| 1972 NAIA Division II football season | |
|---|---|
| Regular season | August–November 1972 |
| Postseason | November 25–December 9, 1972 |
| National Championship | Joplin, MO |
| Champions | Missouri Southern |
The1972 NAIA Division II football season was the 17th season ofcollege football sponsored by theNAIA and the third season of play of the NAIA's lower division for football.
The season was played from August to November 1972 and culminated in the1972NAIA Division II Football National Championship, played on December 9, 1972, inJoplin, Missouri on the campus ofMissouri Southern State College.[1]
TheMissouri Southern Lions defeated theNorthwestern Red Raiders in the championship game, 21–14, to win their first NAIA national title. As of 2015, this was the earliest championship to feature a team that remains a NAIA member.
| Semifinals November 25, 1972 | Championship December 9, 1972 Joplin, MO | ||||||||
| Doane | 6 | ||||||||
| Missouri Southern* | 24 | ||||||||
| Missouri Southern* | 21 | ||||||||
| Northwestern (IA) | 14 | ||||||||
| Northwestern (IA) | 13 | ||||||||
| Franklin (IN)* | 6 | ||||||||