2004 NCAA Division II football season

2004 NCAA Division II football season
Regular season	August 26 – November 6, 2004
Playoffs	November 13 – December 11, 2004
National Championship	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL
Champion	Valdosta State
Harlon Hill Trophy	Chad Friehauf, Colorado Mines

The 2004 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 August 26, 2004, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 11, 2004 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama. The Valdosta State Blazers defeated the Pittsburg State Gorillas, 36–31, to win their first Division II national title.

The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Chad Friehauf, quarterback from Colorado Mines.

Conference changes and new programs

School	Former conference	New conference
Gannon	Independent	GLIAC
Kentucky Wesleyan	Independent	Mid-South (NAIA)
Minnesota–Duluth	NSIC	NCC
New Haven	Independent	Dropped program
Northern Colorado	Independent	Great West (I-AA)
North Dakota State	NCC	Great West (I-AA)
South Dakota State	NCC	Great West (I-AA)
Upper Iowa	IIAC (D-III)	Independent

Regional realignment

The South Region was renamed the Southeast Region but stayed the same, while the Northeast Region lost the GLIAC. The West Region lost the GNAC, gained the MIAA, and became the Southwest Region. The new Northwest Region contained the GLIAC and GNAC, plus the NCC and NSIC from the former Midwest Region.

Conference standings

Northeast Region

2004 Northeast-10 Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 20 Bentley +^   8 – 1     8 – 2   C. W. Post +^   8 – 1     8 – 3   Southern Connecticut   7 – 2     8 – 2   Merrimack   7 – 2     8 – 2   American International   5 – 4     5 – 4   Bryant   4 – 5     4 – 5   Saint Anselm   3 – 6     4 – 6   Stonehill   2 – 7     2 – 7   Assumption   1 – 8     1 – 9   Pace   0 – 9     0 – 10   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll	2004 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   East No. 7 West Chester x^   6 – 0     11 – 4   No. 12 East Stroudsburg ^   5 – 1     10 – 2   Bloomsburg   4 – 2     7 – 3   Millersville   3 – 3     5 – 5   Kutztown   2 – 4     4 – 6   Mansfield   1 – 5     1 – 9   Cheyney   0 – 6     1 – 10   West No. 15 Shippensburg x^   5 – 1     10 – 2   No. 18 Edinboro x^   5 – 1     9 – 3   IUP x   5 – 1     7 – 3   California (PA)   2 – 4     6 – 4   Slippery Rock   2 – 4     4 – 7   Clarion   1 – 5     3 – 8   Lock Haven   1 – 5     3 – 8   x – Division champion/co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll	2004 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Shepherd $   7 – 0     7 – 3   Glenville State   5 – 2     5 – 6   West Virginia Wesleyan   4 – 3     6 – 5   Fairmont State   4 – 3     5 – 5   Concord   4 – 3     5 – 6   West Virginia State   2 – 5     3 – 8   West Virginia Tech   2 – 5     2 – 9   West Liberty State   0 – 7     2 – 8   $ – Conference champion
2004 NCAA Division II Northeast Region independents football records Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Charleston (WV)   –     3 – 7

