List of NAIA national football championship series appearances by team

Last updated

The following is a list of current National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) schools that have participated in the playoffs (also known as the championship series) leading to the NAIA football national championship since 1956. The playoffs featured two teams in 1956, four teams from 1958, eight teams from 1978, sixteen teams from 1987, and twenty teams from 2023 until the present. A separate NAIA Division II football national championship was also held between 1970 and 1996, with the same number of teams competing in its annual playoffs. [1]

Contents

Many of the teams who participated in past editions of the playoffs have subsequently joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) or disbanded their programs.

Current NAIA members

Qualified teams

TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTiesTotalPct.
Arizona Christian Firestorm 2202020220202.000
Avila Eagles 1202220220101.000
Baker Wildcats 20198020231920039.487
Benedictine Ravens 1519852022815023.348
Bethany Swedes 1019781999310013.231
Bethel (KS) Threshers 3198420200303.000
Bethel (TN) Wildcats 72006202347011.364
Campbellsville Tigers 4199720151405.200
Carroll Fighting Saints 24197820224218060.700
Central Methodist Eagles 1202120210101.000
College of Idaho Coyotes 2201920233205.600
Concordia (MI) Cardinals 5201720213508.375
Concordia (NE) Bulldogs 1200220021102.500
Cumberland Bulldogs 1199319930101.000
Cumberlands Patriots 91988201969015.400
Dakota Wesleyan Tigers 1199219920101.000
Dickinson State Blue Hawks 2419812023824032.250
Doane Tigers 6197220163609.333
Dordt Defenders 2202020231203.333
Eastern Oregon Mountaineers (Oregon College)3197520162305.400
Evangel Crusaders 51988202378015.467
Faulkner Eagles 2201320140202.000
Friends Falcons 4199220080404.000
Georgetown Tigers 23198720232720047.574
Graceland Yellowjackets 1200520050101.000
Grand View Vikings 12201120231511026.577
Hastings Broncos 81991200938011.273
Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats 3202120233306.500
Jamestown Jimmies 5197920071506.167
Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes 62001202146010.400
Keiser Seahawks 520192023104014.714
Langston Lions 81973201828010.200
Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders 820142022127019.632
Louisiana Christian Wildcats 1202320230101.000
Marian Knights 12201020232010030.667
McPherson Bulldogs 2200920100202.000
MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers 1120002014611017.353
Midland Warriors 3197919940303.000
Missouri Valley Vikings 13197420161113024.458
Montana State–Northern Lights 1200620060101.000
Montana Tech Orediggers 1019712023510015.333
Montana Western Bulldogs 5199420231506.167
Morningside Mustangs 20200420233417051.667
Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves 4198820002305.400
Northwestern Red Raiders 25197220233322055.600
Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies (Panhandle State)1198119810101.000
Olivet Nazarene Tigers 3199820203306.500
Ottawa (AZ) Spirit 2201920210202.000
Ottawa (KS) Braves 1019972023110011.091
Peru State Bobcats 9198919916208.750
Pikeville Bears 1200520050101.000
Point Skyhawks 1201520150101.000
Reinhardt University Eagles 92015202368014.429
Rocky Mountain Battlin' Bears 4199820181405.200
St. Ambrose Fighting Bees 1319842013412016.250
St. Francis (IL) Fighting Saints 2198720111203.333
Saint Francis (IN) Cougars 19199920193317050.660
St. Thomas Bobcats 1202320231102.500
Saint Xavier Cougars 16200220231915034.559
Southeastern Fire 2201620170202.000
Southern Oregon Raiders 719872017136019.684
Southwestern Moundbuilders 7198420222608.250
Sterling Warriors 3201320170303.000
Tabor Bluejays 5200320153508.375
Taylor Trojans 2199819991203.333
Union (Kentucky) Bulldogs 1200820080101.000
Valley City State Vikings 91976201419010.100
William Penn Statesmen 9197520120202.000

Not yet qualified

Former NAIA members

NCAA Division I FBS

TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTiesTotalPct.
Sam Houston Bearkats 1196419641012.750
Troy Trojans (Troy State)11968196820021.000

NCAA Division I FCS

TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTiesTotalPct.
Abilene Christian Wildcats 21973197740041.000
Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions 2199419952204.500
Central Arkansas Bears 13197619921210224.542
Eastern Washington Eagles (Eastern Washington State)2196719671102.500
Elon Phoenix 61973198194013.692
Gardner–Webb Running Bulldogs 2198719923205.600
Lindenwood Lions 61998201056011.455
Montana State Bobcats 1195619560011.500
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (Arizona State–Flagstaff)1195819581102.500
Prairie View A&M Panthers 1196319631102.500
Presbyterian Blue Hose 2197919872204.500
St. Thomas (MN) Tommies 1198319830101.000
Tarleton Texans 4197819903407.429
Texas A&M–Commerce Lions (East Texas State)2197219803104.750
Wofford Terriers 1197019701102.500

