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NCAA Division III football championship

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File:2016 Stagg Bowl logo.jpg
2016 Stagg Bowl logo

The NCAA Division III Football Championship is an American college football tournament played annually to determine a champion at the NCAA 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 32, with the current bracket size dating from 2005. In 2023, 28 playoff bids went to conference champions via automatic qualification, leaving just four places for at-large selections.[1]

The Division III championship game, known as the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl or Stagg Bowl (named after football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg), was held at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia in 2023, where it was previously held annually from 1993 to 2017. Other Stagg Bowl sites have included Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland (2022), Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio (2021), Woodforest Bank Stadium in Shenandoah, Texas (2018–2019), Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton, Florida (1990–1992), Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, Alabama (1973–1982, 1985–1989), and Galbreath Field at the College Football Hall of Fame, when the Hall was located in Kings Island, Ohio (1983–1984).

West and East Region Championships (1969–1972)

The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl was founded by the NCAA in October 1969.[2] Along with its counterpart, the Knute Rockne Bowl, it was "created by the NCAA ... for its College 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 the Camellia Bowl for the West, the Pecan Bowl for the Midwest, the Grantland Rice Bowl for the Mideast, and the Boardwalk 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.

Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (West Region championship)

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

Knute Rockne Bowl (East Region championship)

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

National Championships (1973–present)

When the College Division was subdivided into the current Division II and Division 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.

Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl

Year Date Champion Runner-up Score Attendance Venue Location Winning head coach
1973 Dec. 8 Wittenberg Juniata 41–0 5,000 Garrett–Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama Dave Maurer
1974 Dec. 7 Central (IA) Ithaca 10–8 5,500 Ron Schipper
1975 Dec. 6 Wittenberg Ithaca 28–0 6,000 Dave Maurer
1976 Dec. 4 Saint John's (MN) Towson State 31–28 7,214 John Gagliardi
1977 Dec. 3 Widener Wabash 39–36 7,852 Bill Manlove
1978 Dec. 2 Baldwin–Wallace Wittenberg 24–10 7,500 Lee Tressel
1979 Dec. 1 Ithaca Wittenberg 14–10 6,500 Jim Butterfield
1980 Dec. 6 Dayton Ithaca 63–0 8,701 Rick E. Carter
1981 Dec. 5 Widener Dayton 17–10 6,100 Bill Manlove
1982 Dec. 4 West Georgia Augustana (IL) 14–0 9,000 Bobby Pate
1983 Dec. 1 Augustana (IL) Union (NY) 21–17 3,800 Galbreath Field Kings Mills, Ohio Bob Reade
1984 Dec. 8 Augustana (IL) Central (IA) 21–12 2,300 Bob Reade
1985 Dec. 14 Augustana (IL) Ithaca 20–7 1,879 Garrett–Harrison Stadium Phenix City, Alabama Bob Reade
1986 Dec. 13 Augustana (IL) Salisbury State 31–3 2,000 Bob Reade
1987 Dec. 12 Wagner Dayton 19–3 4,000 Walt Hameline
1988 Dec. 10 Ithaca Central (IA) 39–24 4,000 Jim Butterfield
1989 Dec. 9 Dayton Union (NY) 17–7 3,500 Mike Kelly
1990 Dec. 8 Allegheny Lycoming 21–14 (OT) 4,800 Hawkins Stadium Bradenton, Florida Ken O'Keefe
1991 Dec. 14 Ithaca Dayton 34–20 5,469 Jim Butterfield
1992 Dec. 12 Wisconsin–La Crosse Washington & Jefferson 16–12 5,329 Roger Harring
1993 Dec. 11 Mount Union Rowan 34–24 7,304 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia Larry Kehres
1994 Dec. 10 Albion Washington & Jefferson 38–15 7,168 Pete Schmidt
1995 Dec. 9 Wisconsin–La Crosse Rowan 36–7 4,905 Roger Harring
1996 Dec. 14 Mount Union Rowan 56–24 5,048 Larry Kehres
1997 Dec. 13 Mount Union Lycoming 61–12 5,777 Larry Kehres
1998 Dec. 12 Mount Union Rowan 44–24 5,145 Larry Kehres
1999 Dec. 18 Pacific Lutheran Rowan 42–13 4,101 Frosty Westering
2000 Dec. 16 Mount Union Saint John's (MN) 10–7 4,643 Larry Kehres
2001 Dec. 15 Mount Union Bridgewater 30–27 7,992 Larry Kehres
2002 Dec. 21 Mount Union Trinity (TX) 48–7 4,389 Larry Kehres
2003 Dec. 20 Saint John's (MN) Mount Union 24–6 5,073 John Gagliardi
2004 Dec. 18 Linfield Mary Hardin–Baylor 28–21 3,240 Jay Locey
2005 Dec. 17 Mount Union Wisconsin–Whitewater 35–28 4,619 Larry Kehres
2006 Dec. 16 Mount Union Wisconsin–Whitewater 35–16 6,051 Larry Kehres
2007 Dec. 15 Wisconsin–Whitewater Mount Union 31–21 5,099 Lance Leipold
2008 Dec. 20 Mount Union Wisconsin–Whitewater 31–26 5,344 Larry Kehres
2009 Dec. 19 Wisconsin–Whitewater Mount Union 38–28 3,468 Lance Leipold
2010 Dec. 18 Wisconsin–Whitewater Mount Union 31–21 4,598 Lance Leipold
2011 Dec. 16 Wisconsin–Whitewater Mount Union 13–10 3,784 Lance Leipold
2012 Dec. 14 Mount Union St. Thomas (MN) 28–10 6,027 Larry Kehres
2013 Dec. 20 Wisconsin–Whitewater Mount Union 52–14 5,371 Lance Leipold
2014 Dec. 19 Wisconsin–Whitewater Mount Union 43–34 5,465 Lance Leipold
2015 Dec. 18 Mount Union St. Thomas (MN) 49–35 5,343 Vince Kehres
2016 Dec. 16 Mary Hardin–Baylor§ Wisconsin–Oshkosh 10–7 3,476 Pete Fredenburg
2017 Dec. 15 Mount Union Mary Hardin–Baylor 12–0 4,971 Vince Kehres
2018 Dec. 14 Mary Hardin–Baylor Mount Union 24–16 6,816 Woodforest Bank Stadium Shenandoah, Texas Pete Fredenburg
2019 Dec. 20 North Central (IL) Wisconsin–Whitewater 41–14 1,362 Jeff Thorne
2020 Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Dec. 17 Mary Hardin–Baylor North Central (IL) 57–24 1,830 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, Ohio Pete Fredenburg
2022 Dec. 16 North Central (IL) Mount Union 28–21 3,231 Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, Maryland Brad Spencer
2023 Dec. 15 Cortland North Central (IL) 38–37 3,381 Salem Football Stadium Salem, Virginia Curt Fitzpatrick
2024 Turner Stadium Humble, Texas
2025 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Canton, Ohio

