1983 NAIA Division I football season

1983 NAIA Division I football season
Regular season	August–November 1983
Postseason	December 3–17, 1983
National Championship	Ralph Stocker Stadium Grand Junction, CO
Champions	Carson–Newman

The 1983 NAIA Division I football season, as part of the 1983 college football season in the United States and the 28th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the 14th season of play of the NAIA's top division for football.

The season was played from August to November 1983 and culminated in the 1983 NAIA Champion Bowl, played this year on December 17, 1983 at Ralph Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction, Colorado on the campus of Mesa College (now Colorado Mesa).

Carson–Newman defeated Mesa in the Champion Bowl, 36–28, to win their first NAIA national title.

Conference standings

1983 Central States Intercollegiate Conference football standings Conf Overall Team W   L   T W   L   T No. 9 Washburn $ 6 – 1 – 0 8 – 2 – 0 No. 10 Missouri Southern 5 – 2 – 0 9 – 2 – 0 No. 17 Fort Hays State 4 – 3 – 0 8 – 3 – 0 Pittsburg State 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 4 – 0 Kearney State 4 – 3 – 0 5 – 5 – 0 Missouri Western 3 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0 Emporia State 1 – 6 – 0 2 – 8 – 0 Wayne State (NE) 1 – 6 – 0 1 – 9 – 0 $ – Conference champion Rankings from NAIA Division I poll	1983 Evergreen Conference football standings Conf Overall Team W   L   T W   L   T Puget Sound $ 6 – 1 – 0 6 – 4 – 0 Southern Oregon 5 – 2 – 0 9 – 2 – 0 No. 14 Central Washington 5 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 0 Simon Fraser 4 – 3 – 0 4 – 6 – 0 Eastern Oregon 3 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 0 Oregon Tech 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 6 – 0 Western Oregon 2 – 5 – 0 3 – 7 – 0 Western Washington 1 – 6 – 0 1 – 9 – 0 $ – Conference champion Rankings from NAIA Division I poll	1983 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team W   L   T W   L   T No. 7 Saginaw Valley State $^ 6 – 0 – 0 9 – 3 – 0 No. 8 Hillsdale 4 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 0 Wayne State (MI) 4 – 2 – 0 7 – 3 – 0 Northwood 3 – 3 – 0 4 – 4 – 0 Grand Valley State 3 – 3 – 0 4 – 6 – 0 Michigan Tech 1 – 5 – 0 3 – 7 – 0 Ferris State 0 – 6 – 0 0 – 9 – 0 $ – Conference champion ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1983 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team W   L   T W   L   T No. 3 Mesa $^ 7 – 0 – 1 11 – 1 – 1 Southern Colorado 6 – 1 – 1 6 – 3 – 1 Western New Mexico 4 – 3 – 1 5 – 4 – 1 Southern Utah 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 5 – 0 Adams State 4 – 4 – 0 4 – 6 – 0 Fort Lewis 4 – 4 – 0 4 – 6 – 0 Colorado Mines 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 5 – 0 Western State (CO) 2 – 5 – 1 2 – 6 – 1 New Mexico Highlands 0 – 8 – 0 1 – 9 – 0 $ – Conference champion ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Conference champions

Conference	Champion	Record
Arkansas Intercollegiate	Central Arkansas	6–0
Central States	Washburn	6–1
Evergreen	Puget Sound	6–1
NIC	Winona State	5–1
Oklahoma	Northeastern State	4–0
RMAC	Mesa (CO)	7–0–1
South Atlantic	Carson–Newman	6–1
WVIAC	Shepherd	8–0

Postseason

	Quarterfinals December 3, 1983 Campus sites					Semifinals December 10, 1983 Campus sites					1983 Champion Bowl December 17, 1983 Grand Junction, CO
	Saginaw Valley State		14
	Central State (OK)*		13
						Saginaw Valley State		7
						Carson–Newman*		41
	Shepherd		21
	Carson–Newman*		42
											Carson–Newman		36
											Mesa State*		28
	Northeastern State		7
	Central Arkansas*		18
						Central Arkansas		17
						Mesa State*		34
	Eastern New Mexico		9
	Mesa State*		35

See also

• 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season
• 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season
• 1983 NCAA Division II football season
• 1983 NCAA Division III football season