Current season, competition or edition: 2025 NCAA Division III football season | |
 | |
| Sport | American football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1973; 52 years ago (1973) |
| First season | 1973 |
| Country | United States |
| Most recent champion | North Central (2024) |
| Most titles | Mount Union (13 titles) |
| Broadcaster | ESPNU |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Related competitions | Division II |
| Official website | ncaa.com/football/d3 |
TheNCAA Division III football championship is an Americancollege football tournament played annually to determine a champion at theNCAA 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 40. In 2024, 28 playoff bids went to conference champions via automatic qualification, leaving 12 places for at-large selections.[1]
The Division III championship game, known as theAmos Alonzo Stagg Bowl orStagg Bowl (named after football coachAmos Alonzo Stagg), was held atShell Energy Stadium inHouston, Texas in 2024. Other Stagg Bowl sites have includedAnnapolis, Maryland (2022),Canton, Ohio (2021),Shenandoah, Texas (2018–2019),Salem, Virginia (1993–2017, 2023),Bradenton, Florida (1990–1992),Phenix City, Alabama (1973–1982, 1985–1989), andKings Island, Ohio (1983–1984).
The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl was founded by the NCAA in October 1969.[2] Along with its counterpart, theKnute Rockne Bowl, it was "created by the NCAA ... for itsCollege 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 theCamellia Bowl for the West, thePecan Bowl for the Midwest, theGrantland Rice Bowl for the Mideast, and theBoardwalk 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, intoDivision II andDivision 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 currentDivision II andDivision 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 |
| North Central (IL) | 3 | 2019, 2022, 2024 |
| 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 |
| 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 | 23 | 1993,1996,1997,1998,2000,2001,2002, 2003,2005,2006, 2007,2008, 2009, 2010, 2011,2012, 2013, 2014,2015,2017, 2018, 2022, 2024 |
| 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) | 5 | 2019, 2021,2022, 2023,2024 |
| 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 | Blake Jackson | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Senior | QB |
| 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 |
| 2024 | Luke Lehnen | North Central | Senior | QB |
Sources
