| NAIA football national championship | |
|---|---|
| In operation | 1956–present |
| Preceded by | Small college polls & NAIA Division II Championship |
| Number of playoff teams | 20 |
| Championship trophy | Tom Osborne Trophy |
| Television partner(s) | ESPN3 |
| Most playoff championships | Texas A&M–Kingsville (7) |
| Current champion | Grand View (2) |
| Website | NAIA Football |
TheNAIA football national championship is decided by a post-season playoff system featuring the bestNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)college football teams in the United States. Under sponsorship of the NAIA, the championship game has been played annually since 1956.[1]
In 1970, NAIA football was divided into two divisions based on enrollment,Division I andDivision II, with a championship game played in each division. In 1997, NAIA football was again consolidated back into one division.NAIA schools are allowed to offer 24 full varsity football scholarships which can be divided up as they wish. Junior varsity scholarship players do not count towards the total.
Texas A&I (now known as Texas A&M–Kingsville) is still the most prolific program with seven NAIA championships, despite having been inNCAA Division II since 1980.Carroll College of Montana is the most successful team still playing at the NAIA level, with six national titles.
Grand View is the current champion, having defeated defending championsKeiser in the 2024 title game, 35–7.
Over the years, the NAIA championship games were played under a variety of names:
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Carroll (MT) | 6 | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010 |
| Morningside | 3 | 2018, 2019, 2021 |
| Grand View | 2 | 2013, 2024 |
| Saint Francis (IN) | 2 | 2016, 2017 |
| Marian (IN) | 2 | 2012, 2015 |
| Georgetown (KY) | 2 | 2000, 2001 |
| Saint Xavier | 1 | 2011 |
| Southern Oregon | 1 | 2014 |
| Lindsey Wilson | 1 | 2020 |
| Northwestern (IA) | 1 | 2022 |
| Keiser | 1 | 2023 |
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Texas A&I | 7 | 1959, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979 |
| Carson–Newman | 5 | 1983, 1984[a], 1986, 1988, 1989 |
| Central Arkansas | 3 | 1984[a], 1985[a], 1991 |
| Central State (OH) | 3 | 1990, 1992, 1995 |
| Sioux Falls | 3 | 2006, 2008, 2009 |
| Pittsburg State | 2 | 1957, 1961 |
| Saint John's (MN) | 2 | 1963, 1965 |
| Abilene Christian | 2 | 1973, 1977 |
| Elon | 2 | 1980, 1981 |
| Central Oklahoma | 2 | 1962, 1982 |
| Northeastern State (OK) | 2 | 1958, 1994 |
| Montana State | 1 | 1956[a] |
| Saint Joseph's (IN) | 1 | 1956[a] |
| Lenoir–Rhyne | 1 | 1960 |
| Concordia Moorhead | 1 | 1964[a] |
| Sam Houston State | 1 | 1964[a] |
| Waynesburg | 1 | 1966 |
| Fairmont State | 1 | 1967 |
| Troy | 1 | 1968 |
| West Alabama | 1 | 1971 |
| East Texas A&M | 1 | 1972 |
| Angelo State | 1 | 1978 |
| Hillsdale | 1 | 1985[a] |
| Cameron | 1 | 1987 |
| East Central | 1 | 1993 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State | 1 | 1996 |
| Findlay | 1 | 1997 |
| Azusa Pacific | 1 | 1998 |
| Northwestern Oklahoma State | 1 | 1999 |
| Team | Appearances | First | Last | Wins | Losses | Ties | Total | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Houston Bearkats | 1 | 1964 | 1964 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .750 |
| Troy Trojans (Troy State) | 1 | 1968 | 1968 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 |
| Team | Appearances | First | Last | Wins | Losses | Ties | Total | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian Wildcats | 2 | 1973 | 1977 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.000 |
| Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions | 2 | 1994 | 1995 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .500 |
| Central Arkansas Bears | 13 | 1976 | 1992 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 24 | .542 |
| East Texas A&M Lions (East Texas State) | 2 | 1972 | 1980 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .750 |
| Eastern Washington Eagles (Eastern Washington State) | 2 | 1967 | 1967 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .500 |
| Elon Phoenix | 6 | 1973 | 1981 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 13 | .692 |
| Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs | 2 | 1987 | 1992 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | .600 |
| Lindenwood Lions | 6 | 1998 | 2010 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 11 | .455 |
| Montana State Bobcats | 1 | 1956 | 1956 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (Arizona State–Flagstaff) | 1 | 1958 | 1958 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .500 |
| Prairie View A&M Panthers | 1 | 1963 | 1963 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .500 |
| Presbyterian Blue Hose | 2 | 1979 | 1987 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .500 |
| St. Thomas (MN) Tommies | 1 | 1983 | 1983 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Tarleton Texans | 4 | 1978 | 1990 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | .429 |
| Wofford Terriers | 1 | 1970 | 1970 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .500 |
| Team | Appearances | First | Last | Wins | Losses | Ties | Total | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Ravens | 2 | 1970 | 1981 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .333 |
| Austin Kangaroos | 4 | 1979 | 1990 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | .417 |
| Bluffton Beavers | 2 | 1987 | 1988 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .333 |