NCAA Division II

Team (former names)AppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTiesTotalPct.
Adams State Grizzlies 2198819894206.667
Angelo State Rams 3197819804206.667
Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys 2197119941203.333
Arkansas–Monticello Boll Weevils 2198819932204.500
Black Hills State Yellow Jackets 2200620070202.000
Carson–Newman Eagles 1119721992205126.788
Catawba Indians 1198819880101.000
Central State Marauders 919871995146020.700
Central Oklahoma Bronchos (Central State)61962198574011.636
Central Washington Wildcats 919841998117119.605
Chadron State Eagles 2198919900202.000
Colorado Mesa Mavericks (Mesa State)71982199097016.563
Concord Mountain Lions 8197719920808.000
Concordia Golden Bears 2196419692114.625
CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves (Southern Colorado)1198219820101.000
East Central Tigers 2198319943104.750
Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds 1198319830101.000
Edinboro Fighting Scots (Edinboro State)1197019700101.000
Emporia State Hornets 5196219892507.286
Fairmont State Falcons 4196519882305.400
Findlay Oilers 1319641997219131.694
Fort Hays State Tigers 1199019900101.000
Glenville State Pioneers 3197319943306.500
Grand Valley State Lakers 1197819781102.500
Harding Bison 2198919920202.000
Henderson State Reddies 2197419852204.500
Hillsdale Chargers 81957198867114.464
Lenoir–Rhyne Bears 3195919624206.667
Mars Hill Lions 1198019800101.000
Mary Marauders 1019932004710017.412
McKendree Bearcats 91997201039012.250
Midwestern State Mustangs 1199119911102.500
Minnesota–Crookston Golden Eagles 1199719970101.000
Minnesota State–Moorhead Dragons (Moorhead State)81981199428010.200
Minot State Beavers 71970200937010.300
Missouri Southern State Lions 11972197220021.000
Nebraska–Kearney Lopers (Kearney State)4196319801405.200
New Mexico Highlands Cowboys 3196619690303.000
Northeastern State RiverHawks 91958199597016.563
Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers (Northwestern State)12198720101210022.545
Northern Michigan Wildcats 2196019670202.000
Northern State Wolves 5196119880505.000
Ohio Dominican Panthers 1200720071102.500
Ouachita Baptist Tigers 2197519820202.000
Pittsburg State Gorillas 71957198895014.643
Saginaw Valley State Cardinals 3197919842305.400
Shepherd Rams 4198319921405.250
Shorter Hawks 1200820080101.000
Sioux Falls Cougars 16198820103612048.750
Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm (Southeastern State)1198819881102.500
Southern Connecticut State Owls 1195919590101.000
Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm 1201120110101.000
Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (Southwest State)2198719900202.000
Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs (Southwestern State)3197719963205.600
Sul Ross Lobos 2196519820202.000
Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas (Texas A&I)819591979161017.941
Tiffin Dragons 2199319941203.333
UVA Wise Cavaliers (Clinch Valley)2199519960202.000
Walsh Cavaliers 1200620060101.000
Washburn Ichabods 2198619880202.000
West Alabama Tigers (Livingston)2197119722103.667
West Liberty Hilltoppers (West Liberty State)2197019710202.000
Western New Mexico Mustangs 2199019930202.000
Western Oregon Wolves 2198519970202.000
Western State Colorado Mountaineers (Western State)4197619912406.333
William Jewell Cardinals 61973199066012.500
Winona State Warriors 1199319930101.000

NCAA Division III

TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTiesTotalPct.
Anderson Ravens 2197019811203.333
Austin Kangaroos 4197919902316.417
Bluffton Beavers 2198719881203.333
Cal Lutheran Kingsmen 5197119824408.500
Carthage Firebirds 2197119730202.000
Central Dutch 1196619660101.000
Concordia–Moorhead Cobbers 2197819815016.917
Concordia–Wisconsin Falcons 1199019900101.000
Eureka Red Devils 2199119940202.000
Franklin Grizzlies 1197219720101.000
Geneva Golden Tornadoes 5198720053407.429
Greenville Panthers 1199019900101.000
Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties 1195819580101.000
Hanover Panthers 6197419891607.143
Hardin–Simmons Cowboys 51992199655010.500
Howard Payne Yellow Jackets 2199219950202.000
Lewis & Clark Pioneers 2198919910202.000
Linfield Wildcats 15196119942612038.684
McMurry War Hawks 1198019800101.000
Pacific Lutheran Lutes 15197919962412036.667
Redlands Bulldogs 1197619761102.500
Saint John's Johnnies 3196319824105.800
Texas Lutheran Bulldogs 3197419764105.800
Trine Thunder (Tri-State)2199820012204.500
Waynesburg Yellow Jackets 11966196620021.000
Westminster Titans 17197019973111042.738
Whitworth Pirates 1196019600101.000
Willamette Bearcats 3196819974307.571
Wilmington Quakers 3198019832305.400
Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles (Wisconsin State–La Crosse)719731990106016.625
Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers (Wisconsin State–Platteville)1197019700101.000
Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons (Wisconsin State–River Falls)1197919790101.000
Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers (Wisconsin State–Stevens Point)3197719890-505
Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks (Wisconsin State–Whitewater)1196619661102.500

Discontinued programs

TeamAppearancesFirstLastWinsLossesTiesTotalPct.
Azusa Pacific Cougars 81998201197016.563
Cameron Aggies 4197419877209.778
Dana Vikings 1198719870101.000
Humboldt State Lumberjacks 1196019601102.500
Huron Screaming Eagles 4198620003407.429
Iowa Wesleyan Tigers 1199119910101.000
Lambuth Eagles 81994200978015.467
Malone Pioneers 2199519981203.333
Oregon Tech Battling Owls 1198819882103.667
Robert Morris Eagles 1201620160101.000
St. Benedict's Ravens 1195819580101.000
Saint Joseph's Pumas 1195619560011.500
St. Mary of the Plains Cavaliers 3198919910303.000
Salem International Tigers (Salem)3197519851304.250
Trinity Trolls 1199419940101.000
Trinity International Trojans 1200420040101.000
West Virginia Tech Golden Bears 1198919890101.000
Westmar Eagles 1198719870101.000
Western Washington Vikings 4199219964408.500
Whittier Poets 1196119610101.000

See also

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References

  1. "NAIA Championship Series All-Time Participation" (PDF). NAIA. pp. 12–14. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.