2011 NCAA Division II football season

2011 NCAA Division II football season
Regular season	September 1 – November 12, 2011
Playoffs	November 19 – December 17, 2011
National Championship	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL
Champion	Pittsburg State
Harlon Hill Trophy	Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill

The 2011 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, 2011, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 17, 2011 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama, hosted by the University of North Alabama. The Pittsburg State Gorillas defeated the Wayne State Warriors, 35–21, to win their second Division II national title.

The Harlon Hill Trophy was awarded to Jonas Randolph, running back from Mars Hill.

Conference and program changes

• The Great American Conference began play this season with nine member teams from Arkansas and Oklahoma.

School	Former conference	New conference
Arkansas–Monticello Boll Weevils	Gulf South	Great American
Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys	Gulf South	Great American
Black Hills State Yellow Jackets	DAC (NAIA)	Independent
Central Oklahoma Bronchos	Lone Star	Independent
East Central Tigers	Lone Star	Great American
Harding Bisons	Gulf South	Great American
Henderson State Reddies	Gulf South	Great American
Lambuth Eagles	Independent	School closed
Lincoln Blue Tigers	Independent	MIAA
Lindenwood Lions	HAAC (NAIA)	Independent
Minot State Beavers	DAC (NAIA)	Independent
Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks	MIAA	Dropped program
Northeastern State RiverHawks	Lone Star	Independent
Ouachita Baptist Tigers	Gulf South	Great American
Saint Paul's Tigers	CIAA	Dropped program
Sioux Falls Cougars	GPAC (NAIA)	Independent
South Dakota Mines Hardrockers	DAC (NAIA)	Independent
Southern Arkansas Muleriders	Gulf South	Great American
Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm	Lone Star	Great American
Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs	Lone Star	Great American
William Jewell Cardinals	HAAC (NAIA)	Independent

Ohio Dominican completed their transition to Division II and became eligible for the postseason.

Conference standings

Super Region 1

2011 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Northern Elizabeth City State xy^   6 – 1     8 – 4   Virginia State   4 – 3     5 – 5   Virginia Union   3 – 4     5 – 5   Bowie State   3 – 4     4 – 6   Chowan   2 – 5     3 – 7   Lincoln (PA)   2 – 5     2 – 8   Southern No. 3 Winston-Salem State xy$^   7 – 0     13 – 1   Johnson C. Smith #   4 – 3     6 – 5   Fayetteville State   4 – 3     4 – 6   St. Augustine's   3 – 4     4 – 6   Shaw   3 – 4     3 – 7   Livingstone   0 – 7     1 – 9   Championship: Winston–Salem State 38, Elizabeth City State 18 $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Pioneer Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2011 Northeast-10 Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 8 New Haven $^   8 – 0     11 – 2   Southern Connecticut   6 – 2     7 – 3   American International   5 – 3     6 – 4   Bentley   5 – 3     6 – 4   Merrimack   5 – 3     6 – 4   Assumption   3 – 5     4 – 6   Stonehill   3 – 5     4 – 7   Saint Anselm   1 – 7     1 – 9   Pace   0 – 8     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll	2011 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   East No. 13 Kutztown xy$^   6 – 1     11 – 2   C. W. Post x   6 – 1     7 – 4   No. 21 Bloomsburg   5 – 2     9 – 2   Shippensburg   4 – 3     7 – 4   West Chester   4 – 3     5 – 6   Millersville   2 – 5     3 – 8   East Stroudsburg   1 – 6     3 – 8   Cheyney   0 – 7     1 – 10   West No. 15 California (PA) x^   6 – 1     10 – 3   Slippery Rock xy   6 – 1     8 – 3   IUP   5 – 2     7 – 3   Edinboro   4 – 3     7 – 4   Gannon   3 – 4     4 – 7   Mercyhurst   2 – 5     4 – 7   Clarion   2 – 5     3 – 8   Lock Haven   0 – 7     0 – 10   Championship: Kutztown 21, Slippery Rock 14 x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll
2011 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Concord $^   7 – 1     7 – 4   No. 22 Shepherd   6 – 2     9 – 2   No. 24 West Virginia Wesleyan   6 – 2     9 – 2   Charleston (WV)   5 – 3     5 – 6   Glenville State   5 – 3     5 – 6   Fairmont State   4 – 4     7 – 4   Seton Hill   1 – 7     1 – 10   West Liberty   1 – 7     1 – 10   West Virginia State   1 – 7     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 2

