The NAIA football national championship is decided by a post-season playoff system featuring the best National 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]
| 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 | Keiser (2023) |
| Website | NAIA Football |
In 1970, NAIA football was divided into two divisions based on enrollment, Division I and Division 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 in NCAA Division II since 1980. Carroll College of Montana is the most successful team still playing at the NAIA level, with six national titles.
Keiser is the current champion, having defeated the Northwestern Red Raiders in the 2023 title game, 31–21.
Game name
editOver the years, the NAIA championship games were played under a variety of names:
- Aluminum Bowl (1956)
- Holiday Bowl (1957–1960)[a]
- Camellia Bowl (1961–1963)[b]
- Champion Bowl (1964–1976 and 1980–1996, Division I games only)
- Apple Bowl (1977, Division I game only)
- Palm Bowl (1978–1979, Division I games only)
Results
edit- ^ Not to be confused with the NCAA Division I bowl of the same name.
- ^ Not to be confused with the later Camellia Bowl contested in Montgomery, Alabama.
- ^ a b c d Game ended in a tie with both teams as co-champions.
- ^ Game played in spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Championships by school
edit- NAIA Division II titles are not included in this list.
- Programs that no longer compete in NAIA are indicated in italics with a pink background.
| Team | Championships | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Texas A&I (Texas A&M–Kingsville) | 7 | 1959, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979 |
| Carroll (MT) | 6 | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010 |
| 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 |
| Morningside | 3 | 2018, 2019, 2021 |
| Pittsburg State | 2 | 1957, 1961 |
| Saint John's (MN) | 2 | 1963, 1965 |
| Abilene Christian | 2 | 1973, 1977 |
| Elon | 2 | 1980, 1981 |
| Central State (OK) (Central Oklahoma) | 2 | 1962, 1982 |
| Northeastern State | 2 | 1958, 1994 |
| Georgetown (KY) | 2 | 2000, 2001 |
| Marian (IN) | 2 | 2012, 2015 |
| Saint Francis (IN) | 2 | 2016, 2017 |
| 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 State (Troy) | 1 | 1968 |
| Livingston (West Alabama) | 1 | 1971 |
| East Texas State (Texas A&M–Commerce) | 1 | 1972 |
| Angelo State | 1 | 1978 |
| Hillsdale | 1 | 1985[a] |
| Cameron | 1 | 1987 |
| East Central (OK) | 1 | 1993 |
| Southwestern Oklahoma | 1 | 1996 |
| Findlay (OH) | 1 | 1997 |
| Azusa Pacific | 1 | 1998 |
| Northwestern Oklahoma | 1 | 1999 |
| Saint Xavier | 1 | 2011 |
| Grand View | 1 | 2013 |
| Southern Oregon | 1 | 2014 |
| Lindsey Wilson | 1 | 2020 |
| Northwestern (IA) | 1 | 2022 |
| Keiser | 1 | 2023 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "NAIA Football Championship History". National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved April 7, 2008.