2012 NCAA Division II football season

2012 NCAA Division II football season
Regular season	September 1 – November 10, 2012
Playoffs	November 17 – December 15, 2012
National Championship	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL
Champion	Valdosta State
Harlon Hill Trophy	Zach Zulli, Shippensburg

The 2012 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division II level, began on September 1, 2012, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 15, 2012 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama. The Valdosta State Blazers defeated the Winston-Salem State Rams, 35–7, to win their third Division II national title.

It proved to be the final season for the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). Shortly before the start of the 2012–13 school year, the WVIAC's nine football-playing members announced plans to break away and form a new league. Before the new conference was announced, one of the nine breakaway schools (Seton Hill) chose instead to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference; the remaining eight schools joined with three other football-playing schools and one non-football WVIAC member left out of the original split. The new league, officially unveiled in August 2012 as the Mountain East Conference, began play in 2013.

The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Zach Zulli, quarterback from Shippensburg.

Conference changes and new programs

• The Great Lakes Valley Conference began football play in 2012.

School	Former conference	New conference
Azusa Pacific	Independent (NAIA)	GNAC
Black Hills State	Independent	RMAC
Central Oklahoma	Independent	MIAA
Central State	Independent	GLVC
Indianapolis	GLIAC	GLVC
Kentucky Wesleyan	GLFC	GLVC
Lindenwood	Independent	MIAA
Malone	Independent (NAIA)	GLIAC
McKendree	Independent (NAIA)	GLVC
McMurry	American Southwest (D-III)	Independent
Minot State	Independent	NSIC
Missouri S&T	GLFC	GLVC
Nebraska–Kearney	RMAC	MIAA
Northeastern State	Independent	MIAA
Northwestern Oklahoma State	CSFL (NAIA)	Independent
Notre Dame (OH)	Independent	GLIAC
Quincy	MSFA (NAIA)	GLVC
Saint Joseph's	GLFC	GLVC
Shorter	Mid-South (NAIA)	Gulf South
Sioux Falls	Independent	NSIC
Southern Nazarene	CSFL (NAIA)	Independent
Southwest Baptist	Independent	MIAA
Urbana	GLFC	GLVC
Walsh	Independent (NAIA)	GLIAC
William Jewell	Independent	GLVC

Minot State, Notre Dame (OH), Simon Fraser, Sioux Falls, and William Jewell completed their transitions to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.

Regional realignment

The GNAC, MIAA, and Great American moved from Super Region 4 to Super Region 3, while the RMAC and GLIAC moved in the opposite direction; the GLVC, newly sponsoring football, was assigned to Super Region 4.