§ - On October 10, 2019, the NCAA vacated the 2016 championship due to violations self-reported by UMHB.[4] The appeal was unsuccessful, therefore there was no champion declared for the 2016 season. In late June 2020, UMHB's 2016 and 2017 seasons' wins and records were also vacated.[5]

National championships by team

Programs that no longer compete in Division III are indicated in italics with a pink background.

50-yard line action at the 2010 Stagg Bowl
Team Titles Winning 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
Mary Hardin–Baylor 2 2016§, 2018, 2021
Saint John's (MN) 2 1976, 2003
Wisconsin–La Crosse 2 1992, 1995
Dayton 2 1980, 1989
Widener 2 1977, 1981
Wittenberg 2 1973, 1975
North Central (IL) 2 2019, 2022
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
Central (IA) 1 1974

§ October 10, 2019 the NCAA vacated the 2016 championship due to violations self-reported by Mary Hardin–Baylor. The appeal was unsuccessful, therefore there was no champion declared for the 2016 season. Mary Hardin–Baylor also had its wins and records from that season and in 2017 vacated.

Championship game appearances

Main article: List of NCAA Division III Football Championship appearances by team

Programs that no longer compete in Division III are indicated in italics with a pink background.

Team Appearances Years
Mount Union 22 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022
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) 4 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
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

Of the programs that no longer compete in D-III, West Georgia is the only one that is currently in Division II. All others compete in Division I FCS.

Stagg Bowl Most Outstanding Player Award

As voted by the media at the game since 2000.

Year Player Team Class Position
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

See also

References

  1. ^ "NCAA Division III Football Committee selects championship field". ncaa.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "Bowl Games Ok'd". Chicago Tribune. October 22, 1969. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  3. ^ "Stagg Bowl Foes Set". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, IL. November 17, 1969. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  4. ^ "UMHB to appeal vacating 2016 title". D3football.com. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  5. ^ "NCAA denies UMHB sanctions appeal". KCEN-TV. June 26, 2020.

Sources

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