'BANANAS!' Unbelievable game-winning lateral TD in DII football playoffs
The 2025 NCAA DII football championship quarterfinals will be played on Dec. 6, with the playoffs continuing through the title game on Saturday, Dec. 20 in McKinney, Texas.
Here is everything you need to know for the 2025 DII football championship.
2025 DII football championship bracket
đ Click or tap here for the interactive bracket
2025 DII football championship schedule
All times listed in ET.
- Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 6
- Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 13 | ESPN+
- National championship: 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 | ESPNU
- Selection show: 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16 on krikya18.com
- First round: Saturday, Nov. 22 | Watch on ESPN+
- Assumption 23, No. 4 Indiana (Pennsylvania) 20
- Frostburg State 21, Johnson C. Smith 7
- California (PA) 27, Virginia Union 24
- Benedict 25, Wingate 24
- Newberry 45, Kentucky State 24
- West Florida 43, North Greenville 19
- No. 1 Ferris State 65, Northwood 14
- UIndy 57, Truman State 14
- No. 4 Ashland 32, Minnesota Duluth 7
- Minnesota State 37, Findlay 14
- Harding 38, Northwest Missouri State 16
- Pittsburg State 21, Chadron State 17
- UT Permian Basin 37, CSU Pueblo 24
- Western Colorado 27, Central Washington 20
- Second round: Saturday, Nov. 29
NCAA DII football championship history
Below is the DII football national championship history, since 1973. In 2024, Ferris State won its third title in four years, defeating Valdosta State 49-14.
| Year | Champion | Coach | Score | Runner-Up | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ferris State | Tony Annese | 49-14 | Valdosta State | McKinney, Texas |
| 2023 | Harding | Paul Simmons | 38-7 | Colorado School of Mines | McKinney, Texas |
| 2022 | Ferris State | Tony Annese | 41-14 | Colorado School of Mines | McKinney, Texas |
| 2021 | Ferris State | Tony Annese | 58-17 | Valdosta State | McKinney, Texas |
| 2020 | Canceled due to Covid-19 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2019 | West Florida | Pete Shinnick | 48-40 | Minnesota State | McKinney, Texas |
| 2018 | Valdosta State | Kerwin Bell | 49-47 | Ferris State | McKinney, Texas |
| 2017 | Texas A&M-Commerce | Colby Carthel | 37-27 | West Florida | Kansas City, Kan. |
| 2016 | Northwest Missouri State | Adam Dorrel | 29-3 | North Alabama | Kansas City, Kan. |
| 2015 | Northwest Missouri State | Adam Dorrel | 34-7 | Shepherd | Kansas City, Kan. |
| 2014 | Colorado State-Pueblo | John Wristen | 13-0 | Minnesota State-Mankato | Kansas City, Kan. |
| 2013 | Northwest Missouri State | Adam Dorrel | 43-28 | Lenoir-Rhyne | Florence, Ala. |
| 2012 | Valdosta State | David Dean | 35-7 | Winston-Salem State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2011 | Pittsburg State | Tim Beck | 35-21 | Wayne State (Mich.) | Florence, Ala. |
| 2010 | Minnesota-Duluth | Bob Nielson | 20-17 | Delta State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2009 | Northwest Missouri State | Mel Tjeersdma | 30-23 | Grand Valley State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2008 | Minnesota-Duluth | Bob Nielson | 21-14 | Northwest Missouri State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2007 | Valdosta State | David Dean | 25-20 | Northwest Missouri State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2006 | Grand Valley State | Chuck Martin | 17-14 | Northwest Missouri State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2005 | Grand Valley State | Chuck Martin | 21-17 | Northwest Missouri State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2004 | Valdosta State | Christ Hatcher | 36-31 | Pittsburg State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2003 | Grand Valley State | Brian Kelly | 10-3 | North Dakota | Florence, Ala. |
| 2002 | Grand Valley State | Brian Kelly | 31-24 | Valdosta State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2001 | North Dakota | Dale Lennon | 17-14 | Grand Valley State | Florence, Ala. |
| 2000 | Delta State | Steve Campbell | 63-34 | Bloomsburg | Florence, Ala. |
| 1999 | Northwest Missouri State | Mel Tjeersdma | 58-52 (4ot) | Carson-Newman | Florence, Ala. |
| 1998 | Northwest Missouri State | Mel Tjeersdma | 24-6 | Carson-Newman | Florence, Ala. |
| 1997 | Northern Colorado | Joe Glenn | 51-0 | New Haven | Florence, Ala. |
| 1996 | Northern Colorado | Joe Glenn | 23-14 | Carson-Newman | Florence, Ala. |
| 1995 | North Alabama | Bobby Wallace | 27-7 | Pittsburg State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1994 | North Alabama | Bobby Wallace | 16-10 | Texas A&M-Kingsville | Florence, Ala. |
| 1993 | North Alabama | Bobby Wallace | 41-34 | Indiana (Pa.) | Florence, Ala. |
| 1992 | Jacksonville State | Bill Burgess | 17-13 | Pittsburg State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1991 | Pittsburg State | Chuck Broyles | 23-6 | Jacksonville State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1990 | North Dakota State | Rocky Hager | 51-11 | Indiana (Pa.) | Florence, Ala. |
| 1989 | *Mississippi College | John Williams | 3-0 | Jacksonville State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1988 | North Dakota State | Rocky Hager | 35-21 | Portland State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1987 | Troy | Rick Rhoades | 31-17 | Portland State | Florence, Ala. |
| 1986 | North Dakota State | Earle Solomonson | 27-7 | South Dakota | Florence, Ala. |
| 1985 | North Dakota State | Earle Solomonson | 35-7 | North Alabama | McAllen, Texas |
| 1984 | Troy | Chan Gailey | 18-17 | North Dakota State | McAllen, Texas |
| 1983 | North Dakota State | Don Morton | 41-21 | Central State (Ohio) | McAllen, Texas |
| 1982 | Texas State | Jim Wacker | 34-9 | UC Davis | McAllen, Texas |
| 1981 | Texas State | Jim Wacker | 42-13 | North Dakota State | McAllen, Texas |
| 1980 | Cal Poly | Joe Harper | 21-13 | Eastern Illinois | Albuquerque, N.M. |
| 1979 | Delaware | Tubby Raymond | 38-21 | Youngstown State | Albuquerque, N.M. |
| 1978 | Eastern Illinois | Darrell Mudra | 10-9 | Delaware | Longview, Texas |
| 1977 | Lehigh | John Whitehead | 33-0 | Jacksonville State | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| 1976 | Montana State | Sonny Holland | 24-13 | Akron | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| 1975 | Northern Michigan | Gil Krueger | 16-14 | Western Kentucky | Sacramento, Calif. |
| 1974 | Central Michigan | Roy Kramer | 54-14 | Delaware | Sacramento, Calif. |
| 1973 | Louisiana Tech | Maxie Lambright | 34-0 | Western Kentucky | Sacramento, Calif. |
*Mississippi College's participation in the 1989 Division II championship vacated by the krikya18.committee on Infractions