Conference standings

Super Region 1

2012 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Northern Elizabeth City State # xy   6 – 1     8 – 4   Chowan   5 – 2     6 – 4   Virginia Union   3 – 4     5 – 5   Virginia State   3 – 4     4 – 6   Bowie State   2 – 5     5 – 5   Lincoln (PA)   1 – 6     1 – 9   Southern No. 2 Winston-Salem St. xy$^   7 – 0     14 – 1   Johnson C. Smith   5 – 2     6 – 4   St. Augustine's   4 – 3     6 – 4   Shaw   3 – 4     4 – 6   Livingstone   2 – 5     2 – 8   Fayetteville State   1 – 6     2 – 8   Championship: Winston-Salem State 34, Elizabeth City State 19 $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Pioneer Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2012 Northeast-10 Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 8 New Haven y$^   8 – 0     10 – 1   American International y   7 – 1     7 – 3   Bentley   6 – 2     8 – 2   Stonehill   5 – 3     5 – 5   Merrimack   4 – 4     6 – 4   Assumption   3 – 5     3 – 7   Southern Connecticut   2 – 6     3 – 8   Saint Anselm   1 – 7     2 – 9   Pace   0 – 8     0 – 9   Championship: New Haven 37, American International 12 $ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll	2012 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   East No. 14 Shippensburg xy^   7 – 0     11 – 2   No. 17 Bloomsburg ^   6 – 1     10 – 2   West Chester   4 – 3     7 – 4   East Stroudsburg   4 – 3     5 – 5   Kutztown   4 – 3     7 – 4   LIU Post   2 – 5     3 – 7   Millersville   1 – 6     2 – 9   Cheyney   0 – 7     1 – 10   West No. 7 IUP xy$^   6 – 1     12 – 3   Mercyhurst x   6 – 1     9 – 2   California (PA)   5 – 2     8 – 3   Slippery Rock   5 – 2     6 – 5   Edinboro   3 – 4     4 – 6   Clarion   2 – 5     4 – 7   Gannon   1 – 6     3 – 8   Lock Haven   0 – 7     1 – 10   Championship: IUP 41, Shippensburg 10 $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll
2012 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 25 Shepherd $^   7 – 1     8 – 3   Charleston (WV)   6 – 2     9 – 2   Concord   6 – 2     7 – 4   Glenville State   6 – 2     6 – 5   West Liberty   4 – 4     6 – 5   Fairmont State   4 – 4     4 – 6   West Virginia Wesleyan   2 – 6     3 – 8   West Virginia State   1 – 7     2 – 9   Seton Hill   0 – 8     0 – 11   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 2

2012 Gulf South Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 21 West Alabama $^   5 – 0     9 – 4   No. 1 Valdosta State ^   4 – 1     12 – 2   Shorter #   2 – 3     6 – 5   North Alabama   2 – 3     5 – 5   Delta State   1 – 4     3 – 7   West Georgia   1 – 4     3 – 7   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional NCAA Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll	2012 South Atlantic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 20 Lenoir–Rhyne $^   6 – 1     9 – 3   No. 13 Carson–Newman ^   5 – 2     9 – 3   Mars Hill   5 – 2     6 – 4   Wingate   5 – 2     6 – 5   Newberry   3 – 4     5 – 6   Catawba   2 – 5     4 – 7   Brevard   1 – 6     2 – 9   Tusculum   1 – 6     2 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2012 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   East Fort Valley State xy^   6 – 1     8 – 4   Albany State   5 – 2     6 – 4   Morehouse   2 – 5     3 – 7   Clark Atlanta   1 – 6     2 – 8   Benedict   1 – 6     1 – 9   West No. 23 Tuskegee # xy$   7 – 0     10 – 2   Miles ^   6 – 1     8 – 2   Stillman   4 – 3     6 – 5   Lane   3 – 4     5 – 5   Kentucky State   0 – 7     2 – 8   Championship: Tuskegee 55, Fort Valley State 24 $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Pioneer Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 2 independents football records Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   UNC Pembroke   –     6 – 4   North Greenville   –     5 – 6   Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 3

