NCAA Division III Football Championship
The NCAA Division III Football Championship began in 1973. Before 1973, most of the schools now in Division III competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
The Division III playoffs begin with 32 teams selected to participate in the playoffs. The Division III championship game, known as the Stagg Bowl (named after Amos Alonzo Stagg), has been played annually at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia since 1993. It was previously played at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama (1973–1982, 1985–1989), at Galbreath Field at the College Football Hall of Fame, when the Hall was located in Kings Island, Ohio (1983–1984), and at Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton, Florida (1990–1992).
Mount Union has appeared in eleven consecutive Stagg Bowls, and all but three since 1996. The Purple Raiders defeated Wisconsin–Whitewater in 2005, 2006, and 2008; lost to Wisconsin–Whitewater in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014; and defeated the University of St. Thomas in 2012 and 2015. The only two times since 2000 in which Mount Union did not appear, the University of Mary Hardin–Baylor did. They lost the 2004 championship to Linfield College and won the 2016 game over University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.
Mount Union defeated Mary Hardin–Baylor for the 2017 season championship.
West and East Regional Championships (1969–1972)
In 1969, the NCAA started two regional championship games for small college teams: the East Regional's Knute Rockne Bowl and the West's Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. When the NCAA developed a national Division III championship game in 1973, the Stagg Bowl name and the host city of Phenix City, Alabama was chosen.
West Regional championship (Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl)
Year | Date | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Venue | Location | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
East Regional championship (Knute Rockne Bowl)
Year | Date | Champion | Runner-up | Score | Venue | Location | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
National championship games
Most national championships
Team | Titles | Winning 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 |
Saint John's (MN) | 2 | 1976, 2003 |
Wisconsin–La Crosse | 2 | 1992, 1995 |
Dayton | 2 | 1980, 1989 |
Widener | 2 | 1977, 1981 |
Wittenberg | 2 | 1973, 1975 |
Mary Hardin-Baylor | 1 | 2016 |
Linfield | 1 | 2004 |
Pacific Lutheran | 1 | 1999 |
Albion | 1 | 1994 |
Allegheny | 1 | 1990 |
Wagner | 1 | 1987 |
West Georgia | 1 | 1982 |
Baldwin-Wallace | 1 | 1978 |
Central (IA) | 1 | 1974 |
Appearances
Team | Appearances | Years |
---|---|---|
Mount Union | 20 | 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 |
Wisconsin–Whitewater | 9 | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
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 |
Wittenberg | 4 | 1973, 1975, 1978, 1979 |
Saint John's (MN) | 3 | 1976, 2001, 2003 |
Central (IA) | 3 | 1974, 1984, 1988 |
Mary Hardin-Baylor | 3 | 2004, 2016, 2017 |
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 |
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 |
Stagg Bowl Most Outstanding Player Award
As voted by the media at the game since 2000.
Year | Player | Team | Class | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|
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 | 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 | UW-Whitewater | Senior | RB |
2008 | Greg Micheli | Mount Union | Senior | QB |
2009 | Levell Coppage | UW-Whitewater | Sophomore | RB |
2010 | Levell Coppage | UW-Whitewater | Junior | RB |
2011 | Loussaint Minett | UW-Whitewater | Sophomore | DE |
2012 | Kevin Burke | Mount Union | Sophomore | QB |
2013 | Matt Behrendt | UW-Whitewater | Junior | QB |
2014 | Matt Behrendt | UW-Whitewater | Senior | QB |
2015 | Taurice Scott | Mount Union | Senior | QB |
2016 | Blake Jackson | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Senior | QB |
2017 | Nick Brish | Mount Union | Sophomore | DB |
See also
- College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS
- NCAA Division I Football Championship
- NCAA Division I FCS Consensus Mid-Major Football National Championship
- NCAA Division II Football Championship
- NAIA National Football Championship
- NCCAA National Football Championship
- NJCAA National Football Championship
- List of college bowl games
- List of NCAA Division III football programs
- Gagliardi Trophy Division III player of the year award
References
Notes
Sources
- NCAA Division III National Football Championship history from NCAA.org
- NCAA Division III Football Championships Records Book from NCAA.org
- Division III football playoff history from d3football.com