Southeast Region

2004 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Eastern Shaw # xy$   5 – 2     10 – 2   Bowie State   4 – 3     5 – 5   Virginia State   3 – 4     6 – 4   Virginia Union   2 – 5     2 – 8   Elizabeth City State   2 – 5     3 – 7   Western Fayetteville State xy^   6 – 1     8 – 4   North Carolina Central x   6 – 1     8 – 2   Winston-Salem State   4 – 3     4 – 6   Livingstone   2 – 5     2 – 8   St. Augustine's @   0 – 4     0 – 6   Johnson C. Smith   0 – 7     0 – 10   Championship: Shaw 10, Fayetteville State 7 $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – [Pioneer Bowl]] participant @ – St. Augustine's vacated 4 wins including 3 in conference play.	2004 Gulf South Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 1 Valdosta State $^   9 – 0     13 – 1   No. 16 Arkansas Tech ^   8 – 1     10 – 2   Central Arkansas   6 – 3     8 – 3   Delta State   6 – 3     6 – 4   Arkansas–Monticello   5 – 4     6 – 5   Harding   4 – 5     6 – 5   North Alabama   4 – 5     5 – 5   Southern Arkansas   3 – 6     5 – 6   West Georgia   2 – 6     2 – 7   Ouachita Baptist   2 – 6     2 – 7   Henderson State   2 – 7     2 – 8   West Alabama   2 – 7     2 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll	2004 South Atlantic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 14 Carson–Newman $^   6 – 1     9 – 3   Wingate   4 – 3     8 – 3   Catawba ^   4 – 3     7 – 4   Tusculum   4 – 3     6 – 4   Presbyterian   4 – 3     6 – 5   Mars Hill   3 – 4     6 – 4   Lenoir–Rhyne   2 – 5     3 – 8   Newberry   1 – 6     5 – 6   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll
2004 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 5 Albany State $^   8 – 0     11 – 1   No. 22 Tuskegee   7 – 1     10 – 2   Miles   6 – 2     7 – 3   Kentucky State   5 – 3     7 – 4   Fort Valley State   4 – 4     7 – 4   Morehouse   3 – 5     4 – 6   Benedict   2 – 6     3 – 8   Clark Atlanta   1 – 7     1 – 9   Lane   0 – 8     2 – 9   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2004 NCAA Division II Southeast Region independents football records Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Stillman #   –     5 – 5   North Greenville   –     3 – 7   # – Provisional Division II member

Northwest Region

2004 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 10 Northwood +^   9 – 1     10 – 2   No. 11 Michigan Tech +^   9 – 1     9 – 2   No. 9 Grand Valley State ^   8 – 2     10 – 3   No. 25 Saginaw Valley State   7 – 3     7 – 3   Ferris State   6 – 4     6 – 5   Findlay   5 – 5     6 – 5   Ashland   4 – 6     5 – 6   Hillsdale   4 – 6     4 – 7   Mercyhurst   4 – 6     4 – 7   Gannon   3 – 7     4 – 7   Indianapolis   3 – 7     4 – 7   Northern Michigan   2 – 8     2 – 8   Wayne State (MI)   1 – 9     1 – 9   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll	2004 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Central Washington $   5 – 1     7 – 4   Western Washington   3 – 3     6 – 4   Humboldt State   3 – 3     5 – 5   Western Oregon   1 – 5     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion	2004 North Central Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 24 Nebraska–Omaha $   5 – 1     8 – 3   No. 19 South Dakota   4 – 2     9 – 2   No. 4 North Dakota ^   4 – 2     11 – 3   No. 17 St. Cloud State ^   4 – 2     8 – 3   Minnesota State   3 – 3     6 – 5   Minnesota–Duluth   1 – 5     4 – 7   Augustana (SD)   0 – 6     3 – 8   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2004 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 13 Winona State $^   7 – 0     10 – 2   Bemidji State   5 – 2     8 – 3   Northern State #   5 – 2     6 – 5   Concordia–St. Paul   4 – 3     7 – 4   SW Minnesota State   3 – 4     5 – 6   Minnesota–Crookston   2 – 5     2 – 8   Wayne State (NE)   2 – 5     3 – 8   Minnesota State–Moorhead   0 – 7     0 – 11   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2004 NCAA Division II Northwest Region independents football records Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Saint Joseph's (IN)   –     7 – 4   Tiffin   –     5 – 6   Upper Iowa #   –     2 – 8   # – Provisional Division II member