2012 Great American Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 11 Henderson St. $^   8 – 0     10 – 1   No. 19 Harding ^   7 – 1     9 – 2   Southern Arkansas #   5 – 3     7 – 4   Ouachita Baptist   4 – 4     6 – 4   East Central   4 – 4     6 – 5   Arkansas Tech   3 – 5     5 – 6   SE Oklahoma State   2 – 6     4 – 6   SW Oklahoma State   2 – 6     3 – 7   Arkansas–Monticello   0 – 8     1 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2012 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Central Washington $   7 – 3     7 – 4   Humboldt State   6 – 4     7 – 4   Western Oregon   6 – 4     6 – 5   Simon Fraser   4 – 6     5 – 6   Azusa Pacific #   4 – 6     4 – 7   Dixie State   3 – 7     3 – 8   $ – Conference champion # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll	2012 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 5 Missouri Western $^   9 – 1     12 – 2   No. 22 Emporia State #   9 – 2     10 – 2   No. 10 NW Missouri State ^   8 – 2     10 – 3   Pittsburg State   7 – 3     7 – 3   Lindenwood @ #   7 – 3     8 – 4   Washburn   7 – 4     7 – 4   Central Missouri   6 – 4     6 – 4   Missouri Southern   5 – 5     6 – 5   Fort Hays State   4 – 6     5 – 6   Northeastern State   4 – 6     4 – 6   Truman   3 – 7     4 – 7   Southwest Baptist   3 – 8     3 – 8   Nebraska–Kearney   2 – 8     3 – 8   Central Oklahoma   2 – 8     2 – 8   Lincoln (MO)   1 – 10     1 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl game participant (Emporia State - Kanza Bowl, Lindenwood - Mineral Water Bowl) @ – Provisional NCAA Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll
2012 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   North No. 12 Minnesota–Duluth ^   10 – 1     10 – 2   Bemidji State   7 – 4     7 – 4   St. Cloud State   7 – 4     7 – 4   Northern State   6 – 5     6 – 5   Mary   4 – 7     4 – 7   Minot State   3 – 8     3 – 8   Minnesota–Crookston   2 – 9     2 – 9   MSU Moorhead   1 – 10     1 – 10   South No. 3 Minnesota State $^   11 – 0     13 – 1   Winona State #   9 – 2     10 – 2   Sioux Falls   9 – 2     9 – 2   Wayne State (NE)   6 – 5     6 – 5   Augustana (SD)   5 – 6     5 – 6   SW Minnesota State   4 – 7     4 – 7   Concordia–St. Paul   2 – 9     2 – 9   Upper Iowa   2 – 9     2 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 4

2012 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   North Grand Valley State   7 – 3     8 – 3   Saginaw Valley State   7 – 3     8 – 3   Michigan Tech   7 – 3     7 – 3   Hillsdale   7 – 3     7 – 4   Ferris State   6 – 4     7 – 4   Wayne State (MI)   5 – 5     5 – 5   Northwood   4 – 6     5 – 6   Northern Michigan   4 – 6     5 – 6   South No. 9 Ashland $^   10 – 0     11 – 1   Ohio Dominican   7 – 3     8 – 3   Findlay   7 – 3     7 – 3   Lake Erie   3 – 7     3 – 8   Notre Dame (OH)   2 – 8     3 – 8   Tiffin   2 – 8     3 – 8   Walsh *   2 – 8     3 – 8   Malone *   1 – 9     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant * – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA poll	2012 Great Lakes Valley Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 15 Indianapolis $^   8 – 0     10 – 3   No. 24 Missouri S&T   7 – 1     10 – 1   Urbana   5 – 3     7 – 4   Saint Joseph's (IN)   5 – 3     6 – 5   Quincy   4 – 4     4 – 7   McKendree #   3 – 5     3 – 7   William Jewell   2 – 6     3 – 8   Central State   2 – 6     2 – 9   Kentucky Wesleyan   0 – 8     2 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll	2012 Lone Star Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 16 Midwestern State +^   7 – 1     9 – 2   No. 4 West Texas A&M +^   7 – 1     12 – 3   Tarleton State   5 – 3     6 – 4   Texas A&M–Kingsville #   5 – 3     6 – 6   Abilene Christian   4 – 4     7 – 4   Angelo State   4 – 4     5 – 6   Eastern New Mexico †   2 – 6     3 – 7   Incarnate Word   1 – 7     2 – 9   Texas A&M–Commerce   1 – 7     1 – 9   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Kanza Bowl participant † – Eastern New Mexico vacated all three wins Rankings from AFCA poll
2012 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 6 CSU Pueblo $^   9 – 0     12 – 1   No. 18 Chadron State ^   8 – 1     9 – 3   New Mexico Highlands   7 – 2     8 – 3   Adams State   6 – 3     8 – 3   Colorado Mines   4 – 5     6 – 5   Colorado Mesa   4 – 5     4 – 7   Black Hills State #   3 – 6     4 – 7   Western New Mexico   3 – 6     4 – 7   Western State   1 – 8     1 – 10   Fort Lewis   0 – 9     0 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll	2012 NCAA Division II Super Region 4 independents football records Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   McMurry *#   –     8 – 3   Oklahoma Panhandle State   –     4 – 6   NW Oklahoma State *   –     3 – 7   South Dakota Mines *   –     2 – 9   Southern Nazarene *   –     2 – 9   # – C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl participant * – Provisional NCAA Division II member

Conference champions

See also: List of NCAA Division II football seasons

Conference Champions

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Winston-Salem State (14–1, 7–0) Great American Conference – Henderson State Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Ashland Great Lakes Valley Conference – Indianapolis Great Northwest Athletic Conference – Central Washington Gulf South Conference – West Alabama Lone Star Conference – Midwestern State and West Texas A&M Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Missouri Western State Northeast-10 Conference – New Haven Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Minnesota–Duluth (North) and Minnesota State–Mankato (South) Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Indiana (PA) Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – CSU Pueblo South Atlantic Conference – Lenoir-Rhyne Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Tuskegee West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference‡ – Shepherd

Postseason

2012 NCAA Division II Football Championship
Teams	24
Finals Site	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL
Champion	Valdosta State (3rd title, title game)
Runner-up	Winston-Salem State (1st title game)
Semifinalists	West Texas A&M Minnesota State–Mankato
Winning coach	championship

The 2012 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 39th single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college football. The championship game was held at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama for the 25th time.

Seeded teams

• Ashland
• Carson–Newman
• CSU Pueblo
• Henderson State
• Minnesota State–Mankato
• New Haven
• Winston-Salem State
• Valdosta State

Playoff bracket

First Round November 17 Campus Sites

Second Round November 24 Campus Sites

Quarterfinals December 1 Campus Sites

Semifinals December 8 Campus Sites

National Championship Game December 15 Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, Alabama

*

Winston-Salem State

37

Shippensburg

14

*

Shippensburg

58

Bloomsburg

20

*

Winston-Salem State

21

Super Region 1

IUP

17

*

New Haven

14

IUP

17

*

IUP

27

Shepherd

17

*

Winston-Salem State

41

West Texas A&M

18

*

CSU Pueblo

28

Indianapolis

7

*

Indianapolis

31

Midwestern State

14

*

CSU Pueblo

13

Super Region 4

West Texas A&M

34

*

Ashland

28

West Texas A&M

33

West Texas A&M

38

*

Chadron State

30

Winston-Salem State

7

Valdosta State

35

*

Valdosta State

49

West Alabama

21

*

West Alabama

41

Miles

7

*

Valdosta State

48

Super Region 2

Carson–Newman

26

*

Carson–Newman

38

Lenoir–Rhyne

35

*

Lenoir–Rhyne

21

Fort Valley State

6

Valdosta State

35

*

Minnesota State

19

*

Minnesota State

38

Northwest Missouri State

35

*

NW Missouri State

35

Harding

0

*

Minnesota State

17

Super Region 3

Missouri Western

10

*

Henderson State

21

Missouri Western

45

*

Missouri Western †††

57

Minnesota–Duluth

55

* Home team    † Overtime

Awards and honors

Harlon Hill Trophy

The Harlon Hill Trophy is given to the year's most outstanding player.

Player	School	Position	1st	2nd	3rd	Total
Zach Zulli	Shippensburg	QB	52	14	18	202
Michael Hill	Missouri Western	RB	23	26	17	138
Franklyn Quiteh	Bloomsburg	RB	8	27	23	101
Dustin Vaughan	West Texas A&M	QB	10	14	10	68
Taylor Housewight	Ashland	QB	7	14	15	64

See also

• 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season
• 2013 NCAA Division I FCS football season
• 2013 NCAA Division III football season
• 2013 NAIA football season