Current season, competition or edition: 2024 NCAA Division III football season | |
Sport | American football |
---|---|
Founded | 1973 |
First season | 1973 |
Country | United States |
Most recent champion(s) | Cortland (2023) |
Most titles | Mount Union (13 titles) |
Level on pyramid | 3 |
Related competitions | Division II |
Official website | ncaa.com/football/d3 |
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).
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.
Year | Date | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1969 | Wittenberg | William Jewell | 27–21 | Springfield, Ohio | |
1970 | Capital | Luther | 34–21 | Columbus, Ohio | |
1971 | Samford (vacated) | Ohio Wesleyan | 20–10 | Phenix City, Alabama | |
1972 | Nov 24 | Heidelberg | Fort Valley State | 28–16 | Phenix City, Alabama |
Year | Date | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1969 | Nov 29 | Randolph–Macon | Bridgeport | 47–28 | Bridgeport, Connecticut |
1970 | Nov 28 | Montclair State | Hampden–Sydney | 7–6 | Atlantic City, New Jersey |
1971 | Nov 26 | Bridgeport | Hampden–Sydney | 17–12 | Atlantic City, New Jersey |
1972 | Nov 24 | Bridgeport | Slippery Rock | 27–22 | Atlantic City, New Jersey |
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.
Team | Titles | Years |
---|---|---|
Mount Union | 13 | 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2017 |
Wisconsin–Whitewater | 6 | 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
Augustana (IL) | 4 | 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 |
Ithaca | 3 | 1979, 1988, 1991 |
Mary Hardin–Baylor | 2 | 2016 [n 1] , 2018, 2021 |
Saint John's (MN) | 2 | 1976, 2003 |
Wisconsin–La Crosse | 2 | 1992, 1995 |
Widener | 2 | 1977, 1981 |
Wittenberg | 2 | 1973, 1975 |
North Central (IL) | 2 | 2019, 2022 |
Cortland | 1 | 2023 |
Linfield | 1 | 2004 |
Pacific Lutheran | 1 | 1999 |
Albion | 1 | 1994 |
Allegheny | 1 | 1990 |
Baldwin Wallace | 1 | 1978 |
Central (IA) | 1 | 1974 |
Team | Titles | Years |
---|---|---|
Dayton | 2 | 1980, 1989 |
Wagner | 1 | 1987 |
West Georgia | 1 | 1982 |
Team | App. | Years |
---|---|---|
Mount Union | 22 | 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022 |
Wisconsin–Whitewater | 10 | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2019 |
Ithaca | 7 | 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1991 |
Augustana (IL) | 5 | 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 |
Dayton | 5 | 1980, 1981, 1987, 1989, 1991 |
Rowan | 5 | 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 |
North Central (IL) | 4 | 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
Mary Hardin–Baylor | 4 | 2004, 2016§, 2017, 2018, 2021 |
Wittenberg | 4 | 1973, 1975, 1978, 1979 |
Saint John's (MN) | 3 | 1976, 2001, 2003 |
Central (IA) | 3 | 1974, 1984, 1988 |
Wisconsin–La Crosse | 2 | 1992, 1995 |
Widener | 2 | 1977, 1981 |
St. Thomas (MN) | 2 | 2012, 2015 |
Lycoming | 2 | 1990, 1997 |
Washington & Jefferson | 2 | 1992, 1994 |
Union (NY) | 2 | 1983, 1989 |
Cortland | 1 | 2023 |
Linfield | 1 | 2004 |
Pacific Lutheran | 1 | 1999 |
Albion | 1 | 1994 |
Allegheny | 1 | 1990 |
Wagner | 1 | 1987 |
West Georgia | 1 | 1982 |
Baldwin Wallace | 1 | 1978 |
Wisconsin–Oshkosh | 1 | 2016 |
Trinity (TX) | 1 | 2002 |
Bridgewater (VA) | 1 | 2001 |
Salisbury State | 1 | 1986 |
Wabash | 1 | 1977 |
Towson State | 1 | 1976 |
Juniata | 1 | 1973 |
As voted by the media at the game since 2000.
Year | Player | Team | Class | Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 | Matt Behrendt | Wisconsin–Whitewater | Junior | QB |
2014 | Matt Behrendt | 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 |
Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football. He served as the head football coach at the International YMCA Training School (1890–1891), the University of Chicago (1892–1932), and the College of the Pacific (1933–1946), compiling a career college football record of 314–199–35 (.605). His undefeated Chicago Maroons teams of 1905 and 1913 were recognized as national champions. He was also the head basketball coach for one season at Chicago (1920–1921), and the Maroons' head baseball coach for twenty seasons.
The NCAA Division II football championship is an American college football tournament played annually to determine a champion at the NCAA Division II level. It was first held in 1973, as a single-elimination playoff with eight teams. The tournament field has subsequently been expanded three times: to 16 teams in 1988, 24 teams in 2004, and 28 teams in 2016.
The Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks are the athletic teams of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. Twenty Warhawk athletic teams compete in NCAA Division III. The Warhawks often rank among the top of NCAA Division III schools in the NACDA Director's Cup standings.
The Knute Rockne Bowl was an American college football bowl game founded by the NCAA in October 1969. Along with its counterpart, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, it was "created by the NCAA ... for its College Division II schools, those 100-plus smallest schools in the NCAA." Eligible schools were divided into an East Region and West Region, with the Knute Rockne Bowl serving as the championship of the East Region.
The Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders football team represents the University of Mary Hardin–Baylor in college football in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the NCAA Division III level. The Crusaders are members of the American Southwest Conference (ASC), fielding its team in the ASC since 1998. The Crusaders play their home games at Crusader Stadium in Belton, Texas.
The Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The team competes in NCAA Division III and is a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Wisconsin-Whitewater's first football team was fielded in 1889. The team plays its home games at the 13,500-seat Perkins Stadium in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Jace Rindahl has served as the head coach for the Warhawks since 2023, taking over for eight-year head coach Kevin Bullis.
The Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets football team represents Randolph–Macon College in the sport of American football. In 1969 Randolph–Macon defeated the Bridgeport 47–28 in the inaugural Knute Rockne Bowl laying claim to a shared NCAA College Division national championship with Wittenberg which had defeated William Jewell in the first Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. The four teams had been chosen by the NCAA to compete in the first ever playoffs established for College Division schools. No complete playoff was set up until the 1973 season. The 1969 football team was inducted into the college's Hall of Fame in 2004. The Yellow Jackets football team is currently coached by Pedro Arruza and won ODAC championships in 2007, 2008, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Going into November of 2013, the football team had posted a record seven seasons with a winning record. The football team plays its home games at Day Field.
The 1982 NCAA Division III football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division III level, began in August 1982, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, in December 1982 at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama.
The 1985 NCAA Division III football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division III level, began in August 1985, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, in December 1985 at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama. The Augustana (IL) Vikings won the third of their four consecutive Division III championships by defeating the Ithaca Bombers by a final score of 20−7.
The 1986 NCAA Division III football season, part of the college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States, began in August 1986, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, in December 1986 at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama. The Augustana (IL) Vikings won the fourth of their four consecutive Division III championships by defeating the Salisbury State Sea Gulls by a final score of 31−3.
The 1987 NCAA Division III football season, part of the college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States, began in August 1987, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, in December 1987 at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama.
The 1988 NCAA Division III football season, part of the college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States, began in August 1988, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, in December 1988 at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama. The Ithaca Bombers won their third Division III championship by defeating the Central (IA) Dutch, 39−24.
The 2003 NCAA Division III football season, part of the college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States, began in August 2003, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, in December 2003 at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia. The Saint John's (MN) Johnnies won second Division III championship by defeating the three-time defending national champion Mount Union Purple Raiders, 24−6.
The 2004 NCAA Division III football season, part of the college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States, began in August 2004, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, in December 2004 at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia. The Linfield Wildcats won their first Division III championship by defeating the Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders, 28−21.
The 2015 NCAA Division III football season, part of the college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States, began on September 5, 2015, and concluded with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, on December 18, 2015, at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia. Mount Union, which made its 11th consecutive appearance in the title game, defeated St. Thomas (Minnesota) 49–35 to claim its 19th national title.
The 2016 NCAA Division III football season, part of the college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States, began on September 5, 2016 and ended with the NCAA Division III Football Championship, also known as the Stagg Bowl, on December 16, 2016 at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia. However, UMHB's championship was later vacated by the NCAA.
The 2019 NCAA Division III football season is the component of the 2019 college football season organized by the NCAA at the Division III level in the United States. The regular season began on September 5 and culminated on November 16.
The 2016 Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders football team was an American football team that represented the University of Mary Hardin–Baylor in the American Southwest Conference (ASC) during the 2016 NCAA Division III football season. In their 20th year under head coach Pete Fredenburg, the team compiled a 15–0 record and won the ASC championship. The team advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs and defeated Wisconsin–Oshkosh, 10–7, in the 2016 Stagg Bowl. As a result of rules violations self-reported by Mary Hardin–Baylor, the NCAA later vacated 13 of the team's victories and its national title.
The 2021 NCAA Division III Football Championship Game, more commonly referred to as the 2021 Stagg Bowl or Stagg Bowl XLVIII, is a postseason college football game that determined a national champion in NCAA Division III for the 2021 season. It was played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on December 17, 2021. Kickoff was scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST, and the game aired on ESPNU. The game featured the North Central Cardinals, from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, and the Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders, from the American Southwest Conference.
NCAA Division II bowl games are American college football bowl games played annually among some of the highest-ranking NCAA Division II football teams not invited to participate in the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs. The games are officially recognized by the NCAA. They are held in December, and are most commonly scheduled on the first Saturday of the month, three weeks after the final games of the Division II football regular season.
Sources