2011 Gulf South Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 4 Delta State $^   3 – 1     11 – 3   No. 14 North Alabama ^   2 – 2     9 – 4   No. 23 West Alabama ^   2 – 2     8 – 4   West Georgia   2 – 2     6 – 4   Valdosta State   1 – 3     6 – 4   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2011 South Atlantic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 19 Mars Hill +^   6 – 1     8 – 3   Lenoir–Rhyne +   6 – 1     7 – 3   Wingate   4 – 3     5 – 6   Newberry   4 – 3     4 – 6   Carson–Newman   3 – 4     5 – 6   Catawba   2 – 5     3 – 8   Tusculum   2 – 5     3 – 8   Brevard   1 – 6     3 – 8   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll	2011 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   East Albany State xy^   6 – 1     8 – 4   Morehouse x   6 – 1     8 – 2   Fort Valley State   2 – 5     2 – 8   Benedict   1 – 6     2 – 8   Clark Atlanta   1 – 6     2 – 8   West Miles # xy$   5 – 2     7 – 5   Stillman x   5 – 2     7 – 4   Tuskegee   4 – 3     4 – 6   Kentucky State   3 – 4     6 – 4   Lane   2 – 5     4 – 6   Championship: Miles 20, Albany State 17 $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Pioneer Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2011 NCAA Division II Super Region 2 independents football records Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 12 North Greenville ^   –     11 – 3   UNC Pembroke   –     8 – 3   ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 3

2011 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     7 – 4   Indianapolis   6 – 4     7 – 4   Michigan Tech   6 – 4     7 – 4   Ferris State   5 – 5     6 – 5   Northern Michigan   3 – 7     4 – 7   Northwood   1 – 9     2 – 9   South Hillsdale $   8 – 2     8 – 3   No. 2 Wayne State (MI) ^   7 – 3     12 – 4   Ohio Dominican   6 – 4     7 – 4   Ashland   6 – 4     6 – 5   Findlay   6 – 4     6 – 5   Lake Erie   2 – 8     3 – 8   Tiffin   0 – 10     0 – 11   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA poll	2011 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   North No. 6 Minnesota–Duluth +^   8 – 2     11 – 3   No. 17 St. Cloud State +^   8 – 2     9 – 3   Bemidji State   7 – 3     8 – 3   Mary   4 – 6     5 – 6   Northern State   4 – 6     5 – 6   MSU Moorhead   1 – 9     2 – 9   Minnesota–Crookston   0 – 10     1 – 10   South Minnesota State # +   8 – 2     9 – 3   Wayne State (NE)   7 – 3     7 – 4   Winona State   7 – 3     7 – 4   Augustana (SD)   6 – 4     6 – 5   Concordia–St. Paul   5 – 5     6 – 5   SW Minnesota State   3 – 7     3 – 8   Upper Iowa   2 – 8     3 – 8   + – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Mineral Water Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2011 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 9 CSU Pueblo $^   9 – 0     11 – 1   No. 10 Nebraska–Kearney ^   8 – 1     10 – 2   Colorado Mines   6 – 3     8 – 3   Chadron State   6 – 3     6 – 5   Adams State   4 – 5     6 – 5   Western New Mexico   4 – 5     5 – 6   Colorado Mesa   3 – 6     4 – 7   New Mexico Highlands   2 – 7     4 – 7   Fort Lewis   2 – 7     3 – 8   Western State   1 – 8     1 – 10   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll
2011 Great Lakes Football Conference standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Urbana $   3 – 0     8 – 3   Missouri S&T   2 – 1     6 – 5   Saint Joseph's (IN)   1 – 2     2 – 8   Kentucky Wesleyan   0 – 3     1 – 10   $ – Conference champion Rankings from AFCA Poll	2011 NCAA Division II Super Region 3 independents football records Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Sioux Falls #   –     5 – 4   Notre Dame (OH) #   –     5 – 6   William Jewell #   –     4 – 6   Black Hills State #   –     3 – 7   Minot State #   –     2 – 8   Central State   –     1 – 10   South Dakota Mines #   –     1 – 10   # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll

Super Region 4

2011 Great American Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Ouachita Baptist $   6 – 1     7 – 3   Henderson State   4 – 1     6 – 4   East Central   6 – 2     8 – 3   Arkansas–Monticello   3 – 3     5 – 6   Harding   3 – 3     4 – 7   Southern Arkansas   3 – 4     3 – 7   SW Oklahoma State   3 – 5     5 – 6   Arkansas Tech   1 – 4     2 – 8   SE Oklahoma State   1 – 7     2 – 8   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2011 Great Northwest Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 20 Humboldt State $   7 – 1     9 – 1   Western Oregon   6 – 2     6 – 5   Central Washington   4 – 4     4 – 6   Simon Fraser #   2 – 6     3 – 7   Dixie State   1 – 7     1 – 10   $ – Conference champion # – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll	2011 Lone Star Conference football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 7 Midwestern State $^   8 – 0     10 – 1   No. 16 Abilene Christian ^   7 – 1     8 – 3   No. 25 West Texas A&M #   6 – 2     8 – 3   Tarleton State   5 – 3     6 – 5   Texas A&M–Kingsville   4 – 4     6 – 5   Angelo State   2 – 6     5 – 6   Incarnate Word   2 – 6     2 – 8   Eastern New Mexico †   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 both wins Rankings from AFCA poll
2011 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   No. 1 Pittsburg State $^   8 – 1     13 – 1   No. 5 NW Missouri State ^   7 – 2     11 – 3   No. 11 Washburn ^   7 – 2     10 – 3   No. 18 Missouri Western ^   7 – 2     9 – 3   Central Missouri #   6 – 3     8 – 4   Emporia State   3 – 6     5 – 6   Fort Hays State   3 – 6     4 – 7   Truman   2 – 7     4 – 7   Missouri Southern   2 – 7     3 – 7   Lincoln (MO)   0 – 9     1 – 9   $ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – Kanza Bowl participant Rankings from AFCA Poll	2011 NCAA Division II Super Region 4 independents football records Conf Overall Team   W   L     W   L   Lindenwood @   –     8 – 3   Northeastern State #   –     7 – 5   Southwest Baptist   –     6 – 5   OK Panhandle State   –     3 – 7   Central Oklahoma   –     2 – 9   # – Mineral Water Bowl participant @ – Provisional Division II member Rankings from AFCA Poll

Conference summaries

See also: List of NCAA Division II football seasons

Conference Champions

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Winston-Salem State Great American Conference – Ouachita Baptist Great Lakes Football Conference – Urbana Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Hillsdale Great Northwest Athletic Conference – Humboldt State Gulf South Conference – Delta State Lone Star Conference – Midwestern State Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Pittsburg State Northeast-10 Conference – New Haven Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – Minnesota–Duluth (North) and Minnesota State–Mankato (South) Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference – Kutztown Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – CSU Pueblo South Atlantic Conference – Lenoir-Rhyne and Mars Hill Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Miles West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – Concord (WV)

Postseason

2011 NCAA Division II Football Championship
Teams	24
Finals Site	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL
Champion	Pittsburg State (2nd title, title game)
Runner-up	Wayne State (MI) (1st title game)
Semifinalists	Delta State Winston-Salem State
Winning coach	championship

The 2011 NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs were the 38th 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 24th time.

Seeded teams

• Colorado State–Pueblo
• Delta State
• Mars Hill
• Midwestern State
• Nebraska–Kearney
• New Haven
• Pittsburg State
• Winston-Salem State

Playoff bracket

	First Round November 19 Campus Sites					Second Round November 26 Campus Sites					Quarterfinals December 3 Campus Sites					Semifinals December 10 Campus Sites					National Championship Game December 17 Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama
						—	Delta State	42
	—	North Alabama	43			—	North Alabama	14
	—	West Alabama	27								—	Delta State	28
											—	North Greenville	23
						—	Mars Hill	38
	—	North Greenville	63			—	North Greenville	52
	—	Albany State	14													—	Delta State	23
																—	Pittsburg State	49
						—	Midwestern State	31
	—	Northwest Missouri State	35			—	Northwest Missouri State†	38
	—	Missouri Western	29								—	NW Missouri State	16
											—	Pittsburg State	41
						—	Pittsburg State	31
	—	Washburn	52			—	Washburn	22
	—	Abilene Christian	49																		—	Pittsburg State	35
																					—	Wayne State (MI)	21
						—	Winston-Salem State	35
	—	California (PA)	44			—	California (PA)	28
	—	Elizabeth City State	0								—	Winston-Salem State	27
											—	New Haven	7
						—	New Haven	44
	—	Kutztown	17			—	Kutztown	37
	—	Concord	14													—	Winston-Salem State	14
																—	Wayne State (MI)	21
						—	CSU–Pueblo	21
	—	Minnesota–Duluth†	30			—	Minnesota–Duluth	24
	—	Saginaw Valley State	27								—	Minnesota–Duluth	25
											—	Wayne State (MI)	31
						—	Nebraska–Kearney	14
	—	Wayne State (MI)	48			—	Wayne State (MI)	38
	—	St. Cloud State	38

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