| Year | Champion | Harlon Hill Trophy Winner | Gene Upshaw Award Winner |
|---|
| 1978 | Eastern Illinois | — | — |
| 1979 | Delaware | — | — |
| 1980 | Cal Poly | — | — |
| 1981 | Southwest Texas State | — | — |
| 1982 | Southwest Texas State (2) | — | — |
| 1983 | North Dakota State | — | — |
| 1984 | Troy State | — | — |
| 1985 | North Dakota State (2) | — | — |
| 1986 | North Dakota State (3) | Jeff Bentrim,North Dakota State (QB) | — |
| 1987 | Troy State (2) | Johnny Bailey,Texas A&M–Kingsville (RB) | — |
| 1988 | North Dakota State (4) | Johnny Bailey,Texas A&M–Kingsville (RB) | — |
| 1989 | Mississippi College† | Johnny Bailey,Texas A&M–Kingsville (RB) | — |
| 1990 | North Dakota State (5) | Chris Simdorn,North Dakota State (QB) | — |
| 1991 | Pittsburg State | Ronnie West,Pittsburg State (WR) | — |
| 1992 | Jacksonville State | Ronald Moore,Pittsburg State (RB) | — |
| 1993 | North Alabama | Roger Graham,New Haven (RB) | — |
| 1994 | North Alabama (2) | Chris Hatcher,Valdosta State (QB) | — |
| 1995 | North Alabama (3) | Ronald McKinnon,North Alabama (LB) | — |
| 1996 | Northern Colorado | Jarrett Anderson,Truman State (RB) | — |
| 1997 | Northern Colorado (2) | Irvin Sigler,Bloomsburg (RB) | — |
| 1998 | Northwest Missouri State | Brian Shay,Emporia State (RB) | — |
| 1999 | Northwest Missouri State (2) | Corte McGuffey,Northern Colorado (QB) | — |
| 2000 | Delta State | Dusty Bonner,Valdosta State (QB) | — |
| 2001 | North Dakota | Dusty Bonner,Valdosta State (QB) | — |
| 2002 | Grand Valley State | Curt Anes,Grand Valley State (QB) | — |
| 2003 | Grand Valley State (2) | Will Hall,North Alabama (QB) | — |
| 2004 | Valdosta State | Chad Friehauf,Colorado Mines (QB) | Nathan Baker,Pittsburg State (OL) |
| 2005 | Grand Valley State (3) | Jimmy Terwilliger,East Stroudsburg (QB) | Mike McFadden,Grand Valley State (DL) |
| 2006 | Grand Valley State (4) | Danny Woodhead,Chadron State (RB) | Mike McFadden,Grand Valley State (DL) |
| 2007 | Valdosta State (2) | Danny Woodhead,Chadron State (RB) | Brandon Barnes,Grand Valley State (OT) |
| 2008 | Minnesota–Duluth | Bernard Scott,Abilene Christian (RB) | Sam Collins,Abilene Christian (C) |
| 2009 | Northwest Missouri State (3) | Joique Bell,Wayne State (RB) | Ben Staggs,West Liberty (OT) |
| 2010 | Minnesota–Duluth (2) | Eric Czerniewski,Central Missouri (QB) | Brandon Fusco,Sliperry Rock (C) |
| 2011 | Pittsburg State (2) | Jonas Randolph,Mars Hill (RB) | Joe Long,Wayne State (OT) |
| 2012 | Valdosta State (3) | Zach Zulli,Shippensburg (QB) | Garth Heikkinen,Minnesota–Duluth (OG) |
| 2013 | Northwest Missouri State (4) | Franklyn Quiteh,Bloomsburg (RB) | Darius Allen,CSU Pueblo (DE) |
| 2014 | CSU Pueblo | Jason Vander Laan,Ferris State (QB) | Darius Allen,CSU Pueblo (DE) |
| 2015 | Northwest Missouri State (5) | Jason Vander Laan,Ferris State (QB) | Matthew Judon,Grand Valley State (DE) |
| 2016 | Northwest Missouri State (6) | Justin Dvorak,Colorado Mines (QB) | Jordan Morgan,Kutztown (OT) |
| 2017 | Texas A&M-Commerce | Luis Perez,Texas A&M–Commerce (QB) | Marcus Martin,Slipper Rock (DE) |
| 2018 | Valdosta State (4) | Jayru Campbell,Ferris State (QB) | Markus Jones,Angelo State (DE) |
| 2019 | West Florida | Roland Rivers III,Slippery Rock (QB) | Austin Edwards,Ferris State (DE) |
| 2020 | The season concluded with the end of the regular season, as the playoffs and championship game were not held due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. |
| 2021 | Ferris State | Tyson Bagent,Shepherd (QB) | Dylan Pasquali,Ferris State (OT) |
| 2022 | Ferris State (2) | John Matocha,Colorado Mines (QB) | Caleb Murphy,Ferris State (DE) |
| 2023 | Harding | Zach Zebrowski,Central Missouri (QB) | Levi Johnson,Colorado Mines (OT) |
| 2024 | Ferris State (3) | Zach Zebrowski,Central Missouri (QB) (2) | Marquise Fleming,Wingate (DE) |