| Cal Lutheran Kingsmen | 5 | 1971 | 1982 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | .500 |
| Carthage Firebirds | 2 | 1971 | 1973 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 |
| Central Dutch | 1 | 1966 | 1966 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Concordia–Moorhead Cobbers | 2 | 1978 | 1981 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .917 |
| Concordia–Wisconsin Falcons | 1 | 1990 | 1990 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Eureka Red Devils | 2 | 1991 | 1994 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 |
| Franklin Grizzlies | 1 | 1972 | 1972 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Geneva Golden Tornadoes | 5 | 1987 | 2005 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | .429 |
| Greenville Panthers | 1 | 1990 | 1990 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties | 1 | 1958 | 1958 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Hanover Panthers | 6 | 1974 | 1989 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7 | .143 |
| Hardin–Simmons Cowboys | 5 | 1992 | 1996 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | .500 |
| Howard Payne Yellow Jackets | 2 | 1992 | 1995 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 |
| Lewis & Clark Pioneers | 2 | 1989 | 1991 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 |
| Linfield Wildcats | 15 | 1961 | 1994 | 26 | 12 | 0 | 38 | .684 |
| McMurry War Hawks | 1 | 1980 | 1980 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves | 4 | 1988 | 2000 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | .400 |
| Pacific Lutheran Lutes | 15 | 1979 | 1996 | 24 | 12 | 0 | 36 | .667 |
| Redlands Bulldogs | 1 | 1976 | 1976 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .500 |
| Saint John's Johnnies | 3 | 1963 | 1982 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .800 |
| Texas Lutheran Bulldogs | 3 | 1974 | 1976 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .800 |
| Trine Thunder (Tri-State) | 2 | 1998 | 2001 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .500 |
| Waynesburg Yellow Jackets | 1 | 1966 | 1966 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 |
| Westminster Titans | 17 | 1970 | 1997 | 31 | 11 | 0 | 42 | .738 |
| Whitworth Pirates | 1 | 1960 | 1960 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Willamette Bearcats | 3 | 1968 | 1997 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 | .571 |
| Wilmington Quakers | 3 | 1980 | 1983 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | .400 |
| Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles (Wisconsin State–La Crosse) | 7 | 1973 | 1990 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 16 | .625 |
| Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneers (Wisconsin State–Platteville) | 1 | 1970 | 1970 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Wisconsin–River Falls Falcons (Wisconsin State–River Falls) | 1 | 1979 | 1979 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Wisconsin–Stevens Point Pointers (Wisconsin State–Stevens Point) | 3 | 1977 | 1989 | 0 | -5 | 0 | 5 | – |
| Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks (Wisconsin State–Whitewater) | 1 | 1966 | 1966 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .500 |
| Team | Appearances | First | Last | Wins | Losses | Ties | Total | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azusa Pacific Cougars | 8 | 1998 | 2011 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 16 | .563 |
| Cameron Aggies | 4 | 1974 | 1987 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 9 | .778 |
| Concordia (MI) Cardinals | 5 | 2017 | 2021 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 8 | .375 |
| Dana Vikings | 1 | 1987 | 1987 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Humboldt State Lumberjacks | 1 | 1960 | 1960 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .500 |
| Huron Screaming Eagles | 4 | 1986 | 2000 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | .429 |
| Iowa Wesleyan Tigers | 1 | 1991 | 1991 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Lambuth Eagles | 8 | 1994 | 2009 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 15 | .467 |
| Malone Pioneers | 2 | 1995 | 1998 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .333 |
| Oregon Tech Battling Owls | 1 | 1988 | 1988 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .667 |
| Robert Morris Eagles | 1 | 2016 | 2016 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| St. Benedict's Ravens | 1 | 1958 | 1958 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Saint Joseph's Pumas | 1 | 1956 | 1956 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| St. Mary of the Plains Cavaliers | 3 | 1989 | 1991 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 |
| Salem International Tigers (Salem) | 3 | 1975 | 1985 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | .250 |
| Trinity Trolls | 1 | 1994 | 1994 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Trinity International Trojans | 1 | 2004 | 2004 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| West Virginia Tech Golden Bears | 1 | 1989 | 1989 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Westmar Eagles | 1 | 1987 | 1987 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| Western Washington Vikings | 4 | 1992 | 1996 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | .500 |
| Whittier Poets | 1 | 1961 | 1961 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
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