Southwest Region

2004 Lone Star Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   North No. 21 Central Oklahoma   7 – 2     8 – 2   No. 23 SE Oklahoma State ^   7 – 2     8 – 3   Tarleton State   6 – 3     7 – 4   East Central   5 – 4     6 – 4   SW Oklahoma State   1 – 8     1 – 9   Northeastern State   0 – 9     0 – 10   South No. 6 Texas A&M–Kingsville $^   8 – 1     9 – 2   Midwestern State ^   7 – 2     8 – 3   Eastern New Mexico   5 – 4     6 – 5   Abilene Christian   5 – 4     5 – 5   Texas A&M–Commerce   4 – 5     4 – 6   West Texas A&M   2 – 7     2 – 8   Angelo State   2 – 7     2 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2004 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 2 Pittsburg State $^   9 – 0     14 – 1   No. 3 NW Missouri State ^   8 – 1     11 – 2   Washburn #   6 – 3     8 – 4   Central Missouri State   5 – 4     7 – 4   Emporia State   4 – 5     5 – 6   Missouri Southern   4 – 5     5 – 6   Missouri Western   4 – 5     5 – 6   Missouri–Rolla   2 – 7     3 – 8   Truman   2 – 7     2 – 9   Southwest Baptist   1 – 8     2 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2004 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 8 Colorado Mines $^   8 – 0     12 – 1   Chadron State   6 – 2     7 – 3   Adams State   6 – 2     7 – 4   Fort Hays State   5 – 3     6 – 5   Nebraska–Kearney   4 – 4     5 – 6   Fort Lewis   3 – 5     4 – 6   New Mexico Highlands   2 – 6     3 – 8   Western State   2 – 6     3 – 8   Mesa State   0 – 8     0 – 11   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2004 NCAA Division II Southwest Region independents football records Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   OK Panhandle State   –     6 – 5   Western New Mexico   –     2 – 8   Lincoln (MO)   –     1 – 9

Conference summaries

See also: List of NCAA Division II football seasons

Conference Champions

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Shaw Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Michigan Tech and Northwood Great Northwest Athletic Conference – Central Washington Gulf South Conference – Valdosta State Lone Star Conference – Texas A&M–Kingsville Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – Pittsburg State North Central Conference – Nebraska–Omaha Northeast-10 Conference – Bentley and C.W. Post Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Winona State Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – West Chester (East), Edinboro, Indiana (PA), and Shippensburg (West) Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Colorado Mines South Atlantic Conference – Carson-Newman Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Albany State West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Shepherd

Postseason

2004 NCAA Division II Football Championship
Teams	24
Finals Site	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL
Champion	Valdosta State (1st title, title game)
Runner-up	Pittsburg State (4th title game)
Semifinalists	North Dakota West Chester
Winning coach	championship

The 2004 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 31st 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 17th time. This was the first year of a 24-team playoff bracket.

Seeded teams

• Albany State
• East Stroudsburg
• Michigan Tech
• Northwest Missouri State
• Northwood
• Pittsburg State
• Shippensburg
• Valdosta State

Playoff bracket

	First Round November 13 Campus Sites					Second Round November 20 Campus Sites					Quarterfinals November 27 Campus Sites					Semifinals December 4 Campus Sites					National Championship Game December 11 Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama
						1	Michigan Tech*	3
	5	North Dakota††	20			5	North Dakota	20
	4	St. Cloud State	17								5	North Dakota	19
											6	Grand Valley State	15
						2	Northwood*	7
	6	Grand Valley State	16			6	Grand Valley State	10
	3	Winona State	13													5	North Dakota	19
																1	Pittsburg State	31
						1	Pittsburg State*	70
	4	Colorado Mines	52			4	Colorado Mines	35
	5	Midwestern State	33								1	Pittsburg State	50
											2	Northwest Missouri State	36
						2	Northwest Missouri State*	34
	3	Texas A&M–Kingsville	40			3	Texas A&M–Kingsville	14
	6	SE Oklahoma State	30																		1	Pittsburg State	31
																					2	Valdosta State	36
						1	Shippensburg	28
	4	West Chester	35			4	West Chester	33
	5	C.W. Post	3								4	West Chester	48
											2	East Stroudsburg	38
						2	East Stroudsburg*	36
	6	Edinboro	47			6	Edinboro	32
	3	Bentley	44													4	West Chester	21
																2	Valdosta State	45
						1	Albany State*	42
	4	Arkansas Tech	24			4	Arkansas Tech	24
	5	Catawba	20								1	Albany State (GA)	24
											2	Valdosta State	38
						2	Valdosta State*	38
	3	Carson–Newman	35			3	Carson–Newman	12
	6	Fayetteville State	14

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