 24
	1:00 pm	Bushnell Bowl			Utica * Rowan	Empire 8 NJAC	Rowan 26 Utica 20
		Lynah Bowl			Hobart Maritime *	Liberty NEWMAC	Hobart 42 Maritime 14
	Noon	Lakefront Bowl	Raabe Stadium Wauwatosa, Wisconsin	JustAGame.com (streaming)	Illinois College Aurora	MWC NACC	Aurora 49 Illinois College 14
	4:00 pm	Cape Henry Bowl	Campus sites	FloSports (streaming)	Wilkes Shenandoah	Landmark ODAC	Wilkes 37 Shenandoah 35
	Noon	Cape Charles Bowl			Lycoming Washington and Lee		Washington and Lee 14 Lycoming 12
	3:05 pm	Isthmus Bowl	Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium Sun Prairie, Wisconsin	JustAGame.com (streaming)	Washington (MO) Wisconsin–Stout	CCIW WIAC	Washington (MO) 23 Wisconsin–Stout 31
	1:00 pm	ForeverLawn Bowl	Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, Ohio	FloSports (streaming)	Wabash Ohio Northern	NCAC OAC	Ohio Northern 31 Wabash 32
	6:00 pm	Extra Points Bowl			Mount St. Joseph Westminster (PA)	HCAC PAC	Mount St. Joseph 21 Westminster (PA) 40

* – Host team

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
Western Connecticut	Joe Loth	May 6, 2025	Hired as head coach by Southern Connecticut [21]	Kevin Jones (interim) [22]	Western Connecticut defensive coordinator (2018–2024)
Chapman	Bob Owens	May 9, 2025	Retired [23]	Casey Shine (interim) [24]	Chapman offensive coordinator (2012–2024)
Augsburg	Derrin Lamker	May 21, 2025	Hired as head coach by Osseo HS (MN) [25]	KiJuan Ware [26]	Shippensburg offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2024)
Lawrence	Tony Aker	June 9, 2025	Fired	Adam Gonzaga [27]	Lake Forest defensive coordinator and associate head coach (2024)
Wittenberg	Jim Collins	October 23, 2025	Fired [28]	Joe Nemith (interim)	Wittenberg defensive passing game coordinator & defensive backs coach (2023–2025)
Sewanee	Andy McCollum	November 10, 2025	Fired [29]	Tracy Malone (interim)	Sewanee offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach (2025)

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
Geneva	Geno DeMarco	June 30, 2025	Retired [30] (effective at season's end)
Kalamazoo	Jamie Zorbo	October 29, 2025	Resigned [31] (effective at season's end)	John Krajacic [32]	Kalamazoo co-offensive coordinator and associate head coach (2016–2025)
Averett	Patrick Henry	November 2, 2025	Moved to administrative position [33] (effective at season's end)	Matt Quinn [34]	Scotland HS offensive coordinator (2025)
Nebraska Wesleyan	Brian Keller	November 11, 2025	Retired [35]	Jacob Donohoe [36]	Coe offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2025)
Waynesburg	Cornelius Coleman	November 11, 2025	Fired [37]	Larry Wilson [38]	Clarion offensive coordinator and quarterbacks/wide receivers coach (2025)
Alvernia	Steve Azzanesi	November 16, 2025	Fired [39]	Steve Devlin [40]	Ursinus defensive coordinator and associate head coach (2018–2025)
Knox	Aaron Willits	November 17, 2025	Resigned [41]	Adam Gonzaga [42]	Lawrence head coach (2025)
Bethany (WV)	Brandon Robinson	November 17, 2025	Fired [43]	David Blake [44]	Kent State special teams analyst (2025)
Hamline	Chip Taylor	November 18, 2025	Resigned [45]	Bob Davies [46]	Gustavus Adolphus offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2025)
Gettysburg	Maurice Banks	November 18, 2025	Fired [47]	Michael Green [48]	Hobart defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach (2021–2025)
Loras	Steve Helminiak	November 20, 2025	Fired	Brandon Novak [49]	Saint John's defensive coordinator (2014–2025)
Wittenberg	Joe Nemith (interim)	December 1, 2025	Permanent replacement [50]	BJ Coad	Ohio Dominican associate head coach and offensive coordinator (2024–2025)
Catholic University	Mike Gutelius	December 2, 2025	Moved to administrative position [51]
Lawrence	Adam Gonzaga	Before December 11, 2025	N/A	Dan Galante [52]	St. Patrick HS (IL) assistant coach (2021–2025)
Sewanee	Tracy Malone (interim)	December 11, 2025	Permanent replacement hired	Joe Freitag [53]	Monmouth (IL) offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2025)
Lawrence	Adam Gonzaga	December 11, 2025	Fired	Daniel Galante [54]	St. Patrick HS (IL) assistant coach (2016–2024)
Marietta	Tom Kaufman	December 15, 2025	Hired as head coach by Saint Ignatius HS (OH) [55]	Tom Hinkle [56]	Marietta associate head coach and defensive line coach (2025)
Susquehanna	Tom Perkovich	December 23, 2025	Hired as head coach by Albany [57]	Tim Kologrivov (interim) [58]	Susquehanna defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, and defensive line coach (2024–2025)
John Carroll	Jeff Behrman	January 1, 2026	Hired as head coach by Bucknell [59]
Wisconsin–La Crosse	Matt Janus	January 5, 2026	Hired as head coach by Northern Michigan [60]
Delaware Valley	Mike Isgro	January 5, 2026	Hired as special teams coordinator by West Chester [61]	Bill Zwaan Jr. [62]	West Chester assistant head coach and offensive coordinator (2013–2025)

See also

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

References

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30. "DeMarco Stepping Down Following the 2025 Season" (Press release). Geneva Golden Tornadoes Athletics. June 30, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
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50. "Wittenberg Names BJ Coad '08 New Head Football Coach". Wittenberg. December 1, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
51. "Gutelius steps down as Catholic Head Football Coach". Catholic University Athletics. December 2, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
52. Foster-Harmon, Jerome (December 11, 2025). "Lawrence University Names Alumnus Dan Galante '87 as Head Football Coach". Lawrence University. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
53. "Sewanee names Freitag to lead football program". Sewanee Tigers Athletics. December 11, 2025. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
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55. "St. Ignatius names Tom Kaufman head football coach". The News-Herald. December 15, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
56. "Hinkle promoted to Marietta College Head Football Coach". Marietta College. December 15, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
57. "UAlbany Names Tom Perkovich Head Football Coach" (Press release). Albany Great Danes Athletics. December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
58. Graham, Dan (January 7, 2026). "Tim Kologrivov Named Interim Head Football Coach". Susquehanna University. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
59. "Jeff Behrman to Depart JCU, Search for Next Head Football Coach to Begin Immediately". John Carroll University. January 1, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
60. "Janus Named Head Coach at Northern Michigan University; Led UW-La Crosse to Five NCAA III Appearances". University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. January 5, 2026. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
61. "West Chester Adds Mike Isgro to Football Coaching Staff". West Chester University. January 5, 2026. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
62. "DelVal Names Bill Zwaan Head Football Coach". Delaware Valley University. January 12, 2026. Retrieved January 13, 